After getting off one of the wildest roller-coaster rides I’ve ever been on, it’s finally time that Andrew Berry and the Cleveland Browns shift into offseason mode. This team reached a high after the Jets game on Thursday Night Football where Joe Flacco threw for nearly 300 yards in the first half and the Browns clinched the top wildcard spot. And then it all came crashing down as the Houston Texans beat up the Browns and Flacco threw two pick-sixes in the second half of the game.
Truthfully, this team was on borrowed time as soon as it was announced that Deshaun Watson was going on injured reserve, but somehow they managed to win 11 games with four starting quarterbacks and multiple other starters missing much of the season because of injury. I know after the blowout that Kevin Stefanski likely won’t get coach of the year, but what he did was one step short of miraculous.
We’ve already seen some tough decisions come down the barrel as much of the offensive staff was relieved of their duties including Alex Van Pelt, the offensive coordinator. It won’t get any easier this offseason as the Browns try to keep this roster loaded for the 2024 season.
Browns difficult decision No. 3: Letting Za’Darius Smith Walk
One of the bigger moves last offseason was acquiring Za’Darius Smith from the Minnesota Vikings. After Jadeveon Clowney decided to finally walk away, the Browns needed another strong defensive end alongside Myles Garrett.
While Smith was a great fit this year for the price, signing him to anything less than a one-year deal doesn’t make sense to me. He had a good season and is a very comparable player to Clowney. He creates a lot of pressure in the backfield but does struggle to finish the deal and get the sack. Smith is also an elite run defender and does a great job setting the edge and covering the backside.
At this point, I don’t see Berry wanting to spend the money it would take to keep Smith around. The Browns will have a few holes to fill via free agency, so look for him to get a veteran with experience, but under the $10 million per year number which likely wouldn’t interest Smith.
Letting Smith walk away has everything to do with money and nothing to do with his play, but unfortunately, there is a team that is going to be willing to overpay him, and Berry will need to let him walk.
Browns difficult decision No. 2: Drafting another RB
It was a tough season for the Cleveland Browns running game. Between the injury to Nick Chubb early in the season and all the injuries on the offensive line, we saw one of the worst rushing seasons since Stefasnki took over.
There's no doubt that Jerome Ford isn’t Chubb, but it also felt like the offensive line struggled to open holes. I’ll be rooting harder than anyone for Chubb to be back in 2024 a fully healthy, but that was a brutal injury that could be difficult to fully recover from. And it's not his first serious knee injury.
I’m not saying I want the Browns to give up on Chubb, but with Kareem Hunt likely moving on once again, Berry will need to try and find a running back in the draft. I’m not saying to use the second-round pick on the position, but at some point, the Browns need to try and find their next running back who can give Chubb a break or fill in if he isn’t ready to go right away to start the 2024 season.
It would be great to try and find a running back in free agency to help fill the void with a proven veteran, but Berry has shown in the past that he isn’t willing to spend money in free agency at that position. Remember, it took a season-ending injury to Chubb for him to pick up the phone and get Hunt back on the roster.
Browns difficult decision No. 1: Finding fits for Watson at skill positions
We’ve already seen Kevin Stefanski make moves for Deshaun Watson this offseason by firing much of the offensive staff. Stefanski will likely bring in someone with experience to call plays, which can help the Browns spread the field and let Watson sling it around like he did in Houston.
Two things have slowed that down thus far. A poor offensive line and a lack of weapons at receiver. And while the offensive line should be better (if they can stay healthy), I still have a few questions at wide receiver specifically.
There's a good chance that Berry will move on from Amari Cooper unless he restructures his contract, and it doesn’t appear that Elijah Moore, Cedric Tillman, or David Bell are ready to take a huge leap forward to fill in that void. If Berry can bring Cooper back, that would be fantastic. He's an elite route runner and has some of the best hands in the league. For what he lacks in athleticism, he makes up in IQ and precision in his game.
What the Browns are lacking now is a guy who can bust one over the top. There was hope that Moore could be the guy to stretch the field, but to this point, he has only been a slightly above average man beater, who really just gets the leftovers when David Njoku and Cooper are covered.
With not having a first-round pick in the 2024 draft, I don’t see a scenario where Berry doesn’t need to move on from one of the young receivers who hasn’t produced and bring in a veteran who still has some gas in the tank. Fans will hate seeing David Bell not get his full shot to make the team, but this receiver position continues to be much too great of a weakness for a quarterback who wants to push the ball down the field.