It’s the silly season in the NFL, when free agency is a few weeks away and the draft is a couple months away. The media and fans start speculating about what teams can do to improve their rosters and become playoff contenders in 2026.
And of course, in the Browns’ monopolization of sports coverage in northeast Ohio, it carries a lot of conversation here as well.
We love the group who talks about the quarterback position and just staying the course for this year, having a competition with Shedeur Sanders and (dear lord) Deshaun Watson and they use the term “kick the can down the road” on the position until ’27.
To those folks, we say the Browns don’t need another reason to delay being competitive for another season, they have mastered the art of telling fans they will be good the following season. They pretty much do it every season. So, enough of that nonsense.
It is doubtful the Browns are going to use a high pick to draft another QB, but we would be willing to replace Dillon Gabriel with another passer picked in the mid to late rounds. And we would bring in another veteran as insurance to guard against injuries.
But we would get some offensive help, mainly offensive line and wide receivers (that’s obvious to everyone) and get a true measuring stick on Sanders this season. The rookie’s critics point to his stats, which were not as good as Gabriel’s, but in watching him play, we would like to see more. And Sanders deserves that chance.
We think any quarterback will be better with a solid running game, a better offensive line, and wide receivers who can get open. Again, maybe Sanders isn’t the guy, but he also showed something last year and has an ability to make big plays.
The other thing many fans and media pine for is a wide receiver, and they should. Jerry Jeudy has shown the things people in Denver said about him weren’t lies.
However, what a team that is trying to build a winner doesn’t need is a diva wide receiver. So, folks that want George Pickens via free agency or A.J. Brown via trade are perpetuating the Browns’ character issues.
They don’t need players with questionable attitudes; they need to build a winning culture.
We believe that is a weakness of Andrew Berry. he has not put a lot of stock in character and leadership. Maybe that’s changed with the drafting of Carson Schwesinger, who demonstrated it as a rookie, but the Browns need of change of attitude in their locker room.
That doesn’t mean no one on the roster has character or put winning above everything. Certainly, Myles Garrett, Denzel Ward, Joel Bitonio, Grant Delpit, and others have that trait, but they need more of them.
And what they don’t need are guys who come in and worry about their numbers and aren’t happy after a win. Winning should be the great eraser. If a team win, everyone should be happy.
That’s something that people who have never played a team sport do not understand. That kind of attitude goes a long way and frankly, it is something the Browns have lacked for a long time.
Talent is important, no question about it, but talent plus character? That’s what winning teams have.
Cleveland Sports Perspective 