The Browns’ quarterback saga added a dramatic twist in Week 18. Bailey Zappe, the team’s record 40th starter since 1999, had a short-lived and rocky debut. But his post-game comments packed a punch.

“I’d love to be here. I’d love to play here. I’ve made great relationships here,” Zappe admitted before adding, “in order for me to be a starter, two turnovers can’t happen.” But he wasn’t just critiquing himself. Zappe also took aim at the franchise’s direction. “I see the vision… the vision that they want this organization to get to. You see what happened last year playoffs. I think this year it’s just a cumulative thing, injuries and things like that. That kind of caused this year,” Zappe stated, highlighting Cleveland’s persistent instability under center to an extent. He then reiterated his desire to play and make a comeback next season.

“The main thing is I want to play and I want to be a starter in this league, and if there is an opportunity that I can do that here, obviously I want to come back,” Zappe said. For a team synonymous with QB turnover, Zappe’s candid approach added a refreshing and much-needed dose of honesty. However, Bailey Zappe’s start against the Ravens didn’t go as planned.

His first-quarter pick-six set the tone for a disastrous outing. They benched him shortly after two turnovers. Yet his post-game remarks were the real headline. The Browns have fielded eight different quarterbacks due to suspensions and injuries. ‘Since when?’ you ask. Well, since signing Deshaun Watson to a five-year, $230 million contract. And for Zappe, the chaotic environment perhaps seemed less like an opportunity and more like a hindrance.

“I haven’t played meaningful football in a year,” Zappe reflected on his game. “The first interception, that’s terrible. That’s bad ball… first day of rookie minicamp, and Bill Belichick told me that never do that.” The Browns have leaned on 40 quarterbacks since Tim Couch’s debut in 1999. Zappe’s comments might just push Cleveland to rethink its approach heading into 2025. However, the young rookie also made a special request.

Why Deshaun Watson still holds the blueprint for Zappe

While sidelined by a season-ending Achilles injury, Watson remains central to Cleveland’s future. Zappe underscored this when he expressed a desire to learn from Watson. “He’s one of the best quarterbacks in the league,” Zappe said. “I wasn’t around him as much with injury and everything. But if I were to come back next year and be around him in the QB room and kind of pick his brain… would be awesome.” Watson’s influence stretches beyond the field.

The Browns see Watson as their long-term cornerstone. But his absence has exposed the lack of depth in their QB room. For Zappe, Watson represents the stability he believes the franchise desperately needs. His mentorship could be critical in bridging the gap between Cleveland’s chaotic present and its aspirations for success. Younger players like Zappe and Dorian Thompson-Robinson could benefit from his experience. Even if Watson isn’t throwing passes himself.

As the Browns prepare for yet another offseason of change, Bailey Zappe’s plea for direction and his nod to Watson’s expertise reflects a team searching for an identity. The question now is whether Cleveland can finally stop the quarterback carousel. Or if Zappe’s candid critique becomes just another chapter in the Browns’ long history of missteps.

For Cleveland, the stakes are clear. Either find stability or risk wasting another season of potential.