Cleveland Browns quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson was the first name the organization pivoted to after Deshaun Watson underwent season-ending shoulder surgery a year ago. Thompson-Robinson logged a handful of starts in his rookie season, going 1-2 while throwing for 440 yards, a touchdown, and four interceptions.
It was a year full of learning for one of 2022’s most electric college football players. Thompson-Robinson threw for 3,169 yards and accounted for 39 total touchdowns while leading the UCLA Bruins to a sparkling 9-4 record, their first nine-plus win season since 2014. The Browns selected him with the No. 140 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
While Thompson-Robinson’s first season in the NFL left much to be desired, that’s how it works with young quarterbacks drafted in the later rounds. He took his lumps early and didn’t get discouraged; reports from training camp show that the ball is jumping out of his hand and that he’s one of the most improved players from last year’s roster.
The Browns are financially committed to Watson for the next three seasons and intend to roll with him as their starter for this season and beyond. That doesn’t mean they can’t get value from Thompson-Robinson—starting quarterbacks get injured every season, and some are just bad. Several teams across the NFL could theoretically take a shot with Thompson-Robinson and strike gold.
It appears that Cleveland will have suitors for him on the trade market. Reports surfaced on Tuesday that they “have discussed a potential trade of second-year quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson with multiple teams, two league sources with knowledge of the discussions told The Athletic.”
Retaining the talented second-year player makes more sense. Teams inquiring about Thompson-Robinson’s services likely aren’t in a buying mindset – only one potential starting quarterback has suffered a season-ending injury to date, Minnesota Vikings rookie J.J. McCarthy. The Browns shouldn’t be in a rush to give up an asset for cents on the dollar.
If they keep Thompson-Robinson rostered heading into the season, there’s a chance things might break their way and they could find the right deal. If not, it’s never bad to keep a young player rostered while they continue to improve through the infancy stages of their early career.