Cleveland Browns: Kirk Cousins signing creates AFC North contenders

By Randy Gurzi | Jan 11, 2018

LANDOVER, MD - NOVEMBER 23: Quarterback Kirk Cousins /

If the Cleveland Browns are able to sign quarterback Kirk Cousins in free agency, they would go from 0-16 to a contender in the AFC North

Don’t go out buying any championship banners just yet, but if the Cleveland Browns are able to lure Kirk Cousins to town in 2018 free agency, they could actually go from a winless team to one competing in the AFC North. Apparently, the idea of him coming to town isn’t too crazy either as reports have surfaced that the Washington Redskins free agent to be would consider the quarterback-needy team if indeed he does hit the open market.

A conversation with NFL Insider Albert Breer on 92.3 The Fan in Cleveland is what started the discussion about Cousins in the orange helmet. Breer had mentioned Cleveland, the New York Jets and Jacksonville Jaguars as possible destinations for the guy Washington doesn’t realize is as good as he is.

While some are laughing at the idea, it would make sense for Cousins to consider. The Browns already have some stars on defense like edge rusher Myles Garrett, linebacker Jamie Collins and safety Jabrill Peppers. Offensively they’re hurting, but they have a strong offensive line and the trio of tight end David Njoku and receivers Corey Coleman and Josh Gordon is far better than what the Redskins gave him to work with in 2017.

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On top of that, the Browns own 12 picks in the 2018 NFL Draft — five of which come in the first two rounds. Should they land a guy on the heels of three-consecutive 4,000-yard passing season, all five of those premium picks could be used on skill position players to put around Cousins. With the change in shot callers in the executive ranks in Cleveland, there’s also a stronger belief they could hit on those picks, thus giving someone like Cousins a lot of talent to compete with.

In Washington, he took a lot of heat for the team losing. No one wanted to give him credit for taking a team with a four-win roster at best and willing them to a 7-9 season. Instead, head coach Jay Gruden — who has done nothing but be related to a Super Bowl winner — wanted to put that blame on Cousins.

The quarterback was also jerked around on a long-term deal and called out for not coming to an agreement by the team’s incompetent president Bruce Allen. During that infamous calling out, Allen proved he has no clue what’s going on, calling their team leader “Curt” throughout his whole bumbling conference. In the end, those blunders should cost them their best quarterback in years — and possibly ever as he’s the first in their history to hit 4,000-yards in three straight seasons.

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If it does cost them their signal caller, it would be fitting to see him head to Cleveland and make them competitors in the AFC North. Meanwhile, the Redskins would be hard at work trying to trade with a team to move up for a starting quarterback. Heck, maybe the Browns can work something out with them for the No. 1 pick, then they can get even more draft stock in the future to build around their new starter.

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