Browns at a crossroads: Where Cleveland went unsuitable in 2024, and what comes subsequent

LAS COLINAS, Texas — Jimmy Haslam confidently stepped by means of the halls of the Ritz-Carlton Las Colinas close to Dallas on a Wednesday in December, unhurried however with goal.

The 70-year-old Cleveland Browns proprietor wore orangish-brown slacks with an off-white blazer, a folder curled in his proper hand, the contents of that are reserved for NFL billionaires. The league’s house owners conferences had simply adjourned. Between greetings to the reporters and league officers scattered within the resort hallways, Haslam, nonetheless on the transfer, was requested concerning the state of his staff.

He acknowledged the three-win Browns had a variety of work to do. When requested what that work appeared like, he chuckled barely, an acknowledgement of the heavy raise forward.

“Yeah, I imply, I believe we have now a variety of wants as a staff,” the Browns proprietor advised ESPN. “We should prioritize these. We went from 11-6 and making the playoffs to 3-10. So, it is a bit of perplexing precisely what occurred.”

Roughly 1,200 miles away on the Browns’ coaching facility in Berea, Ohio, head coach Kevin Stefanski and basic supervisor Andrew Berry had been getting ready for that Sunday’s matchup with the NFL-leading Kansas City Chiefs, attempting to establish hope in a misplaced season and pondering a number of the similar questions Haslam cited. Stefanski and Berry will doubtless be on the forefront of an effort to show round one of many NFL’s storied however notoriously star-crossed franchises, shifting the group, now 3-13 headed right into a Saturday contest on the Ravens (4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC/ESPN+), within the basic course of what can be its elusive first Super Bowl.

Meanwhile close to his dwelling in Miami, injured quarterback Deshaun Watson rehabbed the surgically repaired torn proper Achilles that ended his season on Oct. 20. No prognosis of what has gone unsuitable in Cleveland, and no prescription for fixing it, can ignore Watson’s presence within the matter. It was Haslam who signed Watson to a completely assured five-year, $230 million contract in 2022. It is Stefanski and Berry who’ve been charged with turning that funding into profitable soccer, however principally they’ve needed to work round it. Watson’s three seasons in Cleveland have been beset by suspension, harm and poor play in almost equal measure. He has missed 32 out of 51 doable regular-season video games with Cleveland and 49 of a doable 68 video games general since 2021.

Haslam, Stefanski and Berry should confront that previous as they lay out a plan for the Browns’ future. The bulk of the work Haslam referenced as he negotiated that Ritz-Carlton hallway continues to be forward. And crucial gadgets on the record will come within the type of crucial choices.

THE BROWNS’ 2024 fall from grace was precipitous. Hindsight suggests it was additionally preventable.

It was one yr in the past that Cleveland was among the many NFL’s feel-good tales, with Joe Flacco the unlikely 38-year-old face of a resurgence after the Browns signed him off the road in November. With Watson misplaced for the season to a shoulder harm, Flacco offered the steadying hand the Browns wanted throughout a 4-1 end that landed them within the playoffs, a complement to the NFL’s No. 1 protection led by Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett. The Browns misplaced within the playoffs to the Texans however appeared like a viable postseason contender in 2024 if they may work out the QB room and play to the strengths of the offense.

They could not.

With Watson set to return, the staff opted to not deliver Flacco again in free company. Part of the choice was calculated roster-building — the Browns count on to obtain a sixth-round choose as compensation for Flacco’s signing with the Indianapolis Colts. But Flacco had develop into a fan favourite, and one supply with data of Cleveland’s pondering believed that having Flacco maintain the clipboard would have been a bone of native competition each time Watson missed a learn or a receiver.

“I 100% consider that was an element, the necessity to not have him hanging over Watson as he constructed his confidence,” the supply stated.

A entrance workplace supply denied this notion, saying the transfer away from Flacco was solely a soccer choice.

Instead, Cleveland signed free brokers Jameis Winston and Tyler Huntley (Huntley can be reduce in August) — unquestioned backups with no historical past sporting brown and orange — and introduced again Dorian Thompson-Robinson, a fifth-round 2023 draft alternative it believed had promise. In Winston, the Browns bought 9 years youthful and about $500,000 cheaper on the backup quarterback spot. Winston expressed his eagerness to help Watson, about whom the staff was assured getting into his third season in Cleveland.

Amid the QB shuffle, one other crucial change obtained much less nationwide consideration — the swap from offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt to Ken Dorsey, a transfer that was curious to folks each contained in the constructing and out.

The Browns had been a good tenth in factors and sixteenth in yards in 2023, and Van Pelt’s offense had moved the ball successfully regardless of inconsistent quarterback play and season-ending accidents to Watson and working again Nick Chubb.

“That was head-scratching to me,” an ex-Stefanski aide stated. “They had a system that labored whatever the quarterback and had received greater than Cleveland had in a very long time. For issues to instantly change, that does not strike me as one thing he would need.”

Multiple Browns gamers advised ESPN they had been shocked by the choice to half methods with Van Pelt, which got here 4 days after their season resulted in Houston, whereas conceding the traditional nature of NFL workers turnover from yr to yr.

Van Pelt, who served as Browns OC from 2020 to 2023, had been in lockstep with Stefanski’s ideas. The Cleveland offense was often called a run-efficient, play-action assault powered by legendary O-line coach Bill Callahan’s gap-scheme runs — and had allowed the Browns to have success even with an unstable quarterback scenario.

But the identical sources who had been puzzled by the transfer from Van Pelt to Dorsey additionally knew why Stefanski made it: To maximize Watson, who may run Stefanski’s system however did not excel at it. Watson’s greatest years got here in Houston with a spread-it-out assault that consisted of shotgun formations and run-pass possibility performs — calling playing cards of a Dorsey offense. Callahan’s departure to hitch his son Brian’s workers in Tennessee introduced extra change to the group.

The adjustments didn’t deliver out one of the best in Watson or the Cleveland offense, which appeared caught between two worlds. Watson struggled mightily because the season started, lacking open targets and looking out uncomfortable within the pocket. The Browns by no means reached 20 factors in Watson’s seven 2024 begins — all video games during which Stefanski, not Dorsey, known as the performs — and the quarterback was final in QBR (23.5) by a large margin, trying up on the Titans’ Will Levis (27.0) on the backside.

As guard Joel Bitonio noticed it, the Browns had been implementing a Dorsey passing recreation — together with extra no-huddle offense — whereas sustaining a few of Stefanski’s core working ideas for the returning offensive linemen, and even including some Eagles run-game ideas introduced in by assistant offensive line coach Roy Istvan, beforehand with Philadelphia.

“We had been fighting our id,” Bitonio stated. “The gamers weren’t executing what was known as. We hadn’t actually figured it out.”

“I nonetheless query the match between Deshaun and Stefanski,” an NFL scouting director stated. “He would not throw with rhythm, on time. And Cleveland, enjoying in these situations, it wants a gradual run recreation, not a spread-it-out assault.”

A staff supply pushed again on that barely, calling it “a bit of too pronounced” to imagine Watson cannot function Stefanski’s play-action or Stefanski cannot adapt to Watson. It’s doable Watson can run Stefanski’s type — there have been flashes like a 2023 win at Baltimore when it has appeared like he may — it is simply not his robust swimsuit.

When Winston took over as QB1 with Watson misplaced for the 2024 season to the Achilles harm and the Browns sitting at 1-6, Stefanski relinquished playcalling to Dorsey. This prompted Winston to strategy Stefanski with questions, in accordance with a participant supply. Winston had signed with the Browns partly due to his eagerness to run Stefanski’s offense, believing his energy lied with play-action and under-center work. Stefanski, the supply recalled, was understanding of Winston’s considerations and advised him to belief the workers’s potential to maximise his ability set and retain components with which he was comfy.

No large announcement was made to the staff or offense relating to the playcaller change, in accordance with a number of participant sources. One participant came upon when Stefanski was requested throughout a midweek information convention. Another observed when the week of preparation started and Dorsey was the one calling performs.

The change wasn’t met with any robust adverse emotions, in accordance with a number of gamers, with one characterizing the playcaller shift because the pure order of issues for a struggling offense. Another participant supply thought the change would result in a extra aggressive strategy from Dorsey, who has sometimes been extra pass-happy as a playcaller.

“We thought we had been about to eat,” the supply stated, “we have now a very good playbook.”

Whatever Winston’s preliminary reservations, the Winston-Dorsey marriage introduced some enchancment in Cleveland. Opposing coordinators say Dorsey did a formidable job reducing the sphere in half to outline Winston’s reads so he may make the most of his arm. Dorsey’s offense additionally confirmed much less reliance on the two-TE units and play-action hole schemes that had been a Stefanski/Callahan staple. A Winston-authored upset of the first-place Steelers on a snowy Thursday night time in November was among the many staff’s few 2024 highlights.

But Winston was benched in December after throwing eight interceptions over a three-game stretch, prompting a change to Thompson-Robinson, who by means of two 2024 begins has not offered a lot of a spark. Stefanski didn’t instantly decide to a beginning QB for Saturday’s finale, and later stated each Thompson-Robinson and present third-stringer Bailey Zappe may see time.

The struggles on offense have affected the protection, which has been on the sphere for 1,004 snaps by means of 16 video games — the precise quantity the 2023 protection performed over 17 video games. Team sources felt the protection, which suffered a number of key accidents within the entrance seven, tried to overcompensate for the failings of the offense and pressed consequently. On particular groups, kicker Dustin Hopkins has adopted up a robust 2023 by lacking a league-high 9 kicks this season.

The season has raised extra questions than it has clarified, with the plans at quarterback that includes most prominently within the debate.

Should Stefanski revert to the scheme he feels most comfy with in 2025, even when it is not one of the best match for Watson? Should Dorsey, who was employed with the assumption he’d get essentially the most out of Watson, have a possibility to name the performs for Watson? How do Winston and Thompson-Robinson slot in, if in any respect?

These are the soccer questions, however they are not the one questions nor are they essentially the most troublesome questions the Browns should face. Can Watson regain his confidence? Is it doable for him to regain it in Cleveland?

Watson, who has visited Cleveland a number of instances because the harm for rehab checkups, has given the impression that he nonetheless very a lot desires to make it work with the Browns and assist deliver Cleveland a winner, a supply near the participant stated.

But what should occur to make sure he delivers?

“I believe the principle factor for him is getting full command of the offense and working it constantly,” stated the supply.

A CORNER HAD been turned on Nov. 12, 2023. Or so the Browns thought.

On the street, towards one of many league’s greatest groups in a heated divisional recreation, Watson stood tall within the pocket to steer Cleveland to a 33-31 comeback victory over eventual AFC No. 1 seed Baltimore, finishing all 14 of his second-half makes an attempt for 134 yards and a landing.

The Browns, who had constructed a profitable roster round a quarterback who had but to take flight, flashed the big potential promised. There had been earlier glimpses, however this felt completely different.

“There was momentum internally and externally [for Watson] popping out of the Baltimore recreation,” a Browns personnel supply stated. “The nice what-if.”

The optimism lasted a couple of hours. Watson damage his throwing shoulder throughout the comeback, on a 16-yard scramble late within the fourth quarter, and an MRI revealed a displaced fracture to the glenoid in his shoulder. He would miss the rest of the season.

Nothing has been the identical since that final play in Baltimore. Any imaginative and prescient of Watson revitalizing the Browns’ passing assault vaporized in 2024.

As Watson rehabs one other harm in Miami, greater than 1,200 miles away from his teammates, the remainder of the NFL world wonders the place he will probably be in eight months. Even when contemplating the problem of recovering from an Achilles tear — Aaron Rodgers and Kirk Cousins each had substandard seasons in 2024 coming off the identical harm, although each are significantly older than the 29-year-old Watson — the bodily is just not the chief concern for many league observers.

“If he is proper mentally, then he ought to be capable of win a quarterback competitors in two days along with his athleticism and arm,” an NFL coordinator stated of Watson.

But the psychological piece is a variable that may’t be quantified, and maybe partially a byproduct of Watson’s lack of time on job on the recreation’s hardest place. When combining his Houston holdout, his 11-game suspension for violation of the league’s private conduct coverage and his accidents, Watson has been accessible for simply 19 regular-season video games since 2021.

Coaches and evaluators haven’t given up on Watson’s uncooked potential, and the previous first-round choose is considered as a tough employee and a very good teammate inside the locker room. How he’s perceived off the sphere is harder to sq..

Watson made nationwide headlines after greater than two dozen girls accused him of sexual assault and inappropriate conduct throughout therapeutic massage periods, resulting in his 2022 suspension. Whether it had extra to do along with his soccer or off-field previous, cheers had been audible at Huntington Bank Field when Watson lay injured on the turf in October, drawing a rebuke from some of Watson’s teammates. He has but to win the help of many Cleveland followers who, past any ethical problems, typically view his $230 million contract as an albatross.

“I nonetheless assume he is tremendous gifted,” an NFL coordinator stated. “But it seems to be a neck-up challenge, and with the non-public stuff, soccer has develop into secondary. You cannot ignore the fan base. If they do not settle for him, he’ll by no means have an opportunity to enhance.”

Some within the constructing agree that Watson’s points are associated to confidence, and say even with 21 missed video games prior to now two seasons due to harm, the notion he has bodily deteriorated is likely to be overblown.

“There’s nothing in his bodily ability set that means he cannot nonetheless be productive,” a staff supply stated.

Cutting Watson now would price the Browns $92 million in money and $119 million in lifeless wage cap if designated as a post-June 1 launch ($173 million if a pre-June 1 reduce). The team reworked Watson’s contract Dec. 27, including two void years to the deal, which permits Cleveland to push out his lifeless wage cap determine into 2030 when the wage cap will make its normal incremental improve and the lifeless cap hit is not as pronounced. The transfer alerts Watson will doubtless be on the Browns roster in 2025 and probably 2026.

Additional void years or not, reducing Watson now would simply break league information set when the Broncos parted methods with Russell Wilson final yr. The Broncos paid all however $1 million of Wilson’s $39 million in 2024 ensures, together with planning round $53 million in lifeless cash. Several league sources consider that like with Wilson, no staff would tackle Watson’s contract in a commerce, even when closely discounted.

“Holding on simply due to the cash will solely delay the inevitable,” an NFL nationwide scout of the Browns’ QB choice. “You noticed what Denver did, and they’re doing OK. The Browns would simply have to do this on an even bigger scale.”

Browns staff sources acknowledge it’s protected to imagine Watson will probably be again with the staff in some capability in 2025, but in addition warning it is “too early” to make sweeping determinations. They additionally acknowledge Watson’s harm historical past “has to” be a consider its plan going ahead, and established order within the quarterback room is not an possibility given the tumult of this season. One staff supply stated “any veteran with starter’s expertise” will probably be evaluated by the Browns, together with present Atlanta Falcons backup Kirk Cousins, ought to he develop into accessible as anticipated. The supply conceded that Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold, thought-about the highest free agent quarterback, may show too pricey, assuming he is even available on the market. But the aim is evident: Strengthen the quarterback room with the assets on the staff’s disposal.

The working concept leaguewide is the Browns maintain Watson for yet one more yr and foster competitors with one other veteran and/or draft choose, tightening the partitions round Watson and forcing him to win the job. Team sources take into account such a situation — Watson battling it out with one other vet for QB1 standing in camp — doable. The Browns even have a 93.2% likelihood of getting a top-5 choose in April’s draft.

“What do you say to your staff if you happen to deliver [Watson] again [to start]?” a veteran NFL participant agent stated. “My guess is that they take somebody very excessive within the draft.”

The staff will not rule out a Winston return, per staff sources. Thompson-Robinson, the starter in Weeks 16 and 17, may return as a backup. The free agent quarterback class contains Flacco, Wilson, Justin Fields, Jarrett Stidham, Carson Wentz, Andy Dalton and Jacoby Brissett, who was satisfactory as a starter for Cleveland in 2022. Bucs backup Kyle Trask, a former Day 2 choose, has been buried behind Tom Brady and Baker Mayfield on the Buccaneers’ depth chart for 4 years however is an intriguing expertise who may drive a market in March.

Some across the league have famous that Cousins, benched by the Falcons in Week 16, as soon as performed for Stefanski in Minnesota and may very well be accessible on a budget this offseason. Atlanta owes Cousins $27.5 million in ensures and is anticipated to chop him before a $10 million roster bonus is due in March. Cousins had one among his greatest NFL seasons underneath Stefanski’s playcalling in 2019, with a 69.1 completion share and 26 touchdowns to 6 interceptions. Getting him for the league minimal and channeling a few of that pre-injury effectivity — whereas additionally probably drafting and creating a younger quarterback — may very well be a profitable technique for Cleveland.

“[The Browns] must go get their man,” an AFC government stated. “If it is protected to imagine that Deshaun is just not that, then there’s actually no different alternative.”

AS RUMORS AND hypothesis swirled about Stefanski’s job safety earlier this season, a number of gamers publicly and privately expressed help for him. Two locker room sources stated Stefanski’s messaging has not grown stale regardless of the staff’s struggles. One famous how Stefanski’s willingness to relinquish playcalling duties was an instance of his flexibility and willingness to pore over the staff’s course of in the hunt for an answer. Another praised his “demeanor” in a troublesome season and famous “you may not all the time know what he is pondering, however … he is so methodical.”

One mild criticism of Stefanski amongst a couple of Browns gamers through the years had been that they won’t get to know him on a private stage like different coaches. Soul-baring is not precisely his factor, although one ex-Stefanski aide says the coach typically opts to present the locker room its house, particularly throughout profitable instances, as a technique to maintain the emphasis on participant relationships.

But gamers say Stefanski has proven a extra weak facet this season, beginning throughout coaching camp at The Greenbrier resort. At an annual staff bonding train, designed to get a deeper understanding of a participant’s journey to the NFL, Stefanski participated for the primary time.

“He was going by means of lots along with his greatest good friend going by means of most cancers,” recalled Bitonio of Stefanski’s message. “But you do not know that. He talked about rising up along with his dad (former Sixers and Nets basic supervisor Ed Stefanski) within the NBA for some time. You noticed the emotion from the man who on a day-to-day foundation, you do not get that.”

Bitonio additionally famous a change this season, with Stefanski spending extra time within the offensive line assembly rooms over the previous two months than he had the previous 5 years, an indication of a person buying and selling a play sheet for dialog.

The relationship between Stefanski and Berry is robust, with the 2 rising nearer as they’ve endured essentially the most attempting skilled season of their lives. The two meet every Thursday for a couple of half hour, a entrance workplace supply confirmed. Sometimes, they small-talk about children or life. Other instances, they run by means of staffing, hypotheticals, big-ticket gadgets concerning the Browns — it is basically a venting session for the mind belief.

The franchise’s worst season because the notorious 0-16 marketing campaign of 2017 has elicited a variety of venting. This actuality a minimum of prompts a query, in mild of a shaky QB scenario and Stefanski’s cachet as a two-time NFL Coach of the Year: Would he attempt to enter the teaching carousel and develop into a candidate with different groups? That would require a commerce, on account of his current contract extension. Industry sources who’re requested this query typically lean towards no, that the curiosity would not be robust sufficient coming off a three- or four-win season throughout which Stefanski gave up playcalling for the primary time. And, in accordance with one staff supply, such a swap wouldn’t align along with his make-up.

“He likes difficult instances,” a training supply stated of Stefanski. “One of his strengths is character and management, and I believe he is leaned on that in a troublesome season.”

Despite the Browns’ lack of sustained profitable, the staff’s cornerstone defensive star Garrett expressed confidence within the Stefanski-Berry decision-making duo and restated his want to stay in Cleveland.

“We bought these guys proper there main the cost organizationally,” Garrett stated. “Them being right here, wanting to choose up the proper items and play will give me confidence. As lengthy as that is the way it’s trying, how it’s, I need to be right here, and I’ll be completely happy to play for Cleveland.”

Garrett, although, added that he had no want for a rebuild and supposed to talk with the staff’s decision-makers relating to their offseason plans — together with on the quarterback place. He has two years remaining on the five-year extension he signed in 2020, and if he signed a brand new take care of the Browns it may assist deliver Cleveland cap reduction. Garrett’s pro-continuity feedback had been interpreted by some as an ultimatum concerning the Browns’ course.

“As unsure as it’s from the surface trying in, it is unsure for us as properly,” Garrett stated. “So, if [Thompson-Robinson] is the answer or another person, it is bought to be drawn out. There has bought to be a plan of motion and simply bought to know the place issues are going.”

Browns sources insist a tear-down rebuild is just not coming, they usually be aware Berry, who declined to be interviewed for this story, is a measured but aggressive basic supervisor, which has traditionally yielded loads of offseason exercise. Defensive sort out Dalvin Tomlinson, proper sort out Jack Conklin, tight finish Austin Hooper and security John Johnson III had been among the many highest-paid free brokers at their positions within the years that Berry signed them. Trades for huge receiver Amari Cooper, huge receiver Jerry Jeudy and defensive finish Za’Darius Smith had been notable. The Browns will probably be “opportunistic” in enhancing the roster this offseason as properly, a personnel supply stated.

Internally, the Browns take into account this offseason a pivot yr, with eight big-money contracts — together with tight finish David Njoku, Tomlinson, Conklin and fellow offensive lineman Wyatt Teller — reaching the non-guaranteed stage in 2025. The Browns are additionally set to make 11 picks within the 2025 draft, together with their first first-round choose since 2021, which is able to land at No. 3 or greater with a loss to the Ravens.

“We have a variety of flexibility,” a entrance workplace supply stated. “We’ll be superb from a cap standpoint. That’s the very last thing I’m fearful about.”

That sentiment comes regardless of the immovable hurdle that’s Watson’s contract, with its $72.9 million cap hit. Another restructure, which converts the $46 million 2025 wage to a bonus and unfold over a number of years, may give Cleveland extra respiration room. The Browns anticipate the wage cap will land someplace between $277 million and $280 million.

Whatever his viewpoint on Watson, Haslam is anticipated to remain the course with Stefanski and Berry. He has tens of millions of causes to do this based mostly on the contract extensions he gave them both almost seven months in the past. Stefanski and Berry have been collectively 5 seasons, longer than any tandem since Haslam bought the staff in 2012, and that continuity, together with two playoff berths, is one thing that a number of business sources consider Haslam nonetheless values.

Haslam, who has battled labels in league circles as a meddling proprietor, has made obvious makes an attempt at endurance. He advised ESPN from December’s house owners conferences that he has realized “to not get too emotional throughout the season” and make all future concerns as soon as the yr concludes. Team sources stated Haslam has been much less impulsive this season than in years previous. An absence of sweeping adjustments would reinforce that. Multiple ex-Browns workers members from previous seasons advised ESPN they consider Haslam had a direct affect on why they had been let go, however staff sources preserve the picture of Haslam as a puppet grasp is inaccurate and he’s “very receptive” to concepts that assist the Browns win so long as they’re thought-out and well-researched.

In late July at The Greenbrier resort, making his first public feedback because the Stefanski and Berry extensions, Haslam stated there was a “probably very excessive ceiling for each of them.” Asked about his expectations for the season, Haslam stated he felt assured concerning the staff’s basis however famous that “issues occur.”

In the face of one other season with double-digit losses, the proprietor should now take into account what issues must occur subsequent.