Despite previous reports that he might be moved prior to Tuesday’s cutdown deadline, Jameis Winston wasn’t shopped in trade talks by the Cleveland Browns.
Per NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the Browns never discussed trading or moving on from Winston.
Schultz added the Browns are expected to make a deal involving a quarterback on Wednesday, but it won’t involve Winston.
Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reported on Tuesday that the Browns were going to field offers for Winston and Tyler Huntley, and a trade could happen involving either one of them.
Cleveland is in a tight spot with its quarterbacks after the 4 p.m. ET cutdown deadline on Tuesday. Winston, Huntley and Dorian Thompson-Robinson all made the roster behind Deshaun Watson.
It makes sense for the Browns to prioritize depth at the position because of Watson’s struggles and injury issues over the past two seasons, but carrying four quarterbacks on a 53-man roster is difficult.
Huntley spent the last four seasons as Lamar Jackson’s backup with the Baltimore Ravens. He has started nine games in his career, throwing for 1,957 yards, eight touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Thompson-Robinson, a fifth-round pick in 2023, got the most run from the group in the preseason. He went 38-of-55 for 375 yards with one touchdown and one interception in three games.
Winston is the most accomplished of the three backups in Cleveland right now. The former No. 1 overall pick has thrown for 22,124 yards, 141 touchdowns and 99 interceptions in 93 career games (80 starts).
While there are obvious flaws to Winston’s game, he would give the Browns offense their best chance of succeeding if he has to play because of an injury or poor performance by Watson.
Expectations are high in Cleveland this season after the team made the playoffs with an 11-6 record in 2023. The 11 wins were tied for the team’s most in a single season since returning to the NFL in 1999