The Cleveland Browns are expected to have a new quarterback in 2026, and many expect it to be a rookie in the draft.
However, NFL insider Zac Jackson of The Athletic expects the Browns to pursue a veteran quarterback through a trade. The Browns insider believes the team will pursue a trade for one-time Pro Bowl quarterback Mac Jones.
“The 49ers will probably trade Jones in February or March. And the Browns will be linked to that potential deal for that many reasons. Mostly that Jones’ current contract calls for a 2026 base salary of just $1.4 million,” Jackson wrote. …
“The potential free agent (and trade) class is uninspiring, to say the least. I can’t see the Browns signing up to be Kyler Murray’s next team. So either the Browns chase the dream with Anthony Richardson, try again with Kenny Pickett (or Joe Flacco, or Winston), or run the wishbone with Trey Lance or Justin Fields. All of a sudden, Mac Jones seems like Josh Allen, doesn’t he?”
Jones was selected 15th overall by the New England Patriots in 2021 and was a Pro Bowler in his rookie season. However, he struggled in his next two years and was traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars. After one season there, he signed with the 49ers this offseason and has been having a ton of success.
San Francisco could likely get a mid-round pick back for Jones, who has proven he can be a starting quarterback in the NFL again. For the Browns, Jones could also be a stopgap for a rookie to develop and learn the system for a year or two.
Cleveland has stuck with Gabriel at quarterback, despite his struggles this season.
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski has been adamant that Gabriel is the answer at quarterback and has been impressed with his play. But he knows the rookie, along with the entire team, has to be better.
“Well, I think with young quarterbacks, it’s understanding that there’s going to be ups and downs,” Stefanski said on Monday. “You know, can Dillon play better? Yes, he can. Can we play better around him? Yes, we can. Can we coach him better? Yes, we can. So, I understand the question. But I just trust that our young players at every position, and certainly at the quarterback position, are guys that are going to work their tails off to get better every single day.”
Gabriel is set to start his sixth straight game on Sunday when the Browns host the Baltimore Ravens.
Although Jones has had a big impact on the 49ers’ season, he is likely set to return to a backup role for the rest of the year.
Brock Purdy looks to be healthy and should return this week, which will push Jones to the backup role.
“They told me he is healthy. So I’ll see today with my own eyes when he practices. And I’m sure he’ll look that way,” 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said. “As long as he does, then he is good to go.”
With the 49ers giving Purdy a lucrative long-term extension, he is the clear future at quarterback, which is why Jones could be expendable.
Sorry to all of those who thought the roster drama was over for the New England Patriots. Less than 24 hours after final rosters were due, the Pats wide receiver room gets shaved down from eight to six after releasing second year wideout Javon Baker as well as the longest tenured Patriot, Kendrick Bourne.
The wide receiver room was the most hotly debated roster battle on the team heading into yesterday’s deadline. With Ja’Lynn Polk’s season ending injury taking him out of consideration, analysts debated who would make the team between Baker and Bourne, or if either one would make it all.
Then the Patriots pulled a move nobody was expecting, keeping a whopping eight wide receivers.
The team gave the media a day to be upset about the wasteful roster management, then cut the two bubble players cold turkey.
Adam Schefter was the first to report Bourne’s release at 12:16 PM on Wednesday.
“Patriots are releasing WR Kendrick Bourne after he requested his release, per source,” the tweet read.
Then, just over an hour later, Mike Reiss broke the Baker news at 1:58 PM.
“The Patriots are planning to release WR Javon Baker, per a source,” Reiss wrote. “If Baker clears waivers, he could return on the practice squad.”
As a Patriots fan, Kendrick Bourne has been one of the only consistent things we have been able to route for this decade. He came to New England in 2021, posting a 55 catch, 800 yard season. In the three years following, his role dwindled as he only appeared in 30 of a possible 51 games.
The stats declined with it, but that is to be expected in an offense he was having trouble establishing himself in. His role was security blanket. He is not an explosive athlete at this stage in his career, but at 30-years-old with eight seasons of NFL experience, he is a nuanced route runner.
His hands are reliable, and he knows how to get open in the red zone. The problem is, the Patriots’ newest veteran, Mack Hollins, fills this need.
At six-foot-four, Hollins shined bright enough in preseason to establish himself as someone quarterback Drake Maye can trust. It was clear Bourne was no longer needed in this offense, keeping him on roster felt like they were paying for his veteran leadership and loyalty.
Now he, and his roughly $14 million of allocated cap over the next two years, are off the Patriots’ books.
Anyway you slice it, it was astonishing to see Javon Baker on the 53-man yesterday.
Drafted in the fourth round in 2024, Baker made one catch for 12 yards in 11 games played as a rookie.
In the preseason this year, fighting for his life to make the roster, the second year receiver made
At this stage in his career, the six-foot-one wideout does not have NFL stuff. Despite an electric personality that made New England fans route for him, Baker did not seem like the best use of a roster spot in what was a previously very full room.