The Cleveland Browns have signed free agent quarterback Josh McCown, the team announced Friday evening. McCown was released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Feb. 11 and promptly embarked on visits with the Browns, Buffalo Bills, New York Jets and Chicago Bears. The Bills were considered a favorite to land the veteran.
Browns sign QB Josh McCown
Josh McCown will likely battle Johnny Manziel for a starting job in Cleveland.
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
This year's free agent quarterback class isn't strong, with guys like Mark Sanchez and Brian Hoyer headlining the group. In the 2015 NFL Draft, Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota are both considered potential starters and are the clear top two, but beyond them it's not a deep class. The Browns spent a first-round pick on QB Johnny Manziel in 2014.
Johnny Manziel
McCown played well for the Bears in 2013, completing 66.5 percent of his passes with 13 touchdowns and one interception in relief of Jay Cutler. That caught the Buccaneers’ interest, but he struggled with them in 2014. The 12-year veteran was just 1-10 as the starter in Tampa and connected on just 56.3 percent of his passes with 11 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.
This essentially means the Browns aren’t going to try and bring Hoyer back, as another team should be able to offer him a starting opportunity (like the Bills, given that they missed out on McCown). Manziel has a slew of off-the-field issues and wasn’t exactly strong on the field in limited time a season ago, so the smart money is on McCown getting the starting role going forward, but an awful lot can change between now and training camp.
See More:
