Should Browns trade for Jimmy Garoppolo or stick with Jacoby Brissett?

By Bucky Brooks
FOX Sports NFL Analyst

The NFL has reached an settlement with Deshaun Watson that may end result within the three-time Pro Bowler serving an 11-game suspension and paying a $5 million high-quality after he was accused by 25 ladies of sexual misconduct throughout therapeutic massage classes. 

The prolonged suspension will hold Watson on the sidelines till a Week 13 matchup in opposition to his former group, the Houston Texans. Without their franchise quarterback for the majority of the season, the Browns might want to readjust their plans to stay a playoff contender with a roster that appears like it’s Super Bowl-caliber with good quarterback play. 

Head coach Kevin Stefanski and his employees might want to create a plan that allows the Browns to stay aggressive with their QB1 on the sidelines. Moreover, the one-time NFL Coach of the Year might want to huddle up with basic supervisor Andrew Berry to find out the easiest way to navigate a path to the playoffs. 

Watson suspended 11 video games, fined $5M

Emmanuel Acho, Joy Taylor and Ric Bucher react to the NFL and NFLPA’s settlement on disciplinary motion for Browns QB Deshaun Watson.

Do the Browns have a path to successful with out Watson?

The Browns have one of the gifted rosters in soccer, with blue-chip expertise at every of the marquee spots. 

From Myles Garrett to Jadeveon Clowney, Denzel Ward to Amari Cooper, to the backfield of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt and a gifted quintet of blockers on the line of scrimmage, the Browns are constructed like a heavyweight contender. With a lot expertise round him, fill-in QB Jacoby Brissett merely must handle video games whereas making just a few well timed throws that hold the offense on schedule. 

Despite an upside-down profession report (14-23 as a starter), the seventh-year professional is greater than able to enjoying successful soccer in the precise scenario. Brissett has accomplished greater than 60% of his passes with a 2:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio (36 touchdowns; 17 interceptions), which suggests he’s environment friendly and efficient as a passer. Although his pedestrian passer ranking leaves one thing to be desired, the veteran has by no means been surrounded by a supporting solid that may alleviate some strain on him to hold the offense.

With a punishing operating sport and a stingy protection behind him, Brissett merely must keep away from turnovers and egregious errors to chalk up wins in Cleveland. Skeptics will counsel that the veteran just isn’t ok to get it accomplished, however the Browns’ capability to play complementary soccer with a five-star lineup round a “sport supervisor” might hold this group aggressive till their beginning quarterback returns. 

Should the Browns pursue Jimmy Garoppolo? 

Given the prolonged suspension of Watson, the Browns’ entrance workplace and training employees should examine and distinction Brissett to the quarterbacks accessible available on the market as free brokers or as trade targets. Garoppolo is the very best accessible possibility, as he is a confirmed winner with Super Bowl expertise. 

Although I don’t see the veteran as a high-end starter, it’s laborious to dispute his 31-14 report and playoff success in San Francisco. With the Browns trying for a long-term sub on the quarterback place, Garoppolo’s familiarity with the system as a five-year starter underneath Kyle Shanahan is actually intriguing to a training employees that desires to characteristic the “stretch-bootleg” mixture as the inspiration of its offense. 

That stated, a possible trade for Garoppolo hinges on cash and trade compensation. The Browns can’t pay practically $25 million to a long-term sub who won’t be with the group subsequent season. While Garoppolo’s expertise and Super Bowl pedigree will surely assist the Browns play successful soccer, I don’t imagine that he is considerably higher than Brissett when cash elements into the equation. 

Will Browns trade for Jimmy Garoppolo?

The Browns had been reportedly “contemplating buying Garoppolo” if Deshaun Watson’s six-game suspension was elevated. Colin Cowherd reacts to the Jimmy G rumors.

Garoppolo is an oft-injured turnover machine who displays questionable judgment outdoors the pocket. Perhaps he can keep away from the damage bug and rein in some “hero” throws that continuously result in interceptions, however it’s laborious for a quarterback to vary his fashion and strategy at this stage of his profession. 

With Brissett higher suited to play mistake-free soccer from the pocket, the Browns ought to maintain off on pursuing Garoppolo till he’s free and clear from the 49ers. At that time, he may be prepared to take a bargain-basement deal to hitch a group with Super Bowl aspirations.

Which gamers grow to be the Browns’ X think about Watson’s absence? 

It is difficult to switch a franchise quarterback, however the Browns have sufficient blue-chip gamers to chalk up wins with out No. 4 on the sphere. It would possibly require Stefanski to play extra smash-mouth soccer than he desires, however the Browns’ recipe for success revolves round their operating sport and protection. 

Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt should play like the very best 1-2 punch in soccer, with every runner displaying “take over the sport” potential as interchangeable workhorses. If the Browns are capable of persistently run the ball at will, it would allow Stefanski to make the most of the single-high security appears that opponents will stay in as they try and decelerate the operating sport.

In addition, the run-heavy strategy will allow the Browns to regulate the tempo whereas using a slow-down sport plan that reduces the full variety of possessions in video games. Although a ball-control strategy is meaningless with out placing factors on the board, the mix of using a slower tempo with a run-centric sport plan places an inordinate quantity of strain on opponents to attain factors in a rush. 

Given the premier move rushers and canopy corners who dot the Browns’ roster, the chance to play in opposition to quarterbacks pressured to chase factors ought to lead to extra turnovers and splash performs from a unit that may flip up the strain underneath defensive coordinator Joe Woods. 

If the protection can hold the rating down whereas creating extra scoring alternatives for a run-heavy offense that desires to select up “three yards and a cloud of mud,” the Browns may be ok to outlive an prolonged absence from their franchise quarterback. 

Bucky Brooks is an NFL analyst for FOX Sports and frequently seems on “Speak For Yourself.” He additionally breaks down the sport for NFL Network and is a cohost of the “Moving the Sticks” podcast.