The Cleveland Browns have some tough waters to navigate this offseason. Last year, the team went on a magical run with Joe Flacco at quarterback. This year felt cursed. Deshaun Watson looked awful in the first part of the season before he tore his Achilles. Dorian Thompson-Robinson isn’t the answer, and Jameis Winston is a roller coaster to watch. Injuries continued to be a problem as well. The questions surrounding this team are endless. Here are the three most important ones this offseason.
1. Will We Ever See Deshaun Watson Again In A Cleveland Browns Uniform?
This was a question for the Cleveland Browns before the news from yesterday. Watson reportedly retore his Achilles, putting next season in jeopardy. It seems the earliest he could return to the field would be 2026. We saw this year with Aaron Rodgers and Kirk Cousins that this type of injury is tough to come back from. When he recovers, he will be 30 years old and has not played football in over a year. His contract still has two more years on it, and the cap hit is massive. He will count for $72.9 million against the cap over the next two years.
The injury may work to the team’s advantage. Reports indicate if Watson misses all of next year due to injury, they could get some salary cap relief. The Denver Broncos have shown you can build a playoff roster with a massive amount of dead money. With the second overall pick, the Cleveland Browns could decide to go in a different direction. If they do, Watson has probably played his last down. Even if they don’t pick a quarterback, the Browns should probably just move on at this point.
2. Can The Team Make Myles Garrett Happy?
If a 3-14 season wasn’t enough for fans of the Cleveland Browns, star pass rusher Myles Garrett expressed he did not want to be a part of a rebuild. He wants to win now. The 29-year-old knows he can still play at an elite level, but the window closes fast in the NFL. He has been the best player on the team for the past eight years. The former Texas A&M star has 102.5 sacks, 20 forced fumbles, and 352 tackles in his eight-year career. He has won Defensive Player of the Year once and has been named First-Team All-Pro four out of the last five years. Losing him would be a huge blow.
The small silver lining is if he does demand a trade, the Cleveland Browns could get a haul for him. He has shown no signs of slowing down, posting double-digit sacks seven straight years. One way to reset a roster is to make a massive trade. They have been on the other side of it. The team gave the Houston Texans a king’s ransom for Watson, and it has helped catapult that franchise to the playoffs. They should try and keep him at all costs but if it doesn’t work out, they can make the best out of a bad situation.
3. What Should They Do With The Second Overall Pick?
This will be a debate for the next 100 days. The quarterback class this year isn’t as strong as last year. The Cleveland Browns would be getting the leftovers from the Tennessee Titans pick. Taking a quarterback just because is not a smart decision. If they love the player, by all means, but taking one just to take one is dumb. After the College Football Playoff semifinal game on Thursday night, Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter has been a popular pick for the Browns. He dominated despite having an injured shoulder, and he allows the team flexibility.
If Garrett decides to stay, they have an edge-rushing duo of Garrett and Carter that would terrorize quarterbacks. If Garrett decides it is time to move on, the Cleveland Browns still have a building block on the defensive line. All options are on the table. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to build the trenches on the offensive line, setting the foundation for the future. They also need wide receiver help, and Tet McMillan has many scouts salivating. A god-tier offer could come in for the pick as well. The 3-14 season wasn’t great, but the Browns have lots of options with the second overall pick.
Final Thoughts
The Cleveland Browns have some decisions to make. They have solid pieces on the roster, and some of the issues are out of their control. Injuries happen, and there is not much teams can do about it. Another advantage the Browns have is Kevin Stefanski has retained his position. The two-time Coach of the Year has shown he can make the best out of a bad situation. They have many questions heading into this offseason, and it will be interesting to see how they navigate it.
