Deshaun Watson has settled 20 out of the 24 civil suits that were filed against him, but he isn’t out of the woods yet. Watson continues to await word on whether he will be eligible to play all, some, most or none of the 2022 season.
Judge Sue L. Robinson will issue a decision at some point, this month before training camp begins presumably.
After trading Baker Mayfield to the Carolina Panthers last week, the Browns are left with Jacoby Brissett and Josh Dobbs as options under center behind Watson.
Many believe Brissett is competent enough to hold the line until Watson returns, but if the team wanted to, they could go after a proven winner. In this case, that player is San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.
NFL insider Bill Barnwell of ESPN laid out the Browns’ case for bringing Garoppolo to Cleveland:
“The Browns have $48 million in cap space, so they would be the one team that could trade for Garoppolo and absorb his contract without having to restructure any deals.
A one-year marriage of convenience would make sense for both sides, should a Watson suspension occur. Garoppolo would likely be an upgrade on Brissett, and he would get a year to start on a competitive team before hitting free agency. The Browns don’t have any reason to make a longer commitment with Watson in the fold.”
Garoppolo led the Niners to the NFC Championship Game last season and to the Super Bowl two years before. Unfortunately, the team decided to trade up and select his presumed replacement, Trey Lance, in the 2021 NFL Draft.
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Garoppolo boasts a regular-season record of 33-14 and has thrown for 11,852 yards, 71 touchdowns, and 38 interceptions across eight professional seasons with San Francisco and the New England Patriots.
