The Cleveland Browns are zeroing in on Russell Wilson as their top choice to fix their quarterback situation heading into the 2025 season.
After hosting Wilson for a visit in Berea, the team left the door open for a deal despite not discussing contract terms during the meeting. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported on Get Up! that the Browns “still have interest in Russell Wilson” and are “pursuing that angle” while keeping other options on standby.
With the free agent quarterback market thinning out and several dominoes already falling, Cleveland may be Wilson’s best—and possibly only—starting opportunity left.
“This is a team, because of their talent, that can absolutely compete if Russell Wilson is the starting quarterback with the addition of a threat like Travis Hunter.”@Realrclark25 and @Danorlovsky7 discuss why adding the veteran QB to the Browns' offense could be a game-changer pic.twitter.com/GacukyaKtQ
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) March 12, 2025
Other veteran options are either unavailable or unappealing. Kirk Cousins remains under contract in Atlanta, and although he’s familiar with Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski from their time in Minnesota, a trade would be costly.
Carson Wentz has also emerged as a backup plan, but many analysts view signing him as a step backward. “Signing Wentz would be more of a waste than Watson’s contract,” one local columnist wrote, pointing to Wentz’s decline and lack of starting experience since 2022.
With Deshaun Watson still recovering from an Achilles injury and newly acquired Kenny Pickett viewed more as a backup, the Browns are desperate for a proven veteran to stabilize the offense.
If you genuinely think a QB that ended the season 0-5 and was passed by MULTIPLE QB needy teams is going to bring the #Browns to the playoffs this year idk what to tell you
— Mac🦬 (@tha__buffalo) March 22, 2025
Russell Wilson hasn’t been a franchise QB since 2020#DawgPound
pic.twitter.com/cCWJZsdWn7
Cleveland does hold the No. 2 overall pick in the draft and has expressed strong interest in rookies Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward.
However, with Ward likely heading to the Titans at No. 1, Sanders could be the fallback if the Browns strike out on Wilson.
For now, Wilson appears to be the preferred option for both sides. “I definitely think he’d be a valuable asset as a leader, as a mentor to those young guys,” said Myles Garrett, who spoke with Wilson at the Pro Bowl.
“He’s very smart and he knows what he’s capable of.” If Cleveland can’t land Cousins and sees Wentz as a last resort, Wilson may be the only real option left—and perhaps the one that makes the most sense.
Photo Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
