JUST IN: NFL rumors suggest that the Cleveland Browns are considering Jameis Winston as a potential option, following their unsuccessful attempt to acquire Jacoby Brissett.

The Cleveland Browns were seeking to bring Jacoby Brissett back into their fold, but the seasoned quarterback opted to return to Foxborough instead, inking a one-year contract worth $8 million with the New England Patriots. Despite the ongoing search for a backup quarterback behind Deshaun Watson, the Browns are reportedly eyeing former Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston, who last played in the NFL with the New Orleans Saints, according to Boston Globe senior NFL writer Ben Volin.

In other quarterback-related updates, there are reports that Sam Darnold is deliberating between offers from the Vikings and Broncos. Meanwhile, the Browns have shown interest in Winston as a backup option. While this is a positive development for Winston, it’s important to note that he has expressed a desire to reclaim a starting quarterback role. However, the likelihood of that happening with the Browns seems slim, given Watson’s established position atop the team’s quarterback hierarchy. In the 2023 season, Watson started only six games due to a season-ending shoulder surgery, paving the way for Joe Flacco to step in. The Browns could also consider a reunion with Flacco as another quarterback option.

Winston, the first overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, has played a secondary role in both Tampa Bay and New Orleans, where Derek Carr was ahead of him. In the 2023 season with the Saints, Winston appeared in seven games (without any starts), tallying 264 passing yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions.