Browns Address The Offensive Line. No Brainer.

Doing something that so obviously needs to be done isn’t something that deserves credit. For example, if the garbage is piling up in our house and we take it out, we don’t expect our wife to be effusive in praise.

Ignoring it looks real bad.

It’s akin to having the Brooklyn Nets calling the Cavs with a proposition that the Cavaliers give them a second-round pick for Jarrett Allen to facilitate the James Harden (ironic) deal. Even the worst GM says yes to that.

That’s the way we look at the Cleveland Browns’ opening salvo in the early stages of the off-season. They closed the season with no starting offensive linemen under contract for 2026, and GM Andrew Berry’s first moves where to get some linemen who should compete for starting jobs come training camp.

First, he traded for G/T Tytus Howard from the Houston Texans and signed him to a three-year contract. Then as free agency started, the Browns inked G Zion Johnson, formerly of the Los Angeles Chargers and C Elgton Jenkins from Green Bay, who was released.

Jenkins was a starter last season until his broke his leg, while Johnson started in 16 of the 17 games last year for the Chargers.

So now the Browns have three experienced starters on the offensive line, and still have Luke Wypler, who started five games at center for Cleveland after Ethan Pocic was injured.

Right now, you can project Wypler at center, Johnson and Jenkins at guard, and Howard at RT, leaving left tackle still up in the air.

We don’t know the ins and outs of offensive line play in football, but we do like what we hear about Georgia tackle Monroe Freeling, who is a left tackle, and is 6’7″, 315 pounds and is reported to be very athletic, and with long arms. Left tackle is a skill position in the NFL, and we would rather take a chance on athleticism.

Based on recent history, the Browns still need depth in this area, and they still have Dawand Jones, who has shown potential on the field, but has battled injuries in each of his three seasons in the pros, and they also resigned Teven Jenkins in the mix. Still, in addition to drafting a LT, we would also be looking for more depth on the line in the draft.

Cleveland also replaced LB Devin Bush, who signed with the Bears by signing Quincy Williams from the Jets. Williams played for new defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg when he was in New York and Jacksonville.

We aren’t upset about the Bush departure. He signed with the Browns after being a first round pick for the Steelers, and he had some injury issues there. He blossomed last year, but he’s really had one very good season out of seven in the pros, and to pay him based on that one year? He might have been a product of Jim Schwartz’ defense and playing next to Carson Schwesinger.

We understand the Browns don’t think this way, but they still need a QB to compete or back up Shedeur Sanders. Thinking that guy is Deshaun Watson, six years removed from being a good NFL quarterback is kind of insane.

Good for the Browns’ front office. They did the logical thing. They shouldn’t be criticized for addressing the offensive line, but really, they shouldn’t be praised either.

Browns’ Offense Needs A Total Overhaul

We think everyone would agree the Cleveland Browns have a terrible offense, and the statistics back that up. They were third from the bottom in total yards, ahead of only Tennessee and Las Vegas, 27th in rushing offense, and ahead of only the Jets in terms of passing yards.

How a team builds a great defense but has really, a pathetic offense is a question that should be directed at the front office, but of course in the times we live, they will not give you a straight answer.

Looking at the offensive side of the football, the only player who really should have a starting position locked up is TE Harold Fannin, who caught 72 passes a year ago for 731 yards and six touchdowns. If Joel Bitonio decides to come back for one more season, he can be locked in at left guard too.

That would still leave nine spots up for grabs, including quarterback. It appears GM Andrew Berry has his work cut out for him this off season.

The good news is the free agency period in the NFL starts this week and the Browns have nine picks in this year’s draft to fill all of the holes. Signing free agents is important because obviously you can’t start all rookies.

And yes, there are players who should have a leg on on starting positions. RB Quinshon Judkins was solid running behind perhaps the worst pair of tackles in the NFL. He gained 827 yards. but averaged only 3.6 yards per carry. Cleveland could use another runner to pair with Judkins, and we liked what we saw out of Raheim Sanders, a 230-pound back who was inactive (for some reason) for much of the 2025 season.

Berry did swing a trade last week, bringing in offensive lineman Tytus Howard from Houston. Howard is regarded as a very good pass blocker, but not as good in the running game playing right tackle for the Texans. Browns’ QBs were sacked the 7th most times in the league last year, so keeping the passer upright was definitely a priority.

So, if Bitonio comes back and Luke Wypler can hold down the center position, that’s three starting offensive linemen, and we would guess high picks will be used to fill the other two spots. Plus, you need depth, if there is anything we have learned from the Browns, it’s that injuries will happen.

We hear many people talk about Dawand Jones, and we think the tackle out of Ohio State has ability, but in three years, he can’t stay on the field. Todd Monken and the brass simply cannot rely on him. They have to plan that he will miss time, so perhaps being the sixth lineman would be a good spot.

So, the offensive line needs to be rebuilt, but don’t distract you from realizing the wide receiver position is also terrible. Don’t know the salary cap ramifications, but we’d move on from Jerry Jeudy. Isaiah Bond has big play potential. Cedric Tillman seems injury prone.

We’d like to see what Malachi Corley can do in the passing game, but that’s another spot to be addressed in both the draft and free agency, and maybe the trade market. There should be a lot of openings there.

Note, we haven’t even mentioned quarterback, but we’ve touched on that spot before. We’d get a veteran, like maybe Geno Smith and have him and Shedeur Sanders compete for the job. Maybe draft another QB on day three.

And we are intentional about not talking about anyone else.

It is doubtful a juggernaut can be built this spring, but the AFC North is in flux and as former Steelers’ coach Mike Tomlin said last year, the Browns’ defense is probably the best unit in the division.

With the right moves, they can compete. Don’t let them tell you about kicking the can down the road again. It’s a loser’s lament.

Berry Should Share At Least Equal Blame For Browns’ Mess

A few weeks ago, we said it was time for the Cleveland Browns to consider a coaching change. We were pushed over the edge watching an inept offense week after week.

The 17 point threshold is apparently difficult to get past, at least in Cleveland.

However, that doesn’t mean GM Andrew Berry should be off the hook (Paul DePodesta too, but that’s a different conversation). Yes, we know the 2025 draft class looks very good, and yes, we know Berry didn’t have a first round pick for the three prior seasons.

We write that last sentence knowing he was at least part of the decision to trade those picks in the Deshaun Watson trade, so he can’t be excused for not having the choices.

Shouldn’t Berry be part of the group who decides what kind of team the Cleveland Browns will be? A couple of years ago, we would have said they wanted to be a physical squad, running the ball with Nick Chubb and using a play-action passing game.

Defensively, they want to play man-to-man coverage and put a lot of pressure on the quarterback.

So, let’s look at the offense, since that is the huge problem right now.

The offensive line is a major problem, and Berry chose to draft two running backs and two quarterbacks and no linemen last draft. In 2024, he drafted Zak Zinter on the third round, and Zinter has not been active for any game this year.

He did draft two in ’23, Dawand Jones in the 4th round and Luke Wypler in the 6th, and drafted only one, Dawson Deaton in the 7th round in ’22. The year prior it was James Hudson on the 4th.

Jones is often injured and Wypler looks like he has a future. That’s all the GM has to show for the last five drafts.

His misses at the wide receiver position are also well documented. He coveted Jerry Jeudy for several years and then gave him a big contract during his first season with the Browns, by far the best of career.

Here are his draft picks: Anthony Schwartz (3rd round-2021), David Bell (3rd-’22), Michael Woods (5th-’22), Cedric Tillman (3rd-’23), Jamari Thrash (5th-’24). The last two of this group show promise, but there are no standouts to this point.

He signed Isaiah Bond as a free agent, and it seemed like the organization was patting itself on the back for that move, but Bond has shown little so far, and seems to have been handed a starting gig after Tillman was injured.

He also never drafted an heir apparent to Chubb as the running back was getting into his late twenties. A good general manager has to keep his roster prepared.

Berry has famously drafted only one Pro Bowler as well, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, in the drafts he has presided over. He has found good value on the undrafted free agent market, S Ronnie Hickman and LB Mohamoud Diabate stand out, but that doesn’t outweigh not getting impact players in the draft.

In short, what can Berry hang his hat on? He has strengthened the defense for sure, it’s one of the league’s best, but you can’t just have one strong unit in the NFL and win. Not to mention the team’s best player, Myles Garrett, was not selected by the current GM.

Does one solid draft mean Andrew Berry’s done a solid job. We say no. He is equally responsible for the failure of the Cleveland Browns.

Somehow, The Browns Pull Out A Win

The Cleveland Browns pulled a rabbit out of a hat Sunday and upset the Green Bay Packers 13-10 when Andre Szmyt made a 55-yard field goal as time expired.

The 0-6 start that many people predicted for the Browns won’t happen. But we think we speak for everyone in saying that halfway through the fourth quarter, we figured Kevin Stefanski’s crew was not only going to lose, but they were going to be shutout.

The offense took advantage of some penalties and got the ball to the Green Bay one with five minutes to go but got pushed back and had to settle for Szmyt’s first field goal. We imagine fans all over northeast Ohio were shaking their collective heads when the first down play was a rollout pass to reverse offensive lineman Luke Wypler.

Another instance of Stefanski trying to get too cute.

But an ill-advised pass by Jordan Love resulted in the Browns’ first turnover of the year, an interception by Grant Delpit and this time Cleveland punched it in to tie the game.

Then, a contribution by the special teams. Shelby Harris blocked a field goal with :21 left on the clock and gave the Browns one last chance.

There was great execution on a short pass to David Njoku, not in the play design, but in getting the offensive line back to the line of scrimmage so Joe Flacco could kill the clock and leave time for Szmyt’s heroics.

Unbelieveable

The reality about this football team is as long as they stay relatively healthy, the defense is going keep this team in games. It’s that good. Green Bay put up 266 and 404 yards in their first two games, both wins, but picked up 230 yards against Cleveland.

Cleveland’s defense had five sacks, as the Packers went into the game refusing to let Myles Garrett ruin their offense, and that created opportunities for everyone else.

Maliek Collins had a sack and a half, Alex Wright had one, Garrett and rookie Adin Huntington shared one, and the rookies also shined.

Carson Schwesinger continues to impress. He got his first sack and was in on 10 tackles. Mason Graham teamed up with Collins on a sack. And the defense allowed just 81 yards on the ground.

Right now, you can make the case they are the best defense in the league. And they haven’t faced any opponents that didn’t have solid, if not, high powered attacks.

Another rookie, RB Quinshon Judkins was a key in the fourth quarter, ripping off a 38-yard run in route to gaining 94 yards on the day.

The offensive line still appears to be a concern. Dawand Jones left the game in the first quarter and Jack Conklin missed the game again, so most of the way, the Browns were playing with Cornelius Lucas and KT Leveston were playing outside.

Flacco heard boos during the game as the Browns couldn’t muster much of an offense, maybe due to the offensive line play, and maybe because Stefanski has preached not putting the ball in harms’ way.

Right now, he is checking down virtually every pass play. The longest pass plays were a 17-yard toss to Jerry Jeudy and another to Isaiah Bond. There was a 13-yard play to Harold Fannin Jr., where he basically carried defenders to get that much yardage.

If we were defending the Browns, we would put nine in the box to stop Judkins and dare Flacco to air it out. And if defenses do that, it makes it difficult for Stefanski to establish the ground game.

However, a win is a win. The gauntlet doesn’t get any easier with a visit to Detroit, another high-powered offense next week.

Fair Or Not, Browns Need To Show Progress

Based on the emotionality of Cleveland Browns’ fans, we shouldn’t be surprised that the frustration level is rising after a 41-17 drubbing at the hands of the Baltimore Ravens last Sunday.

And when that happens, you hear fans calling for the head coach’s job, even though they have played just two games.

In reality, if ownership or the front office would be willing to move on from Kevin Stefanski following two games, then they shouldn’t have brought him back for the 2025 season. If a coach starts the season on the hot seat, the team should have fired him.

It’s simply not fair.

On the other hand, reports that GM Andrew Berry and Stefanski being safe no matter what happens are probably a load of bull as well. The Browns were 3-14 a year ago, and we doubt another final record not showing improvement won’t play well with the Haslam family. You certainly can’t have back-to-back seasons like that in the NFL.

We have been a supporter of Stefanski over the years, mostly because he has made the playoffs twice and also because at some point, you have to stop the cycle of changing coaches every two or three years. This is Stefanski’s sixth season, so the latter has been accomplished.

Stefanski’s strength is offense, he came to the Browns after serving as the Vikings’ offensive coordinator, but the last time Cleveland scored more than 17 points in a game was game #13 for the Browns a year ago, a 41-32 loss to Denver. That’s a seven-game span.

We think he wants to run the ball. With Minnesota, his offense ranked fourth in the NFL in rushing attempts and in his first four years in Cleveland, the Browns were in the top ten. Of course, he had Dalvin Cook with the Vikings and Nick Chubb here, so of course you would want to run it.

Since Chubb got hurt last year, the Browns are throwing the ball a lot. It would be great if they had a tremendous stable of wide receivers, but they don’t. Through two games, the leading receivers are rookie TE Harold Fannin and rookie RB Dylan Sampson.

The team drafted Quinshon Judkins in the second round, presumably to be the primary runner, and hopefully, he gets a heavy dose of carries going forward. So, we shall see if that’s the case.

We will say that it’s hard to run the ball without solid offensive line play, and right now, it doesn’t look like the Browns have that. They didn’t really bother to make changes in the off-season, signing a couple of reverses in Cornelius Lucas and Teven Jenkins, and bringing back the oft-injured Jack Conkin.

Perhaps a change there is in order. Dawand Jones has struggled at left tackle, but does the team have an option? It has been said they like Luke Wypler, who missed last season with an injury, so why not take a look at him?

But we digress. The point is the NFL, and all professional sports are results based, and right now Kevin Stefanski needs to show some results. It’s only two games in, but the natives are getting restless. A few more games like last Sunday, particularly on the offensive side of the ball, and the discontent will get louder.

Can’t Argue Browns Draft Picks At Least Make Sense

For more years than we care to remember, the NFL Draft has been sort of the Super Bowl for Browns’ fans. With the trade for Deshaun Watson last year, the front office decided to pretty much do the same thing the organization has done with the championship game, that is, sit it out.

We also feel that some Browns’ fans watch the selection process and feel that every player picked by the team’s divisional rivals are destined to be inducted in Canton someday, while Cleveland’s picks will never pan out.

That’s what three winning seasons in the 21st century will do to a fan base.

We aren’t going to sit here and pretend we know how the players the Browns just selected will turn out. That can’t be done for several years. What we can comment on is whether or not the picks make sense.

And quite frankly, we don’t have any beef about the players making any sense.

Yes, you can argue about the lack of linebackers, a position group the Cleveland front office seems to not value, and we can see the point of the discussion. They did sign Utah LB Mohamoud Diabate after the draft to a guaranteed deal.

Their first selection at pick #74, WR Cedric Tillman battled injuries last year, but in 2021 he caught 64 passes for 1081 yards and 12 touchdowns for Tennessee. More likely than not (and draft experts agree), he would have been drafted much higher had he been healthy in ’22.

Stopping the run was a problem for the team last year and they did address the situation in free agency by inking Dalvin Tomlinson, but they added a defensive tackle that should help in 6’4″, 358 pound Siaki Ika out of Baylor.

We don’t think you can ever have too much depth at certain positions on the football field. Teams should always be looking at players who can get after the opposing quarterback and also guys who protect the passer. And like pitching in baseball, you can never have enough cornerbacks.

GM Andrew Berry addressed those spots as well, drafting a pass rusher in Isaiah McGuire from Missouri, and two Ohio State offensive linemen in T Dawand Jones and C Luke Wypler. Jones is intriguing just by his size, listed at 6’8″ and 350 pounds, but likely more than that.

If offensive line coach Bill Callahan works his magic with Jones, Cleveland likely has found its ultimate replacement for Jack Conklin.

And they also added another corner, Greg Newsome’s former teammate at Northwestern, Cam Mitchell.

We would guess the pick debated the most is the selection of UCLA QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson in the fifth round. No problem here, we kind of agree with former Green Bay GM Ron Wolf in believing a team should take a quarterback every year.

Josh Dobbs is Watson’s back up in the short term and we would guess Thompson-Robinson will compete with Kellen Mond to be the long-term guy.

And best-case scenario is one of those QBs has a great exhibition season and a desperate team offers you a draft pick for him. It could even be better if Watson misses a game or two (that’s not the good part) and the substitute plays great in the regular season game.

You just never know.

You also won’t know about this draft for a few years. One thing we do know is that Berry is going to have to make some tough decisions this upcoming season on players he selected. For the first time, he will have to cut a few of them it would seem.