The Cleveland Browns will likely be in the market for a quarterback this offseason. While Jameis Winston has an interesting story and is likable, it’s hard to see him as the team’s long-term answer at the position.
Cleveland has a couple of options: they could explore the trade market for a quarterback or follow the conventional route of selecting one in the NFL Draft.
However, their recent win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, which moved them to a 3-8 record, also dropped them further down the draft order.
That thrilling, snow-filled Thursday night victory might have cost the Browns a shot at top prospects like Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward, forcing them to consider alternatives.
One such option could involve targeting a quarterback outside the first round, such as Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Kurtis Rourke, who was recently floated as a potential candidate.
However, after his performance against the Ohio State Buckeyes on Saturday, the Browns might want to rethink that idea.
Rourke struggled mightily, completing just 8 of 18 passes for 68 yards and losing a fumble in a blowout loss. He was clearly overwhelmed by Ohio State’s defense, raising questions about whether his strong season was more a product of Indiana’s easy schedule than his actual talent.
While it was only one game, Rourke’s inability to perform against a top-tier opponent doesn’t bode well for his NFL prospects. If Cleveland had been considering him, they might need to look for other options.
