Browns will now set sights on Kirk Cousins and other veteran QBs

MINNEAPOLIS -- With Alex Smith betrothed to the Redskins, the Browns will now turn their attention to Kirk Cousins and other veteran quarterbacks to help them win in 2018.

Up to this point, the Browns were focused on Smith, even offering the Chiefs one of their three second-round picks for him. Washington gave up a third-round pick, No. 13 in that round, and starting cornerback Kendall Fuller for the three-time Pro Bowl quarterback.

Their ace in the hole was a blockbuster four-year extension for Smith worth $94 million, including $71 million guaranteed. The Browns weren't prepared to make that kind of financial commitment, because they have the No. 1 overall pick and will likely draft a quarterback.

But now, the game has changed, and they might have to change their strategy.

Instead of pursuing a bridge quarterback who can win until their top pick is ready, the Browns might have to throw big money at Washington's Cousins, who's set to become a free agent in March.

Browns offered a second-round pick for Alex Smith

With a bidding war expected to ensue, the price for Cousins will be high -- with an average somewhere in the high $20 million, or possibly even $30 million. For comparison's sake, Detroit's Matt Stafford leads the NFL with an average of $27 million; Oakland's Derek Carr is second at $25 million; and the Colts' Andrew Luck is third at $24.594, according to spotrac.com.

Other teams expected to be interested in Cousins include the Broncos, Bills, Jets and Cardinals. Mike Klis of Denver's 9NEWS reports that the Broncos will go hard after Cousins, and could be a favorite to land him.

But the Browns certainly have the money -- more than $110 million in cap space -- to make Cousins, 29, an offer that would be hard to refuse.

Teams can enter into negotiations for free agents on March 12 and complete the deal on March 14. If the Browns somehow land Cousins, and it won't be easy, it could alter their draft strategy. If they like him better than any of the quarterbacks in draft, they could always then try to trade the No. 1 pick in this QB rich draft and have multiple first-rounders again next year.

The problem is, Cousins wants to win and would have to be convinced that the Browns are poised to turn things around in a big way in 2018. When the Browns state their case, they can point to the difference Jimmy Garoppolo made in San Francisco this season. The 49ers, under new coach Kyle Shanahan, went 1-10 until the former Patriots backup rolled into the Bay Area via a trade and promptly went 5-0.

If the Browns can convince Cousins that they'll sign other top-notch free agents, including receivers, and add four or more potential Pro Bowlers in the first two rounds of the draft, perhaps he'll come around.

But listening to his interviews on the Super Bowl Radio Row Tuesday leads one to believe that 1-31 will be a hard sell.

"Is money a part of it? Sure. Is it the only thing? No," Cousins told profootballtalk.com's Mike Florio. "It's about winning, and that's what I want more than anything. So I'm going to be willing to make sacrifices or do what has to be done to make sure I'm in the best possible position to win, and that's what the focus is going to be."

Cousins echoed those sentiments on The Jim Rome Show later the afternoon, hours before news of the trade agreement broke.

"Ultimately this decision going forward is about winning games,'' Cousins said. "I've had an opportunity to earn a good living playing football, so I want to go win. That can be Washington. It really can. (Winning is) what I'll be remembered for. That's what's going to matter.''

Would it make sense to pursue Cousins?

If the Browns can't land Cousins -- and they'll likely have a good idea before the official negotiating period -- they'll turn their attention to other potential free agents such Cincinnati's A.J. McCarron, the Vikings' Case Keenum and Sam Bradford, and the Saints' Chase Daniel. Some will command bigger salaries than others.

The Browns can also try to call upon an old friend again in the Jets' Josh McCown, who played well this season until breaking his hand. McCown is a huge fan of Jackson, and probably wouldn't mind serving as a bridge QB and mentor to a top-five pick.

The fact that Browns have that top pick makes the quarterback landscape tricky. They'll either have to acquire a veteran who's willing to try to stave off a rookie for a year or two, or make a big commitment to an elite passer and put the young QB on the back burner.

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