Three Cleveland Browns Entering Make-Or-Break Season
Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
As we start the month of June with optional organized team activities (OTAs), we are getting our first glimpse of what the 2024 Cleveland Browns roster could look like. Overall a good portion of veterans showed up to participate, and we even saw Deshaun Watson throwing the football for the first time in more than six months.
Last week was also good for Andrew Berry, as he first signed an extension (along with Kevin Stefanski), and then he finally got his rookie class locked down after inking Mike Hall Jr. to a deal. The core of this roster will remain intact for the 2024 season, but we will see a few key additions like Jordan Hicks (linebacker) and Jerry Jeudy (wide receiver) that were brought in via free agency and trade.
On paper, this roster is as good as any in the NFL, but that brings a worry that the Browns could underachieve under new expectations. Last year’s success with Joe Flacco was fun, but the pressure will be real this season, given the strength of the team Berry has put together.
As we prepare for the season opener vs. the Dallas Cowboys, here are three Browns players in a make-or-break season, both for themselves and the franchise’s hopes.
Deshaun Watson – Quarterback
With three years of a guaranteed contract remaining, it will be very difficult for the Cleveland Browns to find a way to move on from Watson. Still, if things don’t go well this season you could see a move like the Denver Broncos made with Russell Wilson by just cutting their losses and releasing him.
Berry has done everything in his power to give Watson weapons, with both Jeudy and Elijah Moore. Berry even overhauled the entire offensive staff to tailor the Browns to Watson’s game.
Since missing all of the 2021 season, then the trade to Cleveland, then his 11-game suspension resulting from accusations of sexual misconduct, Watson hasn’t come close to living up to expectations. Is he even capable of the same quarterback that he was with the Houston Texas, when he led the league in passing yards?
Truthfully, more pressure may be on Berry for Watson’s play than Watson himself, but if things don’t go well in 2024, fans might be entirely done with the Watson experiment. There’s been nothing up until now that’s suggested the move is anything but a massive blunder.
Jedrick Wills – Left Tackle
It’s hard to believe that four years ago the Browns took Jedrick Wills with the 10th overall pick in the NFL draft. Wills had played right tackle for most of his career at Alabama, but he felt like a guy that was all upside with zero potential to become a bust.
You can’t exactly call Wills a bust just yet, but if he doesn’t get things together in 2024 or year five of his career, he will be on the outside looking in for a starting job in the NFL.
To this point, Wills has constantly had nagging injuries and has struggled with speed on the edge. He likely should have missed a good chunk of games two seasons ago with a high ankle injury, but he fought through the pain, though you wonder if that hurt his stock more than helping it.
If Wills can stay healthy and give a more consistent effort in 2024, Berry will be motivated to keep him, because the price will be right. If he has another injury or struggles early, then there are players in the wings like Dawand Jones ready to take his spot. Wills has no more margin for error.
Elijah Moore – Wide Receiver
Similar to Wills, Moore will play the 2024 season on the final year of his rookie contract. The New York Jets moved on from Moore sooner than later to recoup a second-round pick for the quick wideout, but the Browns have yet to see dividends on the trade.
At the time Berry made the trade it made a lot of sense. The Jets roster was pathetic, so it felt like the lack of production was just from being on such a bad team. With Watson as his quarterback, the hope was things would turn around quickly for him.
Remember, coming out of the combine and 2021 draft, many of the NFL experts were picking Moore to be the Offensive Rookie of the Year because of his skill set. Now he’s just a guy with three seasons under his belt and only one with more than 600 yards.
Adding Ken Dorsey as the offensive coordinator should help Moore, but the addition of Jeudy to go with Amari Cooper will limit his touches. There is also David Njoku, who can be a high-volume tight end. If Moore doesn’t put together a strong season, or even a strong start to establish himself as a target early, there is no doubt that he will be looking for a new team in 2025.
If these three players continue to underachieve, it will be tough for this team to compete for anything more than a Wild Card finish. But if a couple of these guys can figure things out (especially Watson), this is a Browns team that could do some damage in 2024.
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