Deshaun Watson‘s initial suspension length is unlikely to surface until at least next week, and even that announcement might not happen until the Browns break for training camp. But the likely appeal process should be expected to drag into August, complicating matters for the team that surrendered three first-round picks and change for the former Texans Pro Bowler.
The prospect of Jimmy Garoppolo serving as an emergency option for Cleveland, in the event the NFL does suspend Watson for a full season or close to it, has come up in recent weeks. But the team is comfortable with Jacoby Brissett guiding the offense in Watson’s absence, per ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler, who said during an appearance on KNBR’s Tolbert & Copes (h/t 49erswebzone.com) he is not sure the Browns will emerge in the Garoppolo mix.
[RELATED: How Will 49ers’ Garoppolo Saga End?]
Not long after acquiring Watson, the Browns traded Case Keenum — their backup of two years — and signed Brissett to a one-year, $4.65MM deal. Cleveland also gave up one of the top trade packages in NFL history for Watson. In addition to the first-rounders being dealt, the Browns gave the Texans a third-rounder (in 2023) and two fourths (in 2022 and ’24). The team’s draft capital may be an issue regarding a Garoppolo pursuit, Fowler adds. Baker Mayfield went for only a 2024 fifth-rounder, and the 49ers are in a somewhat similar salary spot with Garoppolo — attached to a $24.2MM base salary that becomes guaranteed in Week 1 — so draft capital being a hang-up is interesting here.
Brissett, 29, has 37 career starts under his belt; five of those came with the Dolphins last season. The former third-round pick averaged just 5.7 yards per attempt in Miami, though he fared better during the second of his years as the Colts’ primary starter. Garoppolo would certainly be a more inspiring option than Brissett, but the Browns may stand down.
Garoppolo, 30, has resumed throwing. The 49ers could stash him on the active/PUP list to start camp, if they want to both give the veteran QB more recovery time and/or sideline him as they negotiate a trade, but Kyle Shanahan said in June the 49ers would likely have their trade chip at practice instead of stashed on the PUP list. The 49ers excused Garoppolo from minicamp, but he was not ready to throw at that point.
The Seahawks loom as a Garoppolo option but are more likely to wait out a potential release. The Texans have been loosely linked to Garoppolo this offseason, with Nick Caserio having been in New England throughout the ex-Tom Brady backup’s stay there. But Fowler adds it would be a bit of a surprise if Garoppolo ended up in Houston, given the team’s interest in developing Davis Mills.
After the Mayfield trade, Cleveland gained more than $8MM in cap space. The team’s $48.5MM is $25MM north of any other team’s cap room, providing options in the event Watson is shut down for the season. (The 49ers’ $4.9MM in space ranks 30th on that list.) Watson being shelved for all of 2022 would cause his five-year contract to toll, making it a 2023-27 pact. The Browns structured the $230MM guaranteed deal to minimize Watson’s penalties in a suspension — one the team did not expect to be a full-season ban when it made the trade. Watson’s $1MM base salary would move to 2023, pushing the run of $50MM-plus cap figures to 2024 and beyond.
SF should hold onto Jimmy for depth. Let him walk next offseason and collect a comp pick then. He’s already budgeted in for the season.
A comp pick is not a guarantee, it’s based on what you lose by what you take in. And what they get back in trade would be equal or better than the mid round comp pick. When they realize Lance is not the answer they’ll be chasing a QB again.
Thanks for clarifying that.
Not to mention some of that cap space opening up could go towards a raise for Deebo’s new deal this year and the rest could carry over for next years cap which would also help with a Deebo deal. Giving him a raise this year could help keep the back end of the deal from being too high.
They may need him for more than depth. I saw somewhere (I think it may have been on First Things First) that SF is basically rebuilding Lance’s entire throwing motion because he’s already got arm fatigue and needs rest. That’s… not a good sign.
agreed.
Lance started 17 games in college and 2 for SF. I never understood him being 3rd pick, ahead of Big Ten & SEC QBs
… but I’m not an acclaimed “Offensive Wunderkind”
The longer Jimmy stays in SF, the longer they have to delay real extension talks with Deebo and Bosa. Unless a team has their starter go down into the pre-season like the Vikings did with Bridgewater, trade compensation will be minimal as SF has the sweat right now.
The Browns should be feeling sweat and if they think all the additions they made this offseason are going to be happy with Jacoby under center, well good for them.
All the additions? They made ONE move that will be a starter. Amari Cooper. Either they know that the suspension for Watson will be 8 games or less, or they feel a healthy Brissett is better than an injury prone quarterback who has to play catch up
Browns aren’t going anywhere, ever. Only thing Browns are good at is making the mediocre teams, look like super bowl contenders. Browns and Lions, both of the same breed. Some talent, no real chance of being relevant
You really need to change your username if you’re gonna bash a team’s relevance. What team made the playoffs more recently? What team is set up talent wise to make the playoffs? Hint…..it’s not the Wilkes Barre Pirates
Cleveland Browns will always pretend to setup up for a super bowl. I’ll laugh when Browns and their new sexual Predator of QB, fall flat on their face. They couldn’t win with Mayfield, and won’t win with the rapist Watson. He will be parked for the season anyways. Cleveland and a super bowl is a pipe dream. When was the last time Browns won a super bowl? Ummm….. never. At least my Pirates have won a World Series. Browns have won the cellar every year. That’s good, right?
The last Pirates championship was 6 years after the Browns last championship. You have some real bragging rights. Are you seriously comparing Watson to Mayfield as a quarterback? You just proved your ignorance
Browns haven’t won a super bowl. AFL really doesn’t count since the merger, Browns are irrelevant
Anyone else getting tired of seeing the same re-hashed stories over and over again?
I sure am High. And getting tired of seeing the rehashed Lance bashing posts from experts of nothing,except maybe polishing hammers.
Whoa, epic burn bro, means a lot coming from you.
you’re an idiot bro…just saying…no offense…just in case it really does mean a lot…coming from me that is
Sure thing kid, an idiot for calling a bust a bust. You can throw insults but not throw anything of substance out there to prove me wrong.
Normally I agree with you PolishHammer but we haven’t seen enough of Lance to already assume he’s a bust. If he turns out not to be a bust, hope you’ll be here to admit you were wrong!
I certainly will, but if he showed any promise of taking over they wouldn’t still be trying to figure out what to do with Jimmy G. In todays game a team doesn’t give up what they gave up to take a guy 3rd overall to then sit out season(s), he’s got to be plug and play.