“Eyes have not seen, ears have not heard, what the Lord got for the Cleveland Browns!” Jameis Winston bellowed last season after a wild 497-yard passing game. Turns out, the Lord might’ve been prepping the Browns for chaos. Welcome to Cleveland, where quarterback drama is as reliable as gusts of wind across Lake Erie.
The Browns—forever oscillating between ‘next year’s champs’ and ‘how is this still happening?’—are back in the rumor mill vortex. With Deshaun Watson’s $230M contract looking shakier than a folding table at a Bills tailgate, GM Andrew Berry is eyeing a future that might not include Watson or Winston. Let’s dive in.
Jameis Winston’s free agency circus ft. Deshaun Watson
Jameis Winston’s 2024 Browns stint was peak Jameis: equal parts fireworks factory and dumpster fire. Signed for a bargain $4M (fully guaranteed), he stepped in after Watson’s Week 8 Achilles snap heard ‘round Ohio. The stats? A rollercoaster: 2,121 yards, 13 TDs, 12 INTs, and a franchise-record 497-yard game… in a loss. Classic Winston. As one fan tweeted: “He’s like if Brett Favre and a Magic 8-Ball had a baby.”
Now, Winston’s a free agent, and the buzz is louder than a Mahomes audible. Teams like the Giants—desperate for QB stability—are circling. Saquon Barkley’s already playing matchmaker, whispering sweet nothings like, “We need a QB.” Winston, ever the optimist, shot back with, “I’m just growing… as a Christian and as a man.” Translation: Pay me, but maybe skip the crab legs clause.
But here’s the kicker: Cleveland’s QB room is a M*A*S*H unit. Deshaun Watson’s rehabbing (again), Dorian Thompson-Robinson’s finger is held together by hope, and Bailey Zappe’s… well, he’s Bailey Zappe. Yet, Berry isn’t rushing to re-sign Winston. Why? Because Cleveland’s got eyes on a bigger prize.
As the Browns’ locker room ponders its next QB move, Winston’s legacy continues to intrigue. “I said, ‘Are you strong?’ They said, ‘I’m strong if you strong.’ Then I said, ‘We strong then.’” This rallying call resonates with a team in transition and Watson’s $230M fully guaranteed deal is the NFL’s version of Inception—a never-ending nightmare. Seven starts, five TDs, and two Achilles injuries later, Watson’s more meme than MVP. Berry’s keeping receipts, though. When asked about Watson’s future, he hit ’em with the corporate-speak: “Our priority is his recovery.” Translation: ‘Pray for us.’
Andrew Berry’s galaxy brain move
While Winston’s camp waits for a ringtone, Berry’s playing 4D chess. Enter Travis Hunter, Colorado’s two-way unicorn and 2024 Heisman winner. Hunter isn’t just a prospect; he’s a vibe. Imagine Deion Sanders’ swagger meets Charles Woodson’s IQ. In 2024, he dropped 1,152 receiving yards and four INTs. The dude’s out here playing Madden with cheat codes IRL.
Berry’s reportedly “obsessed” with Hunter’s versatility. Why? Let’s math this out: Cleveland’s WR room is Amari Cooper and… uh… checks notes… guys named “Elijah.” Their secondary? Denzel Ward and a prayer. Hunter fixes both. As one exec joked, “He’s like a buy-one-get-one-free coupon at Target.”
But drafting Hunter at No. 2 isn’t just smart—it’s a power move. While rivals scramble for QBs, Berry’s betting big on perhaps a top-three most unreliable QB room and Hunter’s generational talent. Michael Irvin even compared Hunter to MLB’s Shohei Ohtani, demanding a “$700M dual-role deal.” Hunter, ever humble, shrugged: “No one can stop me unless I stop myself.”
Hunter’s college tape is looping in Berea. His 92 catches and 14 TDs scream WR1; his lockdown coverage whispers CB1. Pair him with Ward, and suddenly Cleveland’s secondary is scarier than a Belichick glare. Berry’s office even has a Howie Roseman quote framed: “To win a Super Bowl, you need the best player or the best value.” Hunter? He’s both.
Mock drafts have Hunter sliding to Cleveland at No. 2, but Berry’s sweating bullets. The Titans are slated to go full Ocean’s 11, stealing edge rusher Abdul Carter at No. 1. Cue panic. But Berry’s a pragmatist. Hunter’s academic resume (3.798 GPA, anthropology major) proves he’s got the brains to match the brawn. Plus, his Adidas NIL deal ($5.2M valuation) means he’s already marketing gold.
Drafting Hunter isn’t without risk. Playing both ways in the NFL? The last guy who tried that and lived up to the hype was… uh… crickets. But Hunter’s built differently. As he told reporters: “I go straight home after practice and study film.” Dude’s basically the NFL’s answer to Ted Lasso—all heart, no ego.
So, what’s next? Winston’s likely gone, Deshaun Watson’s on thin ice, and Hunter’s the shiny new toy. If Berry pulls this off, Cleveland’s suddenly a nightmare matchup. Picture Hunter streaking for a TD, then picking off Lamar Jackson. The AFC North? More like the AF-Cry North.
But if this backfires? Well, at least the memes will be elite. As Winston once said, “That’s a W, let’s eat one.” Pass the popcorn. Everything’s set—no more stars where they shouldn’t be!
The post Browns Rumors: Multiple NFL Franchises Want Deshaun Watson’s Replacement As GM Andrew Berry Picks Travis Hunter Over QB appeared first on EssentiallySports.
