The Cleveland Browns appear to be getting traction as a possible trade partner for Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields.
The Bears are hoping to trade Fields, the No. 11 pick in 2021, before the NFL Draft in April. Chicago has the number one overall choice. Caleb Williams from USC is the most likely candidate for that position.
Ben Solak of The Ringer feels the Browns are a contender for Fields.
“One landing point for Fields that I haven’t heard much about, but that I really like, is Cleveland. “I don’t think the Browns have a good quarterback on the roster (see all of Deshaun Watson’s film since he returned from suspension),” Solak stated on Monday, March 4. “They would benefit from a low-risk, high-reward swing to Fields’ upside. If they locate a starter in Fields, they will be able to get out of what is turning out to be a disastrous Watson contract.
Watson hasn’t looked like the Pro Bowl quarterback he once was with the Houston Texans. He has appeared in just 12 games since the 2022 blockbuster trade and is recovering from season-ending shoulder surgery. Watson has 2,217 passing yards, 14 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions with the Browns.
This is not the first time the Browns have been linked to Fields throughout the summer. ESPN’s Seth Walder earlier projected that the Browns will make a dramatic move by trading for the Bears’ quarterback.
Justin Fields Is a ‘Good Fit’ For Browns System
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the trade market for Fields is not as robust as the Bears had hoped.
“I don’t think the market for him is as robust as the Bears and he had thought,” Schefter told the Pat McAfee Show on Monday, March 4. “They discussed moving on from him if they are satisfied with a quarterback in this draft by the start of free agency.
“I’ll be curious to see if they can get a deal done and in place by next Monday, or if they have to wait for some other quarterback moves to shake out before that can take place.”
The Browns are not aggressively seeking to replace Watson. The team has stated that they are “good” with their $230 million quarterback. A chilly trade market, on the other hand, may provide Cleveland with an opportunity to bet. Fields would serve as a solid backup to Watson and may possibly compete for a starting position.
“We understand Cleveland is interested in mobile quarterbacks. (Josh Dobbs, P.J. Walker, and Dorian Thompson-Robinson all participated in camp or started games for them last season.)” Solak said. “We know that analytically inclined general manager Andrew Berry should always be open to high-risk quarterback moves. And we know that new offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey previously worked with a big-bodied, powerful quarterback runner in Buffalo named Josh Allen. The fit is decent.
“If there isn’t a clear starting job available for Fields on the open market, I think the Browns are a good option for his career and for their future.”
Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson is set to meet with coaches.
Watson will begin throwing this month as the next stage in his rehabilitation. He’ll meet Dorsey for the first time and discuss the “big picture” with head coach Kevin Stefanski soon.
“He is achieving all of his benchmarks. “Ken and I are going to go out and see him and spend some time,” Stefanski stated during the NFL Combine on February 28. “Don’t talk football; just catch up. I won’t see him throw, but I’d like to check up on him. But I text him practically every day, so he seems to be doing well.”
Dorsey replaces Alex Van Pelt as the Browns offensive coordinator. Van Pelt was unexpectedly fired this offseason, but Stefanski believes a new viewpoint will benefit the team and Watson.
“I think these are the really fun times for us as we put things back together,” Stefanski went on to say. “As silly as it may sound, just changing maybe terminology or changing aiming points or changing a technique, those are all things that we’re looking at and trying to figure out what’s the best way to move forward.”
The Browns are looking for a seasoned backup for Watson next season. Some of the names suggested are Jacoby Brissett and Marcus Mariota. Another alternative would be for Joe Flacco to return.
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