There are some teams absolutely boxed in on bad qb contracts

[Panthero]

Https://overthecap.com/player/deshaun-watson/5596

Cowboys are in a bad spot too, but the browns take the cake. 

[MHS831]

For the past several years, the Panthers were not boxed in due to QB (imagine if we signed Watkins), but we had the dead cap which had the same impact. 

[Waldo]

They all did it to themselves. The Browns took that swing and did it fully guaranteed. Overpaying for Dak was always a mistake but teams would rather have a guy with good regular season stats that folds in the playoffs everytime then an unknown. Miami did it with Tua. Atlanta did it with Cousisns.

I guess it's a slower way to lose a job vs taking a swing on a rookie early and having that fail. Atlanta did both and what a rollercoaster that was.

[LinvilleGorge]

One of the few good decisions Tepper has made since buying this team is saying "okay I REALLY want this guy but I can't do THAT."

[Donald LaFell]

1 hour ago, LinvilleGorge said:

One of the few good decisions Tepper has made since buying this team is saying "okay I REALLY want this guy but I can't do THAT."

It’s ultimately damming to his decision making to even consider it and it’s indicative of the kind of person he is though. It really hurt my support of the team. 

[LinvilleGorge]

Just now, Donald LaFell said:

It’s ultimately damming to his decision making to even consider it and it’s indicative of the kind of person he is though. It really hurt my support of the team. 

Oh don't get me wrong, he absolutely got saved from being a complete moron by the historically king of the morons franchise stepping in and out-moroning him. LOL

[BrianS]

We're going to have our own minefield to avoid both next year and the year after.  It will be interesting to see how we navigate that.

[rayzor]

could have been us.

[musicman]

Truth is, you have to keep trying. Some miss or don't play like you thought, some get hurt, etc. Washington hit a home run with Daniels. But, you need a team around the QB, some weapons, good line, defense and a couple of major play makers. Even the best QBs need that. Dak's problem is Jerry and the whole vibe he puts out running that team. Browns took a shot, who knew he's a perv. Others, it would be the OC or HC or just the offense in general. I believe we saw the best in Stroud his rookie year. He'll be good, but probably not that good. Took the league by storm. How many think Darnold would have played much better under Canales? Maybe not franchise worthy, but better. I believe Tepper did the right thing hiring a OC to be HC. If Bryce turns out to be a top 10 QB, build around him and they've started with the O-line. 

[Donald LaFell]

4 minutes ago, musicman said:

Truth is, you have to keep trying. Some miss or don't play like you thought, some get hurt, etc. Washington hit a home run with Daniels. But, you need a team around the QB, some weapons, good line, defense and a couple of major play makers. Even the best QBs need that. Dak's problem is Jerry and the whole vibe he puts out running that team. Browns took a shot, who knew he's a perv. Others, it would be the OC or HC or just the offense in general. I believe we saw the best in Stroud his rookie year. He'll be good, but probably not that good. Took the league by storm. How many think Darnold would have played much better under Canales? Maybe not franchise worthy, but better. I believe Tepper did the right thing hiring a OC to be HC. If Bryce turns out to be a top 10 QB, build around him and they've started with the O-line. 

Everybody knew he was a perv way before the Browns took a shot. That’s why the Texans agreed to trade him In the first place. 

[CPcavedweller]

1 hour ago, Donald LaFell said:

It’s ultimately damming to his decision making to even consider it and it’s indicative of the kind of person he is though. It really hurt my support of the team. 

Ooo wee mayne…almost every NFL team looked at Deshaun Watson to gauge their need/want. 

[ECHornet]

1 hour ago, BrianS said:

We're going to have our own minefield to avoid both next year and the year after.  It will be interesting to see how we navigate that.

Not necessarily 

[MHS831]

Waldo makes a good point about Atlanta, but I wonder if they did not create a self-inflicted wound.  Signing Cousins to a four-year deal in March, 2024 at $180m ($90m guaranteed) means that the Falcons, if you include Penix Jr, will have nearly $70m in cap space at QB in 2025. I am not confident either QB is good enough to win the South, NFC, or Super Bowl, so it is as if they did this to themselves.  By drafting a QB in the first behind your $100m veteran, you created a situation that would force a move if Cousins faltered, instead of letting him play through it.  If Cousins struggles and you don't put Penix in, then the fans question the decision to draft a 24-year old QB who can't take over at the end of his rookie season.  However, drafting a first round QB a few weeks after signing an established QB to a long contract with nearly $100m guaranteed is in itself a head scratcher because Cousins sighed a deal that indicates a trust in his ability. 

So it was not only financially questionable, it was emotionally questionable.  It cast doubt not only on Cousins, but on the entire front office.