NFL Notebook: 2025 Cleveland Browns Preview

The Browns had high hopes coming into 2024, fresh off an 11-6 playoff season—the second time they had made the postseason under head coach Kevin Stefanski. But even though Stefanski seems to be a pretty decent coach, he can’t change the fact that…well, these are the Browns. And the ’24 campaign turned into an injury-riddled mess that ended 3-14 and left the team again looking for answers.

THE QB CAROUSEL—BUT BIGGER PROBLEMS UP FRONT

The quarterback room has been the subject of everything from serious discussion to jokes to arguments. Stefanski has to choose from retread veteran Joe Flacco, Steeler washout Kenny Pickett and a pair of rookies, Dillon Gabriel from Oregon and the divisive Shedeur Sanders out of Colorado. Like most teams, the quarterback spot gets all the attention and the eclectic group of personalities, highlighted by Shedeur, make this one even more click-bait worthy. But a bigger question has to be asked—who’s going to block?

Cleveland’s offensive line is terrible. Every single starter grades out below the league average at Pro Football Focus. Only right tackle Jack Conklin has any realistic hope of doing better in 2025. Whomever “wins” the starting QB job is going to be running for his life.

WEAPONS GOING TO WASTE

The lack of an offensive line is unfortunate, because Jerome Ford has some potential at running back, as he officially takes over for the oft-injured Nick Chubb, who is now in Houston. Quinshon Judkins, a local hero for his role in Ohio State’s national championship run last year, is also in the backfield.

Jerry Jeudy is a legit wide receiver if there’s someone who can get him the ball down the field. David Njoku is at least interesting an tight end—the numbers aren’t flashy, but they’re respectable and he’s an athlete.

In the end though, the combination of complete instability at quarterback (and we haven’t even covered the fact DeShaun Watson may be back midseason from an Achilles injury) and a bad offensive line mean the Cleveland offense looks on track to repeat their performance last year, when they finished dead last in the NFL for points scored.  

MYLES GARRETT DESERVES BETTER

Myles Garrett is starting to look like the Mike Trout of the NFL—the Hall of Fame player who just keeps producing but is destined to do it in obscurity on a non-contender. Garrett had another vintage year on the edge, getting 14 sacks and finishing third in the Defensive Player of the Year voting.

Devin Bush is one of the league’s better linebackers and the Browns are set at free safety with Ronnie Hickman Jr.  Denzel Ward is a respectable corner. Cleveland also used their top draft picks on the side of the ball. Mason Graham was the first-round choice out of Michigan, and he’ll slot in at defensive tackle. The second-round pick was Carson Schwesinger, a middle linebacker out of UCLA.

There’s problems on this side of the ball to be sure, including a big hole opposite Ward at corner. But there’s star power and enough for aggressive coordinator Jim Schwartz to cook something up. The bigger issue is whether this defense will constantly be put in bad positions by the woeful offense and see its own numbers suffer because of it.

OUTLOOK

Betting markets see Cleveland as the worst team in the league, with an Over/Under on wins at 5.5. That’s justified pessimism in its own right and that’s even before we consider the fact they’re in a division with three other contenders. I won’t say any one team is the worst before I’ve reviewed them all, but there is absolutely no reason for hope on the banks of Lake Erie this year. It’s a good thing Ohio State can keep the fan base occupied on Saturdays.