How Should The Cleveland Browns Move Forward?
Feb 28, 2023; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry speaks to the press at the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Would it even be an NFL season if the Cleveland Browns didn’t have drama following them every single week? It started with Odell Beckham Jr.’s dad posting a video on YouTube of his son being open and has landed at our $230 million franchise quarterback seemingly not wanting to play.
Now saying Deshaun Watson doesn’t want to play for the Cleveland Browns is likely a huge stretch. Just to lay the facts out, he’s never once said that, but it’s also hard to come to that conclusion.
Three games ago (or 4 weeks with the bye), Watson missed practice with a shoulder injury but said he would face the Ravens on Sunday. He then missed two games (including the Ravens) and had the bye week to heal up. He then gave it a go on Sunday vs. the Colts, looked horrible, and after one big hit was all but benched by Kevin Stefanski.
The word “benched” is likely harsh, but he was cleared medically to return, and Stefanski said it was his decision to hold him back. And here we are headed into a huge game at Seattle that feels winnable, and Watson is once again out.
Is this another situation where you give Watson another week and he can return vs. the Cardinals at home which is an inferior defense? Or is this a serious injury that is going to continue to drag on unless he takes time off and gets healthy?
I’m not saying the wheels have fallen off the car just yet, but this drama is slowly coming to a head and with one wrong move, it could pop. With a defense as good as the Browns, here are a few easy moves the team could make to help get through the Watson injury.
Bolster the Offensive Line:
Even if Watson does come back, this offensive line could use some help. Wyatt Teller and Jedrick Wills have looked better the last two weeks, but I’m not sold at all that they are the future of this team. Wills has his fifth-year option guaranteed for 2024, and Teller’s cap hit goes over $10 million next season, and neither has performed great.
Teller is an elite run blocker but struggles in pass protection. Wills has shown greatness at times, but really lacks consistency and is often found loafing on film which drives me up a wall.
With all the money the Browns have tied up at offensive line, they can’t make a huge move, but going after a guy like Garett Bolles who is under contract for 2023 with basically a team option if they want to move on.
Bolles is an instant upgrade at left tackle and given all the injuries on the offensive line it also builds depth. There is a good chance that the Broncos will move on from Bolles after this season given how bad the team has looked, so it may only take a mid-round pick or a young player to pry him away.
I’m sure Andrew Berry has already made a call to Denver to check on a few pieces, and this move would make me the most excited. Not only does it help PJ Walker in the interim, but it also helps Watson have better protection when he does return.
Upgrade at Quarterback:
Just to be clear, I’m not saying the Cleveland Browns need to upgrade from Watson. I know things haven’t gone great this year, but I’m still not ready to side that he can’t be the quarterback we have seen in Houston previously.
However, Walker continues to prove he can find a way to win games, but I think there are certainly options that would be much better for this team. The real question is, how long is Watson out?
If he needs two weeks to be fully healthy, then I would probably ride it out with Walker and pray you can split the Seattle and Arizona games in the next two weeks. You’d love to win both, but 1-1 would do if you feel confident Watson will be healthy.
If you believe the injury to be more, why not take a flyer on Jacoby Brissett or even Kirk Cousins? I’d certainly prefer Cousins who would be a one-year rental, but that deal would be more complicated with his no-trade clause.
And while Brissett didn’t blow me away last year, he is also an above-average NFL backup, who can win a few games. He certainly knows the offense after being in Cleveland last year and starting 11 games, and I can’t think the Washington Commanders have big plans to utilize him.
Cousins would be preferred, but Brissett would also be an upgrade to Walker. This defense is too good to not try and make a move in my opinion.
What not to do:
The other idea I’ve seen floating around is the Browns trying to make an upgrade at wide receiver. More or less, trading Donovan Peoples-Jones for a veteran. While I don’t disagree that DPJ is a valuable trade piece because he just isn’t having any production in 2023 for the Browns, I’m not sure a receiver is what this team needs.
DeAndre Hopkins and Jerry Jeudy aren’t what this team needs, and those are the two names I’m seeing right now. Focus on protecting the quarterback or upgrading the backup, without that you are just adding another guy who we can’t get the ball to.
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