NFL insider ties Browns to a quarterback trade that could take place during the draft despite signing Joe Flacco

We are just a day away from the 2025 NFL Draft where the Cleveland Browns will once again have a first-round pick.

This offseason has been a remaking of the quarterback room for the Browns. Early on, it was a trade for Kenny Pickett from the Philadelphia Eagles. Recently, the Browns opted to bring back veteran QB Joe Flacco.

Cleveland is likely to draft a quarterback at some point but that won’t be at No. 2 overall. However, that may not be the only way the Browns add a QB during the draft. Cleveland is still being connected to another veteran quarterback.

Dianna Russini says Browns could trade for Atlanta Falcons’ Kirk Cousins during the draft

Kirk Cousins is a name that has been connected to the Browns all offseason but appeared to fall off after Cleveland signed Flacco. According to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, the Browns are a team to watch for the Atlanta Falcons quarterback.

“The Browns, Steelers and possibly Vikings could be involved in a Cousins trade. Minnesota is looked at as the least likely scenario, given its preference for J.J. McCarthy and that Cousins would need to sign off on any trade he is involved in. It’s believed that Cousins would be against any trade that involves sending him to a situation involving a young QB, similar to the situation he faced in Atlanta last year. If a trade were to happen, I’d expect it to go down on Saturday.”

Cleveland isn’t likely to draft a quarterback so that helps their case but a move for Cousins would seem a bit redundant after adding Flacco. Cousins has a past connection with Kevin Stefanski but the room becomes overcrowded by adding him. All three quarterbacks would want a chance at starting and the best would win. Perhaps after the injuries around the position the last few years, the Browns want to be over-prepared for something like that to happen again.

Cousins has a no-trade clause so he would have to accept a trade to Cleveland as well. Deshaun Watson very well could be on the shelf all of 2025 after injuring his Achilles twice. Cleveland could look to flip a quarterback for a pick after training camp if they had four healthy as well.

The next couple of days are going to be wild and this is just another sign of that. Cleveland is still connected to Cousins and likely will be until he finds a new home.