It’s been a while since my last blog; I never thought the ice storm that hit Nashville would lead to my wife and I to be without power for twelve days. Still have my neighbor’s rotten tree in what’s left of my back yard, but things could’ve been worst. So, have the Browns done anything while I was gone? Let’s start with the new head coach, Todd Monken. I like this hire. He’s made quarterbacks better no matter where he coached and this offense needs all the help it can get. As for the Browns starting quarterback in 2026, he is not on the roster. He’ll be signed as a free agent or traded for. He won’t come from this year’s draft because this quarterback draft is worse than last year’s. Browns GM Andrew Berry will fix the offensive line, starting in free agency, whether it’s a signing or a trade and then finish the fix in the draft.
So Jim Schwartz took his ball and went home. I glad the team didn’t try and force him on any candidates, because with that attitude, it would’ve been a disaster on the level of John Dorsey disasters. The Browns still own his rights and no he cannot be traded for a pick. Not in the rules. I don’t worry about who they’re going to hire, because it’s a plumb job. A new defensive coordinator can come to Cleveland, make the defense better (believe me there’s room for improvement) and then turn that into a head coaching job in the 2027 cycle. Monken just needs to hire the right assistants. By the way, I’ve heard the entire coaching staff will be finished by the end of this week. I’m most interested in who they hire for the special team’s coach. That’s the most important hire.
So David Njoku is moving on. Not surprised in the lease bit. He had a great 2022 & 2023, an average 2024 and a bad 2025. I knew he was gone when they drafted Harold Fannin. Of course, the fans and the media are thinking the Browns should poach Isaiah Likely from the Ravens. Nope. Likely is similar to Fannin, a lighter tight end that runs routes like a wide receiver. If it’s me, I’m trying to sign Charlie Kolar from Baltimore. He’s an inline, hand on the ground tight end. If the Browns are going to add from the draft, which is great for the tight end position, I’m looking at Max Klare, Ohio State, Sam Roush, Stanford or Dallen Bentley, Utah.
So Mike Vrabel lost the Super Bowl. The Patriots had the easiest schedule in the NFL, and it showed. The Seahawks did to the Patriots what the Eagles did to the Chiefs the year before, bring pressure without blitzing. The last four teams in the championship games were the top four teams who were the best at bringing pressure from the defensive tackle position. And you wonder why the Browns drafted Mason Graham with the fifth overall pick and signed Malik Collins. According to history, New England won’t make the playoffs next year which doesn’t bode well for two-time coach of the year Mike Vrabel. This year, week one, both the Seahawks and the Patriots had a one percent chance to make the Super Bowl, so there’s always hope. Stay safe and Go Browns.