CBS NEWS: Kevin Stefanski have identify 5 star as an alternative for Joe Facco replacement.

The Browns learned more than any team in 2023 just how valuable having a viable backup quarterback can be. While no one could have anticipated the absurd number of injuries the Cleveland dealt with the quarterback position, the experience should leave it investing respectably in finding a viable backup to starting QB Deshaun Watson.

Jun 14, 2022; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson talks to the media after minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
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Watson himself comes with plenty of questions after suffering a fractured glenoid in his throwing shoulder and having season-ending surgery back in November. The expectation is that the 28-year-old makes a full recovery and is ready to go for next season but it’s been three years since Watson played a full season, and he’s now had multiple season-ending ailments throughout his career.

That all makes the Browns need for a dependable backup quarterback all the more important. Here are five options they should consider:

1) Joe Flacco
This is an obvious one. Flacco was already in the building, knows the playbook, has built camaraderie inside the locker room. Just last week he said he’d love to be back in Cleveland, which echoes the sentiments of VP of football operations and general manager Andrew Berry, who said they’d too love to have the veteran back but made no guarantees. The biggest hurdle for Flacco will likely be how much interest he gets from teams where he could legitimately start – something Cleveland simply can’t offer. But if such a situation doesn’t emerge, sure, he could definitely end up back with the Browns.

Dec 24, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco (15) at the line of scrimmage during the game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium.
Dec 24, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco (15) at the line of scrimmage during the game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium.

Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

2) Jacoby Brissett
After spending this past season as a backup on Washington, Brissett is set to hit the open market yet again. The Browns obviously have plenty of familiarity with Brissett from the year he spent with the franchise in 2022. Kevin Stefanski helped the 32-year-old put together one of the best seasons of his career during the 11-game stretch he started, while Watson was suspended. There were rumors that Cleveland was interested in trading for Brissett at the trade deadline last season. It could be worth exploring a reunion now that he’s a free agent again.

3) Josh Dobbs
The common theme with these first three players is that they all played for the Browns at some point. Dobbs was slated to be the team’s backup to Watson up until the last preseason game in August when Berry opted for trading him to Arizona for a fifth round pick. He wound up being traded again at the deadline to Minnesota where he became one of the feel good stories of the NFL for a stretch, winning back-to-back games to open up his Vikings tenure before he started turning the ball over too much and finished the season benched. The Tennessee product fills the backup QB role perfectly as a guy who can come in for a limited amount of time and win you games. Cleveland considered him a viable backup once and should do it again.

Apr 28, 2021; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; A general overall view of FirstEnergy Stadium. The stadium is the home of the Cleveland Browns and the site of the 2021 NFL Draft. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
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4) Cam Newton
If you rolled your eyes at this one, fair enough.Newton hasn’t played in two years so it’s hard to picture him getting much attention now. That said, he is only 34 and has finally embraced the idea of being a backup somewhere. Why it makes sense for the Browns though is the presence of Ken Dorsey who was his quarterback coach in Carolina where he won an MVP and went to the Super Bowl. He’s also friends with Watson and appeared on his podcast with personal QB coach Quincy Avery a couple weeks back. Ultimately, Newton could provide some useful expertise to the room.

5) Mitchell Trubisky
Trubisky was released by the Steelers last week after two disappointing seasons in Pittsburgh. His Cleveland ties, having grown up in Mentor, make him intriguing enough to make the list, but after playing for three teams in seven years and flaming out in Chicago where he was selected No. 2 overall in 2017 the jury seems out on the 29-year-old.