I'm not a fan of Cousins. I don't think he's the FQB-type. He plays well, and can be a solid QB, maybe even top 10 with the right pieces around him. I just don't see him elevating the game of those around him. I actually see him as the opposite - Cousins needs to be surrounded with the right pieces in order to succeed. Cleveland has some good pieces, but I think this team needs that FQB who can help others elevate their game - be that leader of the team. That spot is lacking. Cousins plays well enough to move this team into a 5-6 win team with his experience, but it will take quality skill players coming in to help elevate it to a 9-10 win team. If you go after Cousins, then you're not picking a QB in this draft, where there are arguably 4-5 QBs that can help a Franchise. You pay Cousins for 5yrs, then what? You're not drafting a rookie QB early, so you'll land a Jackson or Falk in the 3rd or later. Neither will be a starter, so when Cousins is done, what next? Back to the drawing board. My fear is that Cousins is good enough for us to forget about the 1-32 past, but never really gets us where we need to the playoffs (see: Dalton, A). In 3 years, will the franchise be happy with a 7-9, 8-8 team? I would think they want to go for another QB, or at least begin grooming one. I don't see Dorsey picking a young QB on a 5 yr contract to sit behind Cousins for 5 years, then have to pay both, or whatever comes next. The Browns are not the Patriots or Green Bay, where backups are content to stay backups.
I'm more in the camp of a vet QB, ala Alex Smith, Eli, or Drew Brees - someone who knows they have a couple of years left, and that's it. They're not looking for a payday, but would be a willing mentor to the next QB. Smith would be a trade acquisition, but CLE has plenty of draft capital now to spend. There is no way they are going to bring in 12 new rookies in 2018 (not counting any comp draft picks). Some will be traded, so why not on a game manager to help this team learn how to win, and allow the rookie QB to grow and learn ala Rodgers in GB? It's often said, but never executed. I think the Browns are actually in a good place to pull this off right now and not make a rush into a rookie QB.