Cleveland Browns quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson largely seemed like a 2023 fifth-round draft choose as he completed 44-of-81 cross makes an attempt for 327 yards with no touchdowns and three interceptions over two straight losses that dropped Cleveland to 3-13 on what’s turn into a disastrous marketing campaign for the group.
On Tuesday, Browns insider Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland/The Land on Demand shared why the membership needs to get a have a look at backup signal-caller Bailey Zappe in Saturday’s season finale on the 11-5 Baltimore Ravens.
“The purpose the Browns need to play Zappe is to find out whether or not he must be re-signed for an extended look over the spring season and coaching camp,” Grossi defined. “Zappe will probably be a restricted free agent. The Browns might tender a contract supply to Zappe that may severely prohibit his capacity to maneuver to a different group.”
Zappe entered the NFL when the New England Patriots made him a fourth-round choose throughout the 2022 draft. The most important purpose he’ll be on Cleveland’s lively roster this coming weekend is that Week 1 starter Deshaun Watson went down with a ruptured Achilles on Oct. 20. Whereas Watson performed poorly earlier than he suffered a season-ending harm for the second consecutive fall, he’s expected to stay with the Browns by the offseason largely as a result of they’re stuck with what’s left of the totally assured five-year, $230M contract they gave him in March 2022.
Veteran Jameis Winston grew to become considerably of a Cleveland cult hero serving as Watson’s substitute however was ultimately benched after he tossed a complete of 12 interceptions over seven begins. Grossi stated that “the Browns’ complete shutdown of Winston over the past three video games is a powerful indicator he won’t be again in 2025 and the group will look once more for an inexpensive veteran QB to bridge the hole to the following younger beginning hopeful.”
The indisputable fact that the Browns are turning to Zappe months after he was discarded by the Patriots exhibits how determined Cleveland is to seek out competitors for Watson. Some have already linked the Browns with Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins and with Aaron Rodgers of the New York Jets, however maybe Zappe will appear to be a revelation in opposition to a Baltimore group seeking to declare the AFC North division title.
Zappe won two begins as a rookie however seemingly by no means obtained a legit likelihood to win the full-time New England QB1 job earlier than the Patriots traded Mac Jones to the Jacksonville Jaguars this previous March and made Drake Maye the third total alternative of the 2024 draft. The Browns have little to lose in seeing what Zappe can supply them at Baltimore’s M&T Financial institution Stadium, however historical past suggests Cleveland followers should not maintain their breaths hoping that the 25-year-old will probably be something greater than a break-glass-in-case-of-emergency possibility in opposition to an marketed Tremendous Bowl contender.
