Of all the surprises that came from the first day of NFL free agency, none made my jaw hit the floor harder than finding out the Houston Texans had successfully traded away Brock Osweiler and the $16 million in cap money to the Cleveland Browns, completely removing him from their books. So many things are going to spider-web out of this one move that it has completely changed the complexion of the free agency period and the upcoming NFL draft. I will explain.
The Cleveland Browns
Regardless of how many mock drafts you saw from “so-called” experts, there was no way before Thursday the Browns were going to pass on a quarterback at No. 1 in the draft. They couldn’t afford to roll the dice. Now, with Osweiler in the building they can. As of today, the Browns have three quarterbacks under contract for 2017 – Osweiler, Robert Griffin III and Cody Kessler. By my accounting there are two pro-ready QBs in this draft, DeShaun Watson and Mitchell Trubisky. There are another two, that could turn into legitimate QBs (Brad Kaaya and Patrick Mahomes) and a couple of wild cards that could become stars or flame out immediately (DeShone Kizer, Chad Kelly).
My understand of #Browns QB situation: They’ll release RGIII. Shop Brock Osweiler and see what comes of it. Likely draft a QB as well.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 9, 2017
Every expert wanted the Browns to skip on taking a QB at No. 1 and take Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett instead. Now they can and still possibly end up with one of the top two QBs in the draft on their roster to build with. If you take Garrett off the board, the San Francisco 49ers will take either Watson or Trubisky (I think they’ll probably take Trubisky). With the Chicago Bears signing Mike Glennon to a fat contract today earning him $14.5 million over the next three seasons. That means they’ll skip a QB when their pick rolls around at No. 3.
The Buffalo Bills have also shot themselves in the quarterback foot by keeping Tyrod Taylor for around $10 million a year. That leaves only the New York Jets, who will have to look at every other playmaker sitting at that No. 6 pick and decide if they want Watson (or Trubisky) in that spot. If they pass, the Browns could legitimately get two of the biggest impact players in the draft. If the Jets do grab the QB, then that just means a stellar position player falls to the Browns at 12 and they can nab Kaaya or Mahomes in the second round. Needless to say, in any of these scenarios RG3 gets cut.
The #Browns are seriously getting calls about Brock Osweiler.
Seriously.
— Benjamin Allbright (@AllbrightNFL) March 9, 2017
There’s some speculation that the Browns will look to move Osweiler themselves or just cut him. They ate his contract, but in return got the Texans’ 2018 second-round pick. If I’m Hue Jackson, I want to at least take him for a test drive. This was a guy that looked like an NFL QB just a year and a half ago and won big games that got the Denver Broncos home field in the playoffs. There’s every chance that Bill O’Brien was the problem so kick his tires. There’s no way to lose.
The #Browns are planning on cutting Brock Osweiler, source said. Of course, if someone will trade for him…
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 9, 2017
The Houston Texans and Dallas Cowboys
Two things happened as a result of the move. First, the Houston Texans immediately became the frontrunners to land Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys backed out of their pledge to release the oft-injured QB Thursday. This is happening. The only issue right now is compensation and the Cowboys are probably angling for Houston’s first round pick, No. 25. With Osweiler off the books, the Texans can fit Romo right in and they too can look for the QB of the future in the second round. The fact is, getting Romo and adding Patrick Mahomes in the second round could be a dream set up for Houston is Bill O’Brien doesn’t screw it up with his inept coaching.
Sources: If Texans miss out on Tony Romo they'll turn their attention to Jay Cutler. Jets are also in the mix for Cutler.
— Mike Ortiz Jr. (@OrtizDYST) March 9, 2017
For a team like the Cowboys with not a lot of salary cap space to begin with, getting rid of Romo’s entire contract is a dream. Adding a first round pick that could end up a starter playing on a rookie contract for four seasons would be a coup too.
With Romo and Glennon both off the free agent market, what becomes of newly-cut Jay Cutler? He now becomes the best option available for a team not looking to throw a rookie to the wolves or maybe bypass one of the first round QBs altogether. The Jets are probably already on the phone with his agent.
When you have rooted against Tony Romo your whole life.. but realize he can probably lead us to a Super Bowl. #Texans pic.twitter.com/ppwwsFPuO8
— Jon Scott (@JonScott44) March 9, 2017
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