Your 2023 Comeback Player of the Year, Joe Flacco, will not be coming back to Cleveland foe the 2024 season. After using five different starting quarterbacks last season, the Cleveland Browns are going with Jameis Winston as their established backup behind Deshaun Watson. While the exact cap numbers aren't available at this point, the Browns entered the day with just under $5 million in space to use.
NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported Winston has agreed to a one-year deal worth up to $8.7 million with the Browns.
This decision now slots Winston in as one of the Browns top backup quarterbacks to Watson along with second-year signal caller Dorian Thompson-Robinson. It also could prove as a signal that the team has moved away from bringing back Joe Flacco, who is also a free agent. Flacco was signed in the midst of last season, following a slew of injuries at the position. The veteran went 4-1 down the stretch for the team, which helped spring them to a playoff berth. That run, however, doesn't seem to have been enough for Cleveland to opt for a reunion, rolling with Winston instead.
Cleveland is also adding more depth to its backfield with questions about Nick Chubb's knee injury by adding Nyheim Hines on a one-year deal worth up to $3.5 million, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.
The highlight of Hines' time in Buffalo and arguably the most memorable moment so far in his NFL career came during a Week 18 win over the New England Patriots to close out the 2022 regular season. In what marked the first game back for the Bills after the Damar Hamlin incident, Hines took back the opening kickoff for a touchdown before doing it a second time in the third quarter as Buffalo won 35-23.
Here's Cleveland's updated depth chart with Winston and Hines entering the fold:
QB: Deshaun Watson/Jameis Winston/Dorian Thompson-Robinson
RB: Nick Chubb/Jerome Ford/Nyheim Hines/Pierre Strong/John Kelly
WR1: Amari Cooper/Cedric Tillman/Michael Woods II
WR2: Jerry Jeudy/David Bell/Jaelon Darden
Slot WR: Elijah Moore
TE: David Njoku/Jordan Akins/Zaire Mitchell-Paden
LT: Jedrick Wills Jr./James Hudson III
LG: Joel Bitonio/Drew Forbes
C: Ethan Pocic/Luke Wypler
RG: Wyatt Teller/Dawson Deaton
RT: Jack Conklin/Dawand Jones/Leroy Watson/Justin Murray
Other notable moves the Browns have made early this off season was acquiring Jerry Jeudy from the Denver Bronocs. That now infamous video of Steve Smith apologizing then ripping Jeudy resurfaced on social media after this trade. There was clearly some personal feelings in play there for Smith, but look, even if he's right about Jeudy all it cost the Browns to see if they can get more than "just a guy" is two day three picks. A year from now, if he proves to not be worth an extension he goes into free agency and the Browns can invest their money elsewhere at the position. It's the definition of a low risk, high reward deal for Cleveland.
If you think $13 million is "too steep," wait until you see how the Jags overpayed for Gabe Davis (3years/$39). GM Andrew Berry has never been a big spender in free agency. The truth is, Cleveland was never going to pay upwards of $20-plus million a year for a free agent wide receiver – which is what players at the top of this year's free agent wide receiver class will garner. Like quarterbacks, wide receiver deals only go up exponentially. In the grand scheme of things, $13 million for a No. wide receiver is nothing.
No one wins championships in March anyway. That pervert QB Watson needs to stay healthy and remember how to play football before I think this team can repeat the Flacco Magic of last year.