The 2024 season has not gone according to plan for the Browns, and moves at the quarterback position in particular will be an interesting offseason storyline surrounding the team. Owner Jimmy Haslam has already backed head coach Kevin Stefanski and general manager Andrew Berry, and his latest remarks on the organization confirm no rebuild is being contemplated. 
“We need to get through the season and we will look at everything,” Haslam said at the league meetings (via ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler). “We’re all disappointed. We’ve got a lot of work to do. We’ll go back and go to work. I’ve learned not to get too emotional during the season. We will sit down after the season, go through everything for next year.”
Stefanski and Berry each signed extensions in June, a sign of the organization’s commitment to continuity on the sidelines and in the front office. That tandem has been in place since 2020, and the Browns have posted winning seasons twice during that span. On both occasions, Stefanski has earned Coach of the Year honors, and expectations were high entering 2024 given Cleveland’s playoff berth from last season. Quarterback Deshaun Watson‘s struggles continued prior to his Achilles tear, however, and competition for the starting role is expected to be added this offseason.
Watson remains under contract through 2026, and with all of his remaining compensation guaranteed in full the Browns do not realistically have the option of releasing or trading him. Jameis Winston has likely upped his value given his level of play since taking over from Watson, but he is a pending free agent. Keeping Winston in place or adding a different veteran passer will be an option this spring, as will selecting a quarterback in the draft. The Browns’ 3-11 record has them on track for a high pick during the first round in April, the first time since 2021 they will own a Day 1 selection.
Other issues have contributed to Cleveland’s poor showing in 2024, of course. The team’s defense still has Jim Schwartz as coordinator, but the unit has experienced a major regression compared to last year. Nick Chubb‘s return to action has not sparked a resurgence in terms of rushing efficiency, as the four-time Pro Bowler is averaging 3.1 yards per attempt in 2024. Chubb is also a pending free agent as a result of his offseason restructure.
A number of key decisions will need to be made over the coming months if the Browns are to return to the playoffs in 2025. An organizational reset will not be part of that process, though, so expectations will remain high for Cleveland’s top brass and the core players who will be in place come the start of next season.
It’s a little bit like rebuilding Hiroshima. Whatever you do to move forward, there’s going to be a toxic crater in the middle of it for a while.
Fantastic! Another losing season is on the horizon. Maybe Shad will follow suit as well.
There’s a reason they’re drafting in the top 5-7 range. It’s not because they are one player short of really competing.
Draft Milroe and rebuild bro
They might want to rebuild their tackle situation first.
All of the above
That’s because they’ve been a constant rebuild for 50 years. Definition of poverty franchise.
Well, they can’t really, not yet at least. The roster could be good with a few adjustments, but the Watson contract is holding them hostage. Until that can be cleared, it’ll be an albatross enslaving their salary cap.
The only option they have right now is to draft a rookie to play while Watson is on the roster. Given the QB options this year, I don’t think that it’d be worth it, especially coupled with their cap situation. The Browns just can’t do it this year. If they want, they could try to sell off their talent for future picks (again), but they won’t be able to capitalize on those selections until Watson’s not holding them down.
The Factory of Sadness is still going strong. Somewhere Ernest Byner is crying.