Month: January 2025

As many of you know, I usually don’t like to do mock drafts until after the league year begins. That’s because Browns GM Andrew Berry and the front office addresses holes on the roster via trades and free agency. Also, the situation with Deshaun Watson, his new injury and any insurance involved make take months to settle. But this year is different because the Browns finally have a first-round pick, the number two overall. The depth of this draft is best in running back, tight end, defensive line and offensive line. However, in the first-round there isn’t a generational talent. The Browns currently have nine picks with the possibility of adding two conditional picks at the end of the sixth round. Berry is known for moving around in the draft and many have speculated Cleveland might trade down out of the second pick. If they do, it’ll be a team that will covet one of the two top quarterbacks in this draft, Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders. Those teams potentially are the Giants at three, the Raiders at six and the Jets at seven. I really can’t see the Browns dropping any further. This will include the players Pro Football Focus ranking.

Round 1, pick 2. Abdule Carter, DE, Penn State, PFF rank #2.

Round 2, pick 33. Josh Conerly, OT, Oregon, PFF rank #27.

Round 3, pick 67. Jaxson Dart, QB, Miss, PFF rank #202.

Rouns 3, pick 94. Mason Taylor, TE, LSU, PFF rank #117.

Round 4, pick 102. Davin Neal, RB, Kansas, PFF rank #88.

Round 5, pick 164. Jaylin Noel, WR, Iowa State, PFF rank #115.

Round 6, pick 180. Nazir Stackhouse, DT, Georgia, PFF rank #254.

Round 6, pick 193. Jonnah Monheim, IOL, USC, not ranked.

Round 6, pick 201. Jordan James, RB, Oregon, PFF rank #152.

Round 6, pick 215. Jordan Hancock, S, Ohio State, PFF rank #216.

Round 6, pick 216. De’Rickey Wright, S, Vanderbilt, PFF rank #242.

I’m going to assume the Browns will sign two free agent quarterbacks, one as a bridge, one as a backup and add a draft pick to the QB room. Picking Carter at number two makes sense. Picking a quarterback at number two, just to say you picked a quarterback at two doesn’t. Besides, Pro Football Focus has Ward ranked number seventeen and Sanders ranked 43rd. I’m fully convinced because of the depth of this running back draft class; the Browns will pick two. Cleveland will need a safety, and I decided to draft Hancock and Wright. Hancock is listed as a cornerback on some draft boards, but safety is his better position. Let me know what you think. Stay safe and Go Browns.

The evaluations of draft eligible players begin next week with the East West Shrine Bowl and the Senior Bowl. The Browns will be represented at both games. Nemo Washington will be the tight ends coach at the Shrine game and Bubba Ventrone and Jacques Cesaire will be at the Senior Bowl. Ventrone will be the head coach of the American team and Cesaire will be the defensive coordinator of the National team. The importance of these games are how the players practice with NFL coaches and the opportunity for coaches and front office people to interview the players. Browns GM Andrew Berry always goes to the Senior Bowl, and I expect head coach Kevin Stefanski to be there as well. Below I’ve provided links to both games.

The Shrine game has already announced their roster. Since Browns fans are interested in the draftable quarterbacks, there are a few on the two rosters. The most notable name is Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders at the Shrine game. Quarterbacks invited to play at the Senior Bowl are Kyle McCord and Kurtis Rouke. Personally, I think the 2025 starter for the Browns will be a free agent signee, but the Browns front office will do their due diligence and interview potential players. University Pro Days would be the next opportunity for interviews and workouts, as well as the NFL Combine. Private team workouts should follow. It will be interesting to see which players the Browns talk to and starting next week social media will let us know.

Here are the links: https://www.seniorbowl.com/, https://shrinebowl.com/roster/ The strongest positions is this year’s draft are, running back, tight end, defensive line and offensive line. I would not be surprised if the Browns drafted two running backs. It’s a position of need. Stay safe and Go Browns.

The Browns off-season has officially started. So here are some important dates to remember.

January 30th East-West Shrine game and February 1st the Senior Bowl. The games don’t matter but the opportunity to watch players practice under NFL coaches’ instructions is far more valuable. Also, the interview process starts with these games.

February 18th. Starting at 4:00pm EST, teams can designate Franchise and Transition players. The Browns will probably not anyone on this list, but there might be a certain wide receiver from Cincinnati making this list.

February 24 – March 3. The NFL Combine in Indianapolis. Players invited will be tested, weighed and measured. The two most important parts of this period is player interviews and secret deals made between agents and teams. This is the unofficial start to free agency or the illegal tampering period.

March 4. The deadline to Franchise and Transition players. Must be completed by 4:00pm EST.

March 10 – 12. Starting at noon EST and ending at 4:00pm EST on March 12, teams can start negotiating contracts with unrestricted free agents. This is the legal tampering period.

March 12. The 2025 league begins at 4:00pm EST. Free agents can officially sign their new contracts. Trades become official and 2024 contracts expire.

March 30 – April 2. League meetings in Palm Beach FL.

April 7. Teams who have hired a new head coach can begin off-season workouts.

April 16. Deadline to test and workout draft-eligible players at the team’s training facility.

April 18. Deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets.

April 21. Teams with returning head coaches can begin off-season workouts.

April 23. Deadline for teams to exercise right of first refusal on restricted free agents who signed offer sheets. Deadline to test and workout draft-eligible players at any location.

April 24- 26. The NFL Draft.

Stay safe and Go Browns.

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The “Merchants Of Doom” i.e. the Cleveland media didn’t take long to start criticizing Browns GM Andrew Berry after his press availability. I listened and was encouraged. First the big news, quarterback Deshaun Watson has had a setback in his rehab. This tells me he’s not going to be a factor in the QB room in 2025. He’ll be placed on the PUP list when training camp starts then moved to injured reserve at the start of the season. Then http://@Jason_OTC posted on twitter “The #Browns have $44.3M of Watson’s 2025 salary insured for injury so there is some major financial relief available if he cannot play due to the Achilles injury suffered this year.” More good news, the Browns can recoup money owed to Watson. Berry also said the QB room will be different, and Watson’s injury has no impact on the 2025 QB room.

It sounded like Myles Garrett isn’t going anywhere, and Nick Chubb might not be back. Some think differently on Chubb, but it’s a business and he’s not the same player. You need a durable player to have a successful run game. Hopefully I’m wrong and Chubb comes back better than ever. Berry shed some light into the team’s draft process. He again said the Browns look at all positions like they’re an expansion team and the evaluations begin a year and a half ahead of time. Speaking of the draft, I’m of the mind that the Browns would like to trade down and collect assets. Let some other team overdraft one of these quarterbacks. The Lions did it and got four starters, RB Jahmyr Gibbs, LB Jack Campbell, TE Sam LaPorta and DB Brian Branch. That’s a nice haul and that’s why they’re a Super Bowl contender.

The Browns draft picks are, round one, pick 2, round two, pick 33, round three, pick 67 & 93, round four, pick 103, round five, pick 166, round six pick 178, 191 & 205. Two more compensatory picks will be added for Joe Flacco and Jordan Elliott, probably at the end of the sixth round.

The other injury news, DT Michael Hall has a torn MCL and is expected to have surgery next week. He’ll be ready for the 2025 season. As for the game Saturday night, an interception to a 355 lb. defensive tackle is the perfect metaphor for the 2024 Browns season.

Finally, don’t let the “Merchants Of Doom” tell you the Browns have no cap space to sign players, because it’s a load of crap. They’ll have money to spend and will again outspend other NFL teams by $50 million with upfront cash. They’re currently over the expected 2025 salary cap of 272.5 million by $21.4 million but are under the 2024 cap of 255.4 million by 41.5 million. The team will roll the 2024 overage into next year giving them around $20 million under the cap. Add to that the unearned bonus and incentive money from players and the Browns could add another seven to ten million. They’re fine, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Stay safe and Go Browns.