According to a surprise trade, Jalen Milroe will replace the $230 million quarterback.

In a stunning development that has sent shockwaves through the football world, former Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe has been traded to the Cleveland Browns, where he is expected to replace Deshaun Watson — the embattled signal-caller with a $230 million fully guaranteed contract. The trade, which was finalized in the early hours of Friday morning, marks a seismic shift in Cleveland’s future at quarterback and signals an era of youth, mobility, and leadership under center.

While Watson’s tenure has been mired in injuries, inconsistency, and controversy, Milroe represents the polar opposite — an electric playmaker with a clean slate, a hunger to prove himself, and a resume full of explosive performances in the toughest college conference in America.

A Blockbuster Nobody Saw Coming

Milroe, who declared for the NFL Draft after a breakout 2024 campaign with Alabama, was expected to land somewhere in the late first to early second round. Despite his elite athleticism, his development as a passer was still considered a work in progress. However, one franchise saw a higher ceiling than the rest — and they were willing to make a bold move.

The Browns traded Watson to an NFC team (reportedly the Atlanta Falcons) and immediately acquired Milroe from the Arizona Cardinals, who had drafted him just days earlier. In a series of rapid negotiations that took insiders by surprise, Milroe’s rights were shipped to Cleveland in exchange for a future second-round pick and a conditional fourth-rounder.

While most trades involving rookie quarterbacks don’t lead to immediate starting opportunities, this one does. Browns general manager Andrew Berry confirmed that Milroe is “expected to compete for the starting job right away,” though sources inside the building have already indicated it’s “his team now.”

From Tuscaloosa to the Dawg Pound

Jalen Milroe’s journey from Alabama backup to Cleveland’s next franchise quarterback is nothing short of remarkable. After sitting behind Bryce Young in 2022, Milroe became the starter in 2023 and helped lead Alabama to the College Football Playoff. His 2024 campaign solidified his draft status — showcasing not only his dual-threat abilities but also his maturing decision-making, leadership, and deep-ball accuracy.

In 2024, Milroe passed for over 3,200 yards and 27 touchdowns, while rushing for an additional 800 yards and 11 scores. He was named a finalist for the Davey O’Brien Award and earned All-SEC honors. More importantly, he led Alabama to statement wins over Georgia, LSU, and Auburn, proving he could handle the moment in crunch time.

In Cleveland, Milroe will now have the opportunity to show what he can do on the professional stage — and he’ll do so surrounded by one of the league’s most talented rosters.

Watson Era Ends in Turmoil

Deshaun Watson’s time in Cleveland has been marked by turbulence since the moment he arrived. After the Browns traded three first-round picks to Houston and gave Watson the largest fully guaranteed contract in NFL history, expectations soared. But injuries, off-field legal battles, and uneven play quickly derailed those hopes.

In two years with the Browns, Watson played in just 12 total games. His shoulder injuries led to multiple missed stretches, and his mechanics never quite returned to form. The Browns, built on a foundation of a strong defense and a tough run game, found themselves shackled by a quarterback who couldn’t stay healthy or consistent.

The final straw reportedly came when Watson expressed hesitation about undergoing a recommended surgical procedure this offseason. While publicly the team remained supportive, privately they had already begun exploring alternatives.

Milroe’s availability — and Arizona’s willingness to move him after selecting him late in the first round — created the perfect storm for Cleveland.

Why the Browns Chose Milroe

According to team insiders, Jalen Milroe’s mental makeup was as appealing to the Browns as his physical talent. He’s known for being fiercely competitive, dedicated to his craft, and beloved by teammates. While Watson’s leadership was often questioned, Milroe’s presence commands respect naturally.

“Jalen is the kind of guy you want leading your locker room,” said one AFC scout. “He lifts the energy of everyone around him. He takes responsibility, and he never flinches under pressure.”

There’s also the schematic fit. Cleveland head coach Kevin Stefanski has long desired a quarterback with mobility to enhance the team’s play-action and bootleg-heavy offense. Milroe’s ability to make plays outside the pocket, extend drives, and throw on the run fits perfectly into Stefanski’s vision.

Pair that with the Browns’ elite offensive line, a dynamic backfield (headlined by a returning Nick Chubb), and a trio of playmakers in Amari Cooper, David Njoku, and Elijah Moore — and the opportunity is ripe for Milroe to thrive.

What Milroe Brings to the Table

Milroe isn’t a finished product. His pocket presence still needs refining, and he’ll need to cut down on occasional overthrows and underthrows — issues that were magnified in his early college career but improved by his final season.

However, he brings something Cleveland has long lacked: a dynamic, dual-threat quarterback who can create something out of nothing. Milroe’s deep ball was among the best in college football, and his breakaway speed makes him a nightmare in the open field.

Perhaps most importantly, he brings hope.

Cleveland has cycled through quarterbacks for decades. From Tim Couch and Brady Quinn to Johnny Manziel and Baker Mayfield, the team has searched endlessly for “The Guy.” With Watson’s mega-deal now in the rearview mirror, Milroe offers a new chapter — one built not on scandal and hype, but on grit and promise.

Reaction Around the League

The NFL world erupted as news of the trade broke.

“Shocked doesn’t even begin to describe it,” said ESPN’s Adam Schefter on NFL Live. “Milroe replacing a $230 million quarterback? That’s unprecedented. But it might also be genius.”

Former Alabama teammates expressed their support on social media.

“Go be great, J-Mill,” posted Alabama WR Isaiah Bond. “You were born for this.”

Meanwhile, Browns players welcomed their new leader enthusiastically. Defensive star Myles Garrett called Milroe “a baller” and said he “can’t wait to get after some QBs while he’s tearing it up on the other side.”

Even Nick Saban, who retired after the 2024 season, weighed in during a radio appearance: “Jalen Milroe is one of the hardest-working young men I ever coached. He’s a winner. Cleveland got a good one.”

What’s Next for Cleveland?

Training camp will provide Milroe with his first true NFL test, but there are already plans for him to take first-team reps from day one. With veteran backup Jacoby Brissett still on the roster and Dorian Thompson-Robinson developing, Cleveland has the luxury of patience — but all signs indicate they’re all-in on Milroe immediately.

The Browns now shift from a top-heavy roster with an expensive, aging quarterback to a more balanced team with a cost-controlled, athletic rookie QB. It opens up cap flexibility, gives the locker room a jolt of youthful energy, and re-engages a fanbase weary of Watson’s tenure.

If Milroe can translate even 80% of his Alabama magic to the NFL, the AFC North just got a lot more interesting.

Every once in a while, a franchise needs to take a risk that bucks conventional wisdom — one that favors hope over history, future over past. The Browns have taken that leap with Jalen Milroe.

They’ve bet not just on a player, but on a new identity.

In Milroe, Cleveland finds itself at a crossroads — with the potential to rise not just from the ashes of a failed contract but into a future led by a quarterback who embodies the very spirit of redemption, determination, and possibility.

The Dawg Pound has a new leader. And if the early signs are any indication, Jalen Milroe isn’t just replacing Deshaun Watson — he’s rewriting Cleveland’s destiny.