The Cleveland Browns desired to take a different approach even though they had a backup quarterback already.
Even though Joe Flacco was invaluable to them in the previous season, they felt forced to make a change of direction and went for Jameis Winston.
In light of this, Deshaun Watson recently gushed about how fortunate the team was to have Winston in the locker room, praising the former No. 1 pick and discussing the potential value of having a seasoned player with so much energy (via Camryn Justice on Twitter).
Some conjectured that the Browns targeted Winston rather than Flacco because they didn’t want Flacco to divert Watson’s attention; if Flacco had failed early, the public and media might have begun pressuring him to take over as head coach.
It’s not up for argument right now whether that’s the case, but it is a truth that Winston is a superior fit for their offensive goals.
With quarterbacks that are athletic and mobile like Tyler Huntley, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, or even P.J. Walker from last season, the Browns are obviously partial to them.
Winston is one of the most talented backups any team could have, despite his well-documented troubles.
However, Winston’s team-first attitude and willingness to assist the player in front of him are perhaps the best qualities the Browns could ask for in a backup quarterback. At this stage of Watson’s career, a player like Winston needs that sort of steadfast backing.
