Browns Trade Case Keenum, Sign Jacoby Brissett

The Cleveland Browns have traded a quarterback, but not the one people expected. Case Keenum is heading to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for a seventh round pick. The Browns also signed free agent Jacoby Brissett to a one-year deal to serve as recently acquired Deshaun Watson’s back-up for the 2022 season.

The moves are obviously meant to find a quarterback who plays a similar style to their starter in an effort to limit the change incase Watson misses significant playing time. This could happen due to the league’s on-going investigation in the 22 different sexual assault allegations against him. Brissett and Watson are both dual-threat quarterbacks while Keenum is more suited as a pocket passer. 

Watson hasn’t played since the 2020 season while Brissett started five games, and appeared in 11, for the Miami Dolphins last year. Brissett went 2-3 last season with 1,283 passing yards and threw five touchdowns to four interceptions. He also added 70 yards on the ground on 19 carriers.

Keenum heads to Buffalo to replace Mitch Trubisky as the team’s back-up to Josh Allen. Last season, Keenum started two games for the Browns in place of injured starter Baker Mayfield and appeared in seven total. Keenum had a rating of 91.3 with three touchdowns to one interception and 462 passing yards.

It’s still unknown where Mayfield will end up, but the Indianapolis Colts have emerged as the front-runner due to his reported preference to end up there. The Seattle Seahawks are also rumored to be an interested team while the New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers have been desperately searching for a new starting quarterback all off-season.