Watson enters the third year of his $230 million, five-year contract, he has only appeared in 12 games because

When the Cleveland Browns acquired Deshaun Watson in a blockbuster deal in March 2021, they had their first full summer to prepare for him, knowing that he would be able to play the whole 2023 season. That was last year. After the NFL suspended Watson for the first 11 games of the 2022 season, the Browns intended to center their attack on Watson’s adaptable skill set.

By signing Joshua Dobbs to a one-year guaranteed deal as a free agency and selecting Dorian Thompson-Robinson from UCLA in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, the Browns created a quarterback room with quarterbacks that had comparable skill sets.

The Browns made the decision to trade Dobbs to the Cardinals before training camp ended, designating Thompson-Robinson as Watson’s backup going forward.

But Watson was forced into action ahead of planned after suffering an injury in the season’s third game. After guiding the Browns to victory on November 12, Watson sustained a season-ending injury in the second Ravens game. The Browns were left wondering whether Watson would return for the following month.

As he approaches the third year of his $230 million, five-year deal, Watson has only appeared in 12 games because of injury and suspension.

The Browns have made Watson their number one priority and are already organizing their strategies to help the three-time Pro Bowl quarterback return to his previous level of performance from 2020, when he led the NFL in passing yards.

The following quarterbacks were either active or placed on injured reserve at the end of the 2023 season:

Deshaun Watson (7th year, Clemson; 6-3, 223, 27) The main issue facing Watson was his ability to remain on the field. After starting the first three games, he hurt his shoulder and missed the most of the next month. The season ended on November 12 when he broke a bone in his right shoulder during a win over the Ravens after playing two games.

As the starting quarterback, Watson went 5-1 overall in his six games. He completed 105-of-171 for 1,115 yards (61.4 percent), with four interceptions and seven touchdowns. He received an 84.3 rating. In addition, Watson ran 26 times for 142 yards (5.5 average), one score. On a five-year deal, Watson is starting his third season with the Browns. His 2024 salary ceiling is now set at $63.977 million, but the Browns, who have restructured contracts since he came, will undoubtedly do so again.

Dorian Thompson-Robinson (Rookie, UCLA; 6-2, 203, 24) In the season’s fourth game against the Ravens, Thompson-Robinson was thrown into the starting lineup in place of Watson, and the outcome was terrible. He ended up starting three games, but after suffering a hip injury that put him on injured reserve for the rest of the season, he sustained a concussion.

Thompson-Robinson completed his first campaign with 440 yards on 60 of 112 (53.6 percent) passing for one touchdown and four interceptions. He received a 51.2 rating. He gained 65 yards (4.6 average.) on 14 rushes. Thompson’s rookie contract is about to start its second year, and he has a $1 million salary cap for 2024.

P.J. Walker, fourth year, Temple, 5-11, 215, 28 Following Dobbs’ trade, Walker was added to the practice squad and made the starting lineup against the 49ers, helping the Browns to victory. Walker had one touchdown and five interceptions on 54 of 111 passes (48.6 percent) for 674 yards. He received a 52.2 rating. On 13 carries, he gained 30 yards in the rush. Walker may sign deals wherever.

Joe Flacco (6-6, 245, 39, Delaware, 16th year) — Following Watson’s placement on injured reserve, Flacco was added to the practice squad. He led the Browns on a four-game winning streak that secured a postseason spot and started five straight games. It’s Flacco’s free agency.

Flacco completed 123 out of 204 passes (60.3 percent) for 1,616 yards, with eight interceptions and 13 touchdowns. He received a score of 90.2. Flacco completed 34 of 46 (73.9 percent) passes for 307 yards, two interceptions, and a score in the Texans playoff defeat. Flacco completed a five-game streak of 300 yards or more passing, including the playoff game.

Jeff Driskel (Louisiana Tech, 6-4, 235, 30; eighth year) With Thompson-Robinson on injured reserve, Driskel was added to the active roster. Against the Bengals, he got the start for the season’s last game and finished 13 of 26 for 166 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. He received a score of 63.9. He gained 33 yards on seven rushes. It is a free agent, Driskel.

Synopsis and Prospects

Once again, the goal of the Browns’ whole summer is to get Watson up to speed with the offense and fully align him with the system Kevin Stefanski wants to run in order to make the most of his skill set.

The Browns’ passing average of just 217.2 yards per game placed them 19th in the NFL. Despite using five different starting quarterbacks in 2022, it is rather surprising that the passing offense performed better in 2023. The Browns finished 11-6 and earned a postseason spot by winning games with four different starting lineups.

After the season, Stefanski made the decision to part ways with tight ends coach T.J. McCartney, running backs coach Stump Mitchell, and offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt despite all of the injuries at the most crucial position on offense. Hiring new coordinator Ken Dorsey, who will assist in assembling a passing offense that can be as effective as it was with Flacco in the latter part of the season, was one of the more important coaching moves.

In Flacco’s last games of the season, the offensive was as dynamic as it has been since the Stefanski era, and the Browns are determined to see Watson’s offense blossom.

Flacco stated that he plans to play in 2024 and that the Browns would like him to return to backup Watson. However, he is anticipated to investigate his options. In 2024, Thompson-Robinson should still be a factor.

The contracts for Watson and Thompson-Robinson expire in2024, thus the addition of a third quarterback—whether it is Flacco or another seasoned veteran like him—is almost certain.

Too late in the season, the Browns understood the value of having a capable backup who can come in and win games.and most certainly won’t do the same error of not having a veteran quarterback on the roster in 2024.

Having developed a club with the intention of winning today, Andrew Berry needs a quarterback such as Flacco who can fill in should Watson lose time again in 2024 due to injury. The Browns will probably have another seasoned quarterback on the field whether or not Flacco returns.

The Browns are making every effort to assist Watson in returning to his 2020 level of play, which included 382-of-544 passes for 4,823 yards, 33 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.

His completion percentage was 70.2 and his rating was 112.4. In 2020, Watson was the NFL’s passing yards leader and made it to his third Pro Bowl.

TheWatson’s ability to perform at the same caliber as he did during his first four seasons with the Texans is what will determine the outcome of this offseason and the coming years.

According to Berry, keeping Watson on the field in 2024 is of utmost importance.

“We’d all love to have him on the field more often,” Berry stated. “I believe it’s safe to say, even for him. In terms of him, I am incredibly pleased with the improvements he has made for our team, both on and off the field, and we are eager to have him back next season.

“We have great confidence in him as our starting quarterback and think he’s going to have a really big year.”

Though not as great as in previous years, the positional needs of the Cleveland Browns this offseason will still have a big impact on general manager Andrew Berry’s decisions regarding free agency, the draft, and potential trades. In this article, we’ll examine unrestricted free agency alternatives (players with expired contracts who have amassed four or more seasons of service) in specific positions where the Browns may benefit from an improvement, whether it be in terms of starting or depth/rotational players.

Next up are tight ends, where David Njoku of the Browns is one of the best performers. Despite an increase in “11” personnel for the offensive in 2023 (overall use of 68.3 percent vs 57.3 percent in 2022), theThe club may benefit from having a player who could rotate in and provide depth behind “Chief.” The people listed below, in my opinion, fit those requirements.

Unless specified otherwise, please take notice that all data were obtained from Sports Info Solutions, SumerSports, rbsdm.com, and Pro Football Focus.

A few metrics definitions used throughout

Amounts expected to be added (“EPA”) through Inside the Pylon: A football statistic called Expected Points Added (EPA) aims to quantify the worth of individual plays in terms of points. The Expected Points (EP) of the down, distance, and field position scenario at the beginning of a play are calculated, and the results are compared to the situation at the conclusion of the play. Conventional statistics typically fail to convey the differences between a three-yard gain on third-and-two and a three-yard gain on first-and-10. The Expected Points structure aids in converting unprocessed gains into useful information.

The prospect’s athletic testing scores from a pro day or combine are compared to their size and other physical characteristics to get their relative athletic score, or “RAS.”past outcomes from athletes in the same position. Each candidate receives a score ranging from 0 to 10, which is determined by comparing their RAS to historical data for the same position. compiled and computed by Pro Football Network’s Kent Lee Platte.PFF Expected Contract: $2 million, one year

Notes: Because of Mike Gesicki’s athleticism and versatility in positions, I have long supported the signing of Gesicki by the Browns. Although he is listed as a tight end, he has only ever lined up in-line for only 18% of offensive snaps (with 61% of snaps coming from the slot and 21% coming from wide). For a number of reasons, Gesicki’s output has decreased recently, but in 2020 and 2021, he was successful as the Miami Dolphins’ starting tight end. He recorded more than 700 receiving yards, 1.45 yards per route run, and more than 15 contested receptions in consecutive campaigns. With an emphasis on 2021, his overall EPA of +17.73 placed him ninth out of 54 qualifiers for the post (minimum

RAS: 8.76

PFF Estimated Contract: $2 years, $4.25 million annually

Notes: Many of us at OBR believed that the Browns could pursue Adam Trautman in the 2020 NFL Draft. But in his four professional seasons, he has not exceeded 30 catches or 300 yards, thus his production has not been up to par. Even though he might not be able to cover every down and has unremarkable efficiency numbers (0.94 career yards per route ran), I think he offers depth value at a projected salary that is quite cheap. Really, Trautman is only a possibility if Harrison Bryant (who will be spoken about later) decides not to sign a new deal.

IRV SMITH

PFF Estimated Agreement: N/A

Notes: Despite my complete expectation that the Browns would continue to use their “11” players in 2024, a strong tight end backup to Njoku is still required. Let’s introduce Irv Smith, Jr., an injury-plagued player who has been comparatively effective while active in the past. Smith has a career receiving percentage of 74.3, hauling in 113 of 152 targets for 1,015 yards and 11 touchdowns with a 47.8 contested catch rate. Although he hasn’t played more than 300 offensive plays since 2020, his health and projected trajectory make him a potentially valuable target.

PFF Estimated Agreement: N/A

Notes: Bryant made the most of his targets with a 35 percent first down rate, while not having his most productive season as a pass-catcher (17 catches on 26 targets for 146 yards and 0.89 yards per route ran). Bryant was most successful at blocking passes; he placed third in pass-blocking grade (80.2) during the game. Given his ability and output, I think the Browns will be able to take advantage of this unique skill set in the near future by offering him a fair deal.

Hundreds of prospective NFL Draft prospects will soon showcase their skill sets in front of scouts and coaches at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis as part of the NFL Scouting Combine. 93 college football schools were represented among the 321 draft prospects invited to take part in the annual scouting event. Being different from the others is essential, especially for players hoping to raise their profile before the 2024 NFL Draft in April, when the majority of the best players will be there.

The Combine frequently affects the position at which a certain player is chosen in the draft since it puts players through a demanding schedule of meetings, exercises, and measurements. Nothing is changing this year regarding possible early-roundThe mock draft forecasts for prospects and late-round prospects are still changing.

Participants at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine will be players in their position groups, and it will take place from February 26 to March 4.30% off on a yearly VIP membership! Get the most recent information on your favorite college team’s football squad and recruiting.

Ten players that might boost their NFL Draft prospects in the next scouting combine are listed below:

Prospect ranking for the 2024 NFL Draft by CBS Sports: 144th

Ahead of the Combine, Kansas edge rusher Austin Booker is beginning to garner notice as a possible riser on NFL Draft lists. Booker attended Minnesota for his first two years of college before transferring to Kansas, where he had 56 total stops, two forced fumbles, a pass breakup, and led the Jayhawks in tackles for loss (12) and sacks (8). The 6-foot-6, 245-pound edge rusher, who had only appeared in six games before moving to Kansas, was a redshirt sophomore in 2023. Booker is projected by college football expert Blake Brockermeyer to be selected in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Prospect ranking for the 2024 NFL Draft by CBS Sports: 100th

The 2024 NFL Draft class is full with quality wide receivers, thus there will be fierce competition for position on the big boards. In 2023, as a fifth-year senior, Florida wide receiver Ricky Pearsall had his greatest year as a collegiate player, catching 65 receptions for 965 yards, both career highs. For the Gators, he also caught four touchdown passes. Pearsall has the chance to build on his impressive performance during Senior Bowl week in Mobile, Alabama, by competing against other elite receiving prospects at the NFL Combine in early March.

Prospect ranking for the 2024 NFL Draft by CBS Sports: No. 81

Payton Following his final season at NC State in 2023, Wilson won numerous postseason accolades, including the Chuck Bednarik Award for best defensive player in college football and the Butkus Award for best linebacker. Wilson was named a unanimous All-American and the ACC Defensive Player of the Year. Will that skill, though, lead to NFL success? With 402 total tackles at the completion of his five-year NC State career, Wilson ranks seventh in program history. Wilson will have the Scouting Combine to prove himself. Wilson is projected by college football expert Blake Brockermeyer to be selected in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Walker, WR TEZ, North

Prospect ranking for the 2024 NFL Draft by CBS Sports: 105th

There was no gain for Tez Walker from playing in the Senior Bowl. He had trouble throughout sessions and dropped some long balls in the all-star game. In order to convince organizations that he can be a trustworthy target at the next level, the North Carolina receiver has to recover at the NFL Combine. With 1,620 yards and 18 touchdowns in the last two seasons between his stints at UNC and Kent State, Walker shown that he had the necessary skill set. During his collegiate career, the 6-foot-3, 200-pound receiver averaged 16.8 yards per grab.