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Stage two of phase three of OTA’s is currently happening. Good to see WR Elijah Moore joining in this week. It’s not mandatory, but I’m glad to see him there. Tomorrow, Thursday, the local media will be in Berea and it’s also a scheduled day for QB Deshaun Watson to throw. Excellent. Now the media can give the fans their expert QB coach/medical opinion of Watson’s throwing motion. Can’t wait and by that, I mean I just can’t. I do like watching the videos on social media, only because it gets me in the mood for the season to start. In between now and training camp, I’ll occupy my time watching games from last year to refresh my memory of certain games and certain players. It really helps with future articles and podcasts.

Just finished watching the new episode of “Unleashed” on YouTube. This week’s episode features DT Michael Hall. He’s an extremely quick and powerful player. As I said in all my mock drafts, I wanted an offensive tackle with the Browns first pick in the second round, but if Michael Hall was available with that pick, the Browns have to pick him. He’s that kind of player. Other impressions for the show, the team really goes all out when they welcome a new player. Nice to see. New defensive line coach Jacques Cesaire is going to have a big influence on these players. This defensive line is already great, but he’s going to take them up a notch. Very vocal and very focused. One other thing I noticed, DT Siaki Ika is thinner and looks in better shape than last year. Good to see. Every episode of “Unleashed” I’ve seen has been great to watch.

Salary cap update. Once or twice a week I check https://overthecap.com/ to see where the Browns stand. I know, I’m a salary cap geek. This week I noticed their cap space went up to $13,988,033.00. Then I heard, they have Nick Chubbs new contract information. Prior to the new contract, Chubb was due in 2024 $12.2 million unguaranteed. Looking at the website, Chubb has taken a pay cut of $9.9 million. His guaranteed salary is $1,125,000.00 and his cap number is $6,275,000.00. There’s a roster bonus of $225,000.00, which is probably for his first game played. He received $2,275,000.00 of upfront cash and has bonus incentives of $2.05 million. I can’t wait to see the incentive breakdown, because that’ll tell me how confident the Browns are in his rehab. Easy incentives mean great confidence. All I know, Chubb and his representatives took a pay cut for him to stay with the Browns. As I’ve said previously, he’s more valuable to the Browns than any other team and he’ll get more money form the Browns than any other team. Stay safe and Go Browns.

The Browns schedule was finally released. Way to bring the drama NFL. I’ve discussed it on three podcasts and in one article, so let’s talk about it again, briefly. Bottom line, if the Browns can stay healthy at key positions and you know what position I’m talking about, the early schedule is very encouraging. The bye week is in a great spot, week ten and the final eight games will determine the fate of the 2024 Browns. Four primetime games, two Thursday night games a Monday night game and a Suday night game. So two short weeks and two mini byes. Four games against AFC North opponents, three home games and five road games. Yep, the league wants the Browns to sink or swim the last eight games.

This week phase three of the team’s OTA’s start on Tuesday May 21 and run through Thursday May 23. What’s so important about this? Every beat reporter for the Browns will have their camera phones pointed at quarterback Deshaun Watson when he throws the ball. In phase three, teams can’t hit but they can line up in 7-on-7, 9-on-9, and 11-on-11. I know it’s just practice and not even real practice, but it’s nice to see the players on a field working. Phase three continues Tuesday May 28 through Thursday May 30 and Tuesday June 11 through Thursday June 13.

Finally, according to https://overthecap.com/salary-cap/cleveland-browns the Browns have about $13.4 million in cap space and 90 players on their roster. Because of the injuries to Deshaun Watson and Dorian Thompson-Robinson, the team is carrying five quarterbacks. If DTR shows up healthy, then rookie camp QB Jacob Sirmon will be cut and another player will be added, probably an offensive tackle. Why an OT? After signing tackle Kellen Diesch, he was cut because of a failed physical. After last year, the Browns will always be looking for extra offensive tackles to put on the practice squad. Stay safe and Go Browns.

All the NFL teams know their schedules, so it’s schedule leak day. The league has already started announcing certain games. Here’s what we know. The Browns will open their season at home against the Cowboy’s in a Sunday afternoon game. Besides the two teams as an attraction, it will by the booth debut of Tom Brady. Yep, it’s going to be the national game that afternoon. As for the other games we know involving AFC North teams, the Ravens will open the season at the Chiefs and the Chiefs will be hosting the Bengals in week two. There’s a rumor the Steelers will start on the road at the Falcons week one.

Tomorrow morning on the NFL Network, the international games will be announced. I’m still of the belief the Browns will play the Jaguars in London on October 20. That would be week seven. A week eight bye would be perfect for the Browns. As for the rest of Cleveland’s schedule, week two will be on the road because of the Billy Joel/Rod Stewart concert at the stadium on September 13. I can’t see them getting the field ready in time. It’ll probably be a divisional game. Since the Bengals have their week two opponent, it’ll probably either be the Steelers of the Ravens. The Browns played the Steelers week two last year, so my money’s on the Ravens.

Cleveland has two west coast trips this year, Raiders and Broncos. Hopefully the league will break them up and not have the Browns play back-to-back games. I can’t imagine the league doing that again. If Nick Chubb starts the season on the PUP list like everyone thinks, he would miss the first four games of the season. He could be back for week six. The Browns will get a Thursday night game and probably a Monday night game. Please no Christmas day game. As for the week eighteen game, the league loves ending the season with divisional opponents. I’m thinking the Steelers. Hopefully the Browns will have wrapped up the AFC North and the Steelers will be playing for pride. Enjoy the schedule show Wednesday night and join us on http://@ElfzNetwork. Stay safe and Go Browns.

When you’re in the podcast business, you try to time your shows so they’re correct and prior to breaking news. Covering the NFL makes this almost impossible. Monday, I recorded a show discussing the air date (Thursday May 9) and the process involved in creating the NFL schedule. And then I find out last night the NFL schedule show will be Wednesday May 15. Thanks for news NFL. Usually, the league announces the schedule the Thursday after Mother’s Day, and yes, it’s pathetic I know this fact. That’s why everyone covering the NFL was sure it would be May 9. So why the delay? It seems the league is having trouble scheduling their Christmas Day games. Christmas happens to be on a Wednesday this year and to play on a Wednesday, the league would have to schedule the teams the prior week to play on Thursday or coming off a late bye week. I believe the NFL is going to have two games on Christmas, so this involves four teams. Good luck with that and knowing the league one of those teams will be the Browns.

The schedule process will be the same as any other year. Monday May 13, it’ll be finalized at the league offices. Tuesday May 14 will be when schedule leaks will start. You can follow me at http://@ctownthug, I’ll be reposting any Browns scheduling news. Here are the Browns opponents for 2024. Home: Ravens, Bengals, Steelers, Chargers, Chiefs, Cowboys, Giants and Dolphins. Road. Ravens, Bengals, Steelers, Broncos, Commanders, Eagles, Jaguars, Raiders and Saints. There’s been early speculation the Browns will play the Jaguars in London at Wembly Stadium on October 20. Then I hear the Browns won’t play overseas. It would make sense for the first statement to be true, because the Browns haven’t played overseas since 2017 against the Vikings. They were scheduled to play in 2020, but covid put an end to that. So they’re due and this might put an end speculation of the Browns playing on Christmas Day.

Besides the opener and the AFC North games, the most anticipated part of the schedule is the bye week. Thanks to “NFL Schedule Update” http://@NerdingonNFL, for the following bye week and strength of schedule post draft statistics. The average bye week for the AFC North teams the last ten years: Bengals week 8, Steelers week 8, Browns week 9 and Ravens week 9. The last five years: Steelers week 6, Browns week 8, Bengals week 9 and Ravens week 9. The strength of schedule post draft according to “DraftKings” easiest to hardest with 2023 opponent’s win percentage: Bengals 5th (.479), Ravens 27th (.517), Browns 30th (.528) and Steelers 32nd (.535). Home schedule: Bengals 3rd (.456), Ravens tied for 14th (.493), Browns and Steelers tied for 32nd (.566). Road schedule: Browns tied for 10th (.493), Bengals tied for 13th (.500), Steelers tied for 16th (.507) and Ravens 32nd (.539). As I’ve said in the past, right now strength of schedule is useless, but will become clearer Wednesday. Stay safe and Go Browns.

Now that the NFL draft is over, let’s take a look at what they did. First remember when reading draft grades, which I don’t, the Browns draft strategy was to draft depth and future contributors. Of the six picks, I project four will make the 53-man roster. Michael Hall, Zak Zinter, Jamari Thrash and Nathaniel Watson. Myles Harden and Jowon Biggs can make the practice squad. Hall is actually the type of player DC Jim Schwartz wants, an interior pass rusher. He’s not excellent against the run, but he can hold his own. There is speculation for Hall to make the roster, Siaki Ika would be cut to make room. They aren’t the same player. Ika is a run stopper. The player that would be cut would be Maurice Hurst. Hall is younger and Hurst is always an injury risk. Bring everyone to training camp and let them fight it out.

Zak Zinter could be the Browns fourth guard, if they keep four. I think they will and keep two tight ends. More on that later. Jamari Thrash will probably push James Proche off the roster, unless Andrew Berry can trade him prior to the season started. It wouldn’t surprise me. As for Nathaniel Watson, he’s your substitute for Takitaki, but better. The roster players in jeopardy here are Tony Fields or Mohamoud Diabate. If Watson can play special teams at a high level, he’s making the team. Like I said, Harden & Biggs are practice squad players.

Looking at the undrafted free agents, G Javion Cohen, RB Aiden Robbins, CB Dyshawn Gales, TE Treyton Welch and C/OT Jalen Sundell are good players to place on the practice squad and develop. The others are camp bodies.

This draft and the previous moves made earlier this year, give you a hint on what the Browns are thinking on offense. Thrash and Jerry Jeudy are excellent at yards after the catch (YAC). The Browns were 26th in YAC in 2023. This means getting the ball out of Deshaun Watson’s hand quickly with short to intermediate passing. Thus, the Browns will probably only keep two tight ends. They might sign another veteran tight end for training camp to compete with Jordan Akins.

On defense, it looks like Jim Schwartz wants to more pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Drafting Hall, signing Quinton Jefferson, and resigning Shelby Harris, Mo Hurst and Za’Darius Smith points to that conclusion. Hopefully they can find a way to keep Hurst on the roster. To help with pressure, the Browns picked up Greg Newsome’s fifth-year option. Pressure requires corners who can play press coverage. Ward, Emerson and Newsome are three of the best.

Other things I can conclude from the draft. No running back selected tells me the team is satisfied with Nick Chubb’s rehab. No tight end drafted tells me about the change in the offense. No left tackle drafted tells me they’ll either resign Wills or draft a tackle next year with their first pick. Next year is another good year for tackles. No safety drafted tells me they are satisfied with D’Anthony Bell and Ronnie Hickman.

Other news and notes. As I write this the Browns signed veteran center Brian Allen. He’s a six-year veteran who last played for the Rams where he started 32 games in four seasons. In 2021 he started sixteen games. This brings the Browns roster to 90 players. It appears the schedule will be released on May 9 and the rookie training camp is May 10-12. Stay safe and Go Browns.

The 2024 NFL Draft begins on Thursday, but for the Browns the fun begins on Friday night. This will be the last draft without a first-round pick for Cleveland. The Browns currently have six picks, but I expect them to trade down at some point during the draft to accumulate an additional pick possibly in the fourth round. I also expect one or both of their seventh-round picks to be involved in a trade. As for acquiring future picks, the Browns currently have eight picks in 2025 and seven in 2026. In 2025 they have one in each of the first four rounds, two in the sixth round and two in the seventh round. Cleveland has no fifth-round pick in 2025. As for 2026, they have one pick in each round. Here’s my final mock draft for 2024 with the age of the player and their Relative Activity Score (RAS).

Pick 54. Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU, age 21, RAS 9.40. Suamataia has good lateral movement to redirect pass rushers. Good quickness in outside zone pass blocking good acceleration as a pulling tackle. Had two years of starting experience at BYU. Will need to work on his hand placement.

Pick 85. Ja’Lynn Polk, WR, Washington, age 22, RAS 8.84. Polk is a very consistent route runner. At 6’1″, 203 lbs., already has an NFL body type. Once the ball is in the air, he creates space and has strong hands to make contested catches. He can track down and finish deep throws. A very good run blocker.

Pick 156. Ben Sennott, TE, Kansas State, age 22, RAS 9.73. Sinnott has the ability to add to the passing game. A very good blocker who has the quickness to compete against man coverage. Can move the chains with his run-after-the-catch ability.

Pick 206. Brandon Coleman, OG, TCU, age unknown, RAS 9.97. Coleman was a three-year starter and a team captain in 2023. HAs roster flexibility, will be drafted as a guard, but has the ability to play tackle. His play at tackle will help him in pass protection as a guard where he has good technique and hand use.

Pick 227. Jaylen Harrell, ED, Michigan, age 22, RAS 8.46. Harrell has good quickness as an open field tackler. Has a legitimate pass rushing spin move and has the strength to detach from blockers. Developmental player.

Pick 243. Jaylon Carlies, S, Missouri, age 23, RAS 8.26. Carlies can make the transition from safety to linebacker. Has the size (6’3″, 227 lbs.) to wipe out blockers and is a force in run defense. Has the size and hand strength to take on big receivers.

Let me know what you think. Enjoy the draft and Go Browns.

The NFL draft is ten days away and looking at the players who have visited with the Browns, their draft strategy is wide open. They’ve talked to offensive linemen, defensive linemen, wide receivers, running backs, tight ends, linebackers and most recently cornerbacks and safeties. They also added another pick (#227 in the seventh round) with the trade of OL Leroy Watson to the Titans. I still don’t believe either seventh round pick will be used in this draft. Those are capital to use to move around. Here goes:

Pick 54. Kiran Amegadjie, OT, Yale, RAS N/A, age 22. Amegadjie is a favorite of mine. Would be ready to take over for Wills if the Browns don’t resign him for 2025. A great left tackle.

Pick 85. Ben Sinnott, TE, Kansas State, RAS 9.73, age 21. Sinnott has the ability to add to the passing game. A very good blocker who has the quickness to compete against man coverage. Can move the chains with his run-after-the-catch ability.

Pick 156. Edefuan Ulofoshio, LB, Washington, RAS 9.67, age 24. Ulofoshio is a six-year player. A very productive tackler in his final year in college. Physical and athletic. Can run through tacklers and play special teams.

Pick 206. Javion Cohen, OL, Miami Fl, RAS 5.59, age unknown. Cohen is a driving run blocker and makes effective use of his long arms in pass protection. Played a little heavier in 2023. Needs to get to his playing weight when he was at Alabama where he showed his athleticism.

Pick 227. Tahj Washington, WR, Souther Cal, RAS 5.13, age 23. Washington maintained his consistency over his four years in college. Very tough and can make contested catches that others can’t. A willing run blocker.

Pick 243. Jaylin Harrell, ED, Michigan, RAS 8.46, age 21. Harrell has good quickness as an open field tackler. Has a legitimate pass rushing spin move and has the strength to detach from blockers. Developmental player.

I have one more mock draft to do next week and that’ll be my final one. Let me know what you think.

Less than three weeks till the 2024 NFL draft and I’m starting to get a better understanding of the Browns draft strategy. For my third mock draft, I’ll be taking into consideration which players have met with the Browns, the team’s age guardrails and the players relative athletic score (RAS) from the combine. RAS is a one through ten score based on a player’s performance during the combine. While I still believe the Browns will trade down from pick 54, I’ll save any trades the closer we get to the draft. Here goes:

Pick 54. WR Keon Colman, Florida State, age 20, RAS 8.17. Colman is big and strong with soft hands. Uses his size as an advantage over defensive backs to win high throws. A perfect redzone receiver who can also return punts.

Pick 85. G Christian Haynes, U Conn, age 27, RAS 9.10. Haynes is a four-year starter. Plays with football intelligence and understands blocking angles. Wipes out opponents as a run blocker and is good in space for pass blocking.

Pick 156. LB Trevin Wallace, Kentucky, age 21, RAS 9.35. Wallace is a very explosive player. Has good burst and change of direction. He has good lateral agility. Can play special teams.

Pick 206. TE A.J. Barner, Michigan, age 21, RAS 8.70. Barner is an improving run blocker who can provide a quarterback with a big target. An in-line tight end who has improved as pass pro blocker.

Pick 243. OT Caeden Wallace, Penn St., age 23, RAS 8.22. Wallace has NFL size and can play both guard and tackle. Has big hands and is tenacious with his blocks. Has good body control and has good posture in pass set.

The key to this draft for the Browns is to add depth to the current roster, while also adding potential starters and contributors in 2025.

Time for another mock draft, because I can’t get enough of this year’s draft, or any year’s draft for that matter. Again let me explain, the Browns draft for depth and future starters and not need. One of their core principles is never pay for depth and rookie contracts are the cheapest. The Browns currently have five picks in the 2024 NFL draft. one second round pick (54), one third round pick (85), one fifth round pick (156), one sixth round pick (206) and one seventh round pick (243). Browns GM Andrew Berry usually trades the team’s seventh round pick so the team can start contacting potential undrafted rookie free agents. So here goes.

Pick 54. Kiran Amegadjie, OT, Yale. Excellent run blocker and pass blocker. In pass sets, he adjusts his stance to the defender he is facing. After a year of development, he has the ability to be a very good starter in the league.

Pick 85. Devontez Walker, WR, North Carolina. Because of his size (6-foot-2, 200 lbs.) and speed he is a vertical threat. He can turn overthrows into receptions. Can create explosive opportunities in the passing game. Averaged 30.7 yards per catch on touchdown receptions.

Pick 156. Josh Newton, CB, TCU. Can play man and cover two, as well as inside or out. Very physical at the catch point and will play run defense. He can quickly read the opposing quarterback. Played over 4000 snaps in his college career.

Pick 206. Marist Liufau, LB, Notre Dame. A traditional middle linebacker. Plays with violence. Has great football IQ and field awareness. He has good short area burst and attacks ball carriers and blockers. A nice day three pick who can play special teams.

Pick 243. A.J. Barner, TE, Michigan. An ideal number three tight end. Has good play strength as a run blocker and a receiver. Very comfortable as an in-line tight end. As a receiver, has the ability to separate on routes.

I love Kiran Amegadjie as a replacement for Jedrick Wills in 2025 and he’s had a visit with the Browns. He’s a name to watch if he drops. Devontez Walker could be a bigger and faster replacement for Elijah Moore who is still scheduled to be a free agent in 2025. Personally, I hope the Browns resign Moore. Josh Newton is a cornerback and Andrew Berry loves drafting cornerbacks. He can play on the outside and in the slot. You can never have enough corners and Berry has drafted some good ones. Marist Liufau is a football player. He’s strong and physical, something this run defense needs. Could replace Jordan Hicks in 2025. A.J. Barner is the perfect number three tight end, who could develop into a number two.

I like how this draft fell. Some fans would be upset the Browns took an offensive tackle at 54, but those same fans also complain about Jedrick Wills. I think I covered all the important positions. Just remember, Andrew Berry likes to trade down to gather more picks and he hardly ever uses his seventh-round pick. You can also find my articles at, https://www.fansfirstsports.com/teams/nfl/cleveland-browns/ and my podcasts at, http://@ElfzNetwork on twitter, YouTube, Spotify, Apple and all sites for your podcast needs. Let me know what you think. Stay safe and Go Browns.

Now that the first wave of free agency is over, it’s time to start playing with mock drafts. Browns GM Andrew Berry drafts for depth and future starters and not need. He’s only drafted for need once, his very first draft when the Browns selected LT Jedrick Wills. After that pick the Browns let the draft come to them. They have moved around in each draft and seldom use their seventh-round pick. The Browns will use it in packages to obtain future picks and use their time during the seventh round to call potential undrafted rookie free agents. Players like A.J. Green, D’Anthony Bell and Ronnie Hickman. This strategy seems to work. Currently the Browns have 71 players on their roster and will need to get to 90 prior to training camp. With only five draft picks, they don’t appear to be finished with free agency. Here’s my first mock draft.

Pick 54. Junior Colson, LB, Michigan. Colson is a quick strong linebacker. He can play both the run and is very good in coverage. Has excellent lateral movement. Can attack the open spaces and has the ability to get around offensive tackles. A three-down linebacker.

Pick 85. Kiran Amegadije, OT, Yale. Amegadije has the physical tools to be a high end starting left tackle in the NFL. He’s an explosive, physical athlete. Dominant in run blocking. In pass protection, has multiple offensive sets at his disposal depending on the type of defender.

Pick 155. Malik Washington, WR, Virginia. Washington has a great short yardage burst. Maintains his speed when changing direction. Uses his hands effectively to push off defenders and can make a catch while getting hit. Great yards after the catch.

Pick 205. Isacc Guerendo, RB, Louisville. Guerendo is a very decisive runner. He is very impressive in size, speed and strength. Has very subtle lateral shifts. Can plow through arm tackles and is an excellent pass rush blocker. Great hands for catching the ball out of the backfield.

Pick 243. Trey Knox, TE, South Carolina. Knox is a great open field runner. Has good ball tracking skills and can adjust to off-target throws. Has strong hands when going after contested catches. Can go from receiver to runner quickly and has the speed to provide decent yards after the catch for a tight end.

I feel the Browns greatest draft need is linebacker. They still might sign Matthew Adams who led the team in special team tackles last year, but another young fast linebacker wouldn’t hurt. The other four needs are tight end, wide receiver, running back and offensive tackle. If the Browns move on from Wills, Amegadije would be your starter in 2025. Even if Nike Chubb is ready or not for the start of the season, Guerendo will make the starting 53. Wide receiver is an interesting position, Amari Cooper, Jerry Jeudy and Elijah Moore are all free agents in 2025, so drafting a wide receiver is not out of the question. I’m not sure Giovanni Ricci is the answer as the third tight end. Hell, I’m not sure Jordan Akins is the answer as the second tight end. I do know this a good draft for a third string tight end. Like I said earlier, I’m not sure the Browns will have their seventh-round pick come day three of the draft.

Let me know how you feel about this mock, the one thing I know, Browns fans have their opinions. Stay safe and Go Browns.