Last week, the Cleveland Browns made a strategic move by signing Jameis Winston, the first pick of the 2015 draft, to serve as a backup for Watson.
The Cleveland Browns have taken the lessons from their challenging last season to heart, especially when it comes to their quarterback strategy.
On Sunday, the team made a smart move by agreeing to a one-year contract with Tyler Huntley, a former quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens. This addition brings more depth and security to the team, especially behind Deshaun Watson.
Huntley will join the Browns at a veteran’s minimum salary. This decision comes after the team had to navigate through last season with multiple quarterbacks due to Watson’s shoulder injury, which led to surgery after only six starts.
Throughout last season, the Browns had P.J. Walker, rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson, and Joe Flacco as starters. Flacco, who joined the team as a free agent in November, even helped lead the Browns to the playoffs.
Recently, the team brought Jameis Winston on board to serve as Watson’s backup. Watson has been in California focusing on his recovery since his surgery in November.
Joe Flacco has moved on to sign with the Indianapolis Colts.
With the addition of Winston, Thompson-Robinson, and now Huntley, the Browns have a solid lineup behind Watson. Despite Watson only starting 12 games since his $230 million contract signing with Cleveland in 2022, the team is looking stronger.
Huntley, 26, has spent the last three seasons as Lamar Jackson’s main backup in Baltimore. During his time there, he started 10 games, achieving a record of 3-7. His most notable moment came in the 2022 season during a playoff game where a fumble of his was returned for a game-winning touchdown by Cincinnati’s Sam Hubbard.
Over 20 regular-season games, Huntley has thrown for 1,957 yards, with eight touchdowns and seven interceptions.
This strategic bolstering of the quarterback position demonstrates the Cleveland Browns’ commitment to building a resilient and competitive team for the upcoming seasons.