INDIANAPOLIS — The Browns are expected to pursue veteran quarterback Chase Daniel in free agency, according to Jason LaCanfora of CBS Sports.
Former Vikings quarterback Case Keenum is also under consideration, a league source says.
Daniel, 33, has spent the past two seasons with the Bears, but has 11 years NFL experience and plenty to offer from a mentorship standpoint.
The Browns are looking to change the dynamics of their quarterback room and provide Baker Mayfield with a solid veteran leader who can help him grow and develop. He had that in Drew Stanton the past two seasons, but Stanton, who missed all of last season with a knee injury, is set to become a free agent and the Browns are apparently leaning towards another direction.
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Mayfield also had his longtime good friend Garrett Gilbert in the room last year, and Gilbert is not expected to be going anywhere for now. He’s under contract in 2020 at $660,000 and could serve as the third quarterback again if the Browns add an experienced veteran.
Daniel (6-0, 218) is similar in size and stature to Mayfield, and came out of a spread offense at Missouri, where he was Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year in 2007. He’s also played for the Saints, Eagles and Chiefs, signed in 2013 by then Chiefs GM John Dorsey.
Daniel is 2-3 as a starter, completing 68.3 percent of his passes for 1,430 yards, seven touchdowns and five interceptions in 65 appearances.
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Keenum, 32, has the obvious connection with Browns coach Kevin Stefanski from their successful year together in Minnesota in 2017, where he led the Vikings to an 11-3 mark, beating the Saints in the Divisional round before losing to Philadelphia in the NFC Championship Game.
Keenum has thrown for 14,368 yards with 75 touchdowns and 47 interceptions with a career passer rating of 85.3. He’d provide Mayfield with an experienced backup who could help implement Stefanski’s system.
With Sam Bradford suffering a season-ending injury in 2017, the Vikings turned to Keenum, who had a 9-15 record heading in. He also had a 58.4% completion rate, a 78.4 rating and 24 TDs against 20 INTs. With Stefanski as his QB coach, Keenum completed 67.6% of his passes and earned a 98.3 passer rating. He threw 22 touchdowns and only seven interceptions. Keenum recorded eight games with a 100+ passer rating to tie for second-most in team history in a season and tied a team record with 10 games without an interception.
The Browns are firmly committed to Mayfield as their starter, but are definitely looking to upgrade the No. 2 spot.
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