Browns would be crazy to sign Kirk Cousins

The Cleveland Browns have a decision to make about Kirk Cousins. Just because a player is the best available, doesn’t mean he’s the best decision.

That is certainly the case more often than not in free agency whether we’re talking about the NHL, NFL or NBA, where teams through tens of millions at players who have already had their best years. This spring, the NFL will take its turn at making wild plays for potential saviors, only to likely walk away disappointed in the end.

Of all the free agents in professional football, none is more appealing than Kirk Cousins. Cousins, 29, is a top-half quarterback. If someone really wants to pick nits, he might even make the top dozen, right in the same class with players such as Derek Carr, Alex Smith and Andy Dalton. In other words, he’s good, he’s just not great.

With that in mind, Cousins os about to become the highest-paid player in league history. After watching Jimmy Garoppolo, he of the seven career starts, get five years and $137.5 million with $74 million guaranteed, Cousins and his reps are going to be shooting for the moon. In that vein, look for the former Michigan State star to rack up somewhere around $150 million total and $100 million in guarantees over the same timeframe Garoppolo signed for.

While there are many teams in the running for his services, one that shouldn’t be is the Cleveland Browns. However, All-Pro left tackle Joe Thomas doesn’t agree, making his pitch to Cousins on Twitter, typing the following, per NFL.com:

“You could make MORE money and MORE historyin Cleveland than anywhere else, by FAR,” Thomas wrote. “Don’t just go and be another quarterback somewhere else!”

NFL Draft

Kirk Cousins has thrown for at least 4,000 yards and 25 touchdowns in each of the past three seasons, including one campaign that saw his Washington Redskins win the NFC East. However, Cousins and his upcoming massive contract should be paid by a team like the Minnesota Vikings or Jacksonville Jaguars, two franchises that are an upgrade at quarterback away from a championship.

Cleveland is anything but ready to win a title. The Browns just finished off the second 0-16 season in NFL history, and have won only a single game since the start of the 2016 season. Despite having more than $110 million in projected cap space, Cleveland should eschew the idea of landing Cousins. The Browns own the first and fourth-overall selections in the NFL Draft, and should use the top pick on the best quarterback, whether that be Josh Allen, Sam Darnold or Josh Rosen.

For the Browns, adding a veteran quarterback at that salary would only set them back in the long run. For now, general manager John Dorsey has to add rookies at the premier positions while using free agency to supplement a roster riddled with holes.