The Cleveland Browns are changing seemingly everything this offseason. They unveiled a new logo on Tuesday (barely any different), will be unveiling new uniforms on April 14, and just signed a new quarterback to their roster.
Josh McCown was a 2013 hero in Chicago when starting quarterback Jay Cutler went down, throwing for 13 touchdowns and only one interception. That led to the Buccaneers' signing of him last season in hopes that he could become successful as their starting quarterback. However, in 11 games he threw for 11 touchdowns and 14 interceptions while also posting the third-worst QBR in the NFL after posting the best QBR the season before. Josh McCown was cut by the Bucs one year into his two-year contract, but there were still teams interested in the 35-year-old journeyman. One was the Browns, whom McCown said pushed the hardest to get him.
The Browns signed McCown to a three-year contract worth about $15 million, which is pretty good for a 35-year-old quarterback coming off an awful season.
Make no mistake about it: McCown is absolutely NOT the quarterback of the future for the Browns. He is probably best suited to be a backup in the NFL now. However, with Brian Hoyer likely leaving and Johnny Manziel in rehab, McCown is looking like the next starter for the Browns.
One of the biggest reasons the Browns brought in McCown was for him to mentor Manziel. The Browns hope McCown can spark something in Manziel that helps Johnny Football look more like a first-round pick and less like a kid who is still trying to live the college life. The Browns are hoping McCown is the same version of himself who led the Bears to victories two seasons ago and not the McCown who led the 2014 Buccaneers to the league's worst record of 2-14 and the #1 overall pick.