The last year hasn't been particularly kind to Kirk Cousins. He signed a new deal in free agency with the Atlanta Falcons, who would go on to draft his replacement weeks later in Michael Penix. Cousins started the season strong but faltered down the stretch,

Many have assumed Cousins would want to play for the Browns because he had Cleveland HC Kevin Stefanski as a quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator when the two were with the Minnesota Vikings.