The Cleveland Browns will have to think creatively to solve their quarterback situation this season, and one analyst has suggested a trade with the New England Patriots for second-year gunslinger Joe Milton.
The Browns have limited salary cap space, have to get star defensive end Myles Garrett to buy back in after his recent trade request, and have to find a quarterback this offseason. It is going to be a tough and stressful offseason in Berea.
After the Boston Sports Journal reported that the Patriots would contemplate trading Milton after his one stellar start to close the season, The Draft Network’s Justin Melo wonders if the Browns could find a solution on the trade market. Here is what Melo had to say:
“Taking a chance on Milton’s raw abilities would be worth the gamble if Sanders/Ward aren’t attainable. The Browns have a terrific offensive-minded head coach in Kevin Stefanski who would be capable of developing Milton. The franchise simply can’t run it back with Watson, who already suffered a second serious offseason Achilles injury during his recovery from a season-ending one.”
In his one game with a significant amount of playing time, Week 18 against the resting Buffalo Bills, Milton was 22-of-28 for 241 yards and a touchdown in the win for the Patriots.
Milton, listed at 6-foot-5 and 246 pounds, is a great athlete with a top-tier arm. Accuracy and running a juvenile Tennessee offense were the big knocks on Milton coming out of college, leading him to fall to the sixth round.
Could playing in a structured wide zone offense like head coach Kevin Stefanski wants to get back to in Cleveland bring out the best in the young quarterback with big-time tools?
We’ll see how the Browns seek to find a quarterback this offseason, but Milton could firmly be on the table.
