Kirk Cousins has experienced many ups and down in the National Football League for a third year backup quarterback. For one, he has been both the hero and the goat for the Washington Redskins, winning – and losing  – games when the team called his number. And despite the wild pendulum swings of his play, Cousins hopes to be the starter for the Redskins for the upcoming 2015 season. Yet if that opportunity should not arise, he is willing to be traded to a team that would have him as its starter.

According to a report by Cleveland Browns beat reporter Tony Grossi, the Cleveland Browns might be willing to acquire Cousins via trade. “I would expect Cousins to be the top target when the Browns go quarterback hunting once again in 2015,” wrote Grossi. Cleveland’s interest in Cousins is not surprising; this past offseason, the Browns tried – but failed – to acquire Cousins from the Redskins, as the two teams could not agree on adequate compensation for the Michigan State-product.

The Browns have a question mark (if not an outright gaping hole) at quarterback: Brian Hoyer failed to impress or hold down the starting gig this year, and rookie Johnny Manziel brought more hype and ego than effectiveness in his limited time under center in 2014. And even though Cleveland tabbed “Johnny Football” with a first round pick in 2014, the Browns are clearly disappointed in Manziel and his off-field antics – including missing a team walk-through and medical treatment on December 27th, following rumors of him throwing a party – that seemingly follow Manziel from his college days at Texas A&M.

Cousins also has a history with Browns offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan. The two worked together in 2012 and 2013 when Shanahan was the offensive coordinator for the Redskins, and Cousins saw a decent amount of action due to injuries to starting quarterback Robert Griffin III. Cousins performed well in relief for Griffin in 2012, leading the Redskins to a come-from-behind win against the Baltimore Ravens and winning as a starter the following week against the Cleveland Browns. Those two wins were key in the Redskins’ seven game winning streak that saw the team go from 3-6 to an improbable 10-6 record en route to winning the NFC East title.

But with Cousins, the good is always mixed with the bad. Inconsistency and a penchant for turning the ball over have plagued him throughout his three years with the Redskins. Take, for example, a four game stretch early this year. In week two, Cousins stepped in for the injured Robert Griffin III and completed 22 of 33 passes for 250 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions in a 41-10 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. The following week, Cousins lost the game but led the Redskins to 34 points, narrowly losing on the road to the Philadelphia Eagles. In the game, Cousins went 30-48 for a whopping 427 passing yards, three touchdowns, and one interception.

At this point, many Redskins fans thought that Cousins might have (justifiably) supplanted the oft-injured RGIII as the team’s starter. But Cousins followed up his past two solid performances with three consecutive stinkers: Cousins and the Redskins lost their next three games by the scores of 45-14, 27-17, and 30-20. In those games, Cousins moved the Redskins down the field, but had seven interceptions to just five touchdowns. It seemed that Cousins shot himself (and his team) in the foot on key drives, turning the ball over in crucial moments.

But Cousins has at least shown the ability to make big plays, and he certainly does not appear as gun-shy as Manziel appeared in his only full game as starter this year, a shutout loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. And if the Browns want out of the Johnny Football business – whether due to partying, lack of commitment, or both – Cousins is regarded as a hard-worker and consummate professional who is an effective leader in the huddle. And considering his relationship with Kyle Shanahan, a trade to reunite them in Cleveland could benefit all involved.