Browns OT Thomas invites Cousins to become Cleveland legend
Left tackle Joe Thomas extended an interesting invitation to likely free agent quarterback Kirk Cousins: Come to Cleveland and become a legend with the Browns.
Cousins can hit the open market in March unless the Redskins apply the franchise tag in an effort to make a trade. Washington has a deal in place to acquire Alex Smith from the Kansas City Chiefs, ending Cousins' run as the Redskins' starter.
"I hear Cleveland is nice this time of year, that is, if you'd like to have a statue someday," Thomas (@joethomas73) posted to Cousins via Twitter.
The message was in response to Cousins sharing on social media that he and his son, Cooper, were taking in a sports segment entitled "The Best Spot for Cousins" on ESPN.
"Cooper & I are interested in hearing where the best spot is for us. We have no idea yet. #waiting," Cousins wrote.
Thomas continued: "You could make MORE money and MORE history in Cleveland than anywhere else, by FAR. Don't just go and be another quarterback somewhere else!"
The case for Cousins is somewhat obvious in Cleveland, where the Browns are 1-31 the past two seasons and are approaching a second decade of a continuous carousel at the quarterback position.
Browns general manager John Dorsey said in December the primary mission for his personnel staff is settling the ongoing issue under center.
Cleveland is not the only expected suitor for Cousins, who is 30, but the Browns can quickly and easily trump the $137.5 million contract Jimmy Garoppolo signed with the San Francisco 49ers last week.
The Browns can far exceed the financial package so-called contenders such as the Arizona Cardinals and Denver Broncos can extend without significant roster overhauls. The New York Jets, Buffalo Bills and potentially the Jacksonville Jaguars and Miami Dolphins are thought to have some level of interest in adding a quarterback.
Players on all sides -- running back David Johnson of the Arizona Cardinals and Denver Broncos' pass rusher Von Miller -- are pleading with Cousins to choose their team.
Cleveland was 0-16 last season, but with salary cap space plus the first and fourth overall picks in the 2018 NFL Draft might be more attractive than some would think. Thomas even shared his perspective on that angle.
"if Browns pay Kirk $30mm/yr, they won't draft a QB in 1st round, they'll use their picks to build the greatest offense of all time," he said via Twitter.
--Field Level Media
