The Cleveland Browns have been the butt of fans’ jokes for the better part of the last couple of decades and with just two playoff appearances since 1990, the ridicule is certainly justified.

The organization has selected a quarterback in the first round of the NFL draft four times since 1999 and none have remained on with the team longer than five seasons. The most recent, Johnny Manziel, was released by the team today after being taken 22nd overall in 2014.

The Manziel experiment ended after just eight starts in Cleveland. His on-field performance wasn’t spectacular, but he played well enough to earn the playing time he was receiving. The problem was his maturity and the negative press that he was bringing to the organization on what seemed like a weekly basis. With his departure, that leaves Josh McCown, Austin Davis and Connor Shaw on the active roster. I can confidently say that none will be the Browns’ starter on opening weekend in September.

It’s still unclear whether they’ll go the avenue of the NFL draft, free agency or acquiring a passer via trade, but the best course of action would be to bring a veteran into camp. It’s clear to me that the best option for the Browns in both the short and long term is current San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

There are talented quarterbacks with a great deal of upside at the top of the draft and with the second overall pick, they’ll have the opportunity to take one. Whether it’s California‘s Jared Goff, North Dakota State‘s Carson Wentz or Memphis‘ Paxton Lynch that they may have their eye on, taking an unproven quarterback is always a gamble. It may not be the popular option among fans, but acquiring Kaepernick gives the Browns the best chance to win right now.

Kaepernick led the 49ers to a berth in Super Bowl XLVII and though the team lost the game, their young quarterback played extremely well. Things seemed to fall apart for him as former coach Jim Harbaugh‘s relationship with management deteriorated. There may be no correlation, but regardless, Kaepernick has shown the potential to be an upper-echelon starting quarterback in the NFL.

The best option for Kaepernick would be to stay in San Francisco, but that’s a different conversation. His game fits the mold of the offense that head coach Chip Kelly successfully ran at Oregon and tried to run with the Philadelphia Eagles. For some reason or another, Kaepernick is unhappy and wants to bolt. Another potential suitor is the Denver Broncos, but the immense pressure of taking over a Super Bowl champion, not to mention succeeding Peyton Manning may be turning Kaepernick off to the idea. It’s just a theory, but is also the only reason I can think of as to why he’d rather play in Cleveland.

Regardless of Kaepernick’s personal motives, it’s been reported that he wants to be in Cleveland. The Browns need to take advantage of this unique opportunity to suit up a quarterback who’s played on football’s biggest stage. They won’t immediately be a playoff team, but if they can continue to build around the still young quarterback, they’ll be challenging the juggernauts of the league sooner rather than later.