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Deshaun Watson To Start For Browns In 2024; Latest On QB’s Recovery

January 15th, 2024 at 10:51am CST by Adam La Rose

The Browns relied on Joe Flacco to close out the season and into the wild-card round in the wake of numerous injuries under center. The former Super Bowl MVP does not intend to retire any time soon, but a continued Browns tenure would not involve him maintaining his starting position.

Head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed (via ESPN’s Jake Trotter) that Deshaun Watson sits atop the team’s offseason QB depth chart. The latter was shut down for the season due to shoulder surgery, and his absence led to the pursuit of Flacco in the first place. The 38-year-old was used as a gameday elevation for two weeks while staving off interest from teams looking to sign him off Cleveland’s practice squad. His strong play carried over through the end of the regular season, though the loss to the Texans saw a continuation of Flacco’s turnover issues.

It comes as no surprise Watson will be the No. 1 when healthy given his contract situation and the lack of proven options behind him on the depth chart (at least before Flacco was signed). A report from last month indicated Cleveland was open to the idea of keeping Flacco in place despite the presence of Watson and 2023 fifth-rounder Dorian Thompson-Robinson. In any case, Flacco’s impressive audition has no doubt boosted his market amongst interested teams ahead of free agency, something which will help his goal of playing through the age of 40.

Stefanski added that Watson should be recovered from surgery sometime this spring, meaning he should be able to participate in Cleveland’s offseason program. A healthy and productive campaign in 2024 will be critical given the extent to which things have not gone according to plan for team and player in this situation. The former Texans Pro Bowler was suspended for the first 11 games of the 2022 season, and the lingering shoulder issues limited him to six contests this year. Watson performed at a higher level when on the field in 2023 than he did in his debut Browns season, but to date he has not met expectations on his fully guaranteed $230MM pact.

Over each of the next three seasons, Watson is scheduled to carry a record-shattering cap hit of just under $64MM. Another restructure to his contract will therefore likely take place in the near future, and the particulars of that move will inform much of the team’s remaining budget at the QB spot. A deal with Flacco or another veteran backup option could be in play, but Watson will enter the build-up to the 2024 campaign assured of his spot atop the depth chart.

Browns RB Kareem Hunt To Test Free Agency, Open To Return

January 14th, 2024 at 6:40pm CST by Ely Allen

The Browns were put in a terrible position when star running back Nick Chubb went down with multiple knee ligament tears only two weeks into the 2023 season, forcing the team to navigate 16 more weeks of football without him. Cleveland was fortunate that a former member of a formidable 1-2 punch with Chubb, Kareem Hunt, was available in free agency. While Hunt’s first couple of forays into free agency were not ideal situations, he will land on the market once again this offseason, this time on much better terms.

Hunt’s first bout with free agency had come less than a year after he led the NFL in rushing yards as a rookie with the Chiefs. Hunt was unceremoniously released by Kansas City amid the release of a videotape that showed him pushing a woman to the ground and kicking her after first being physically assaulted by the woman. He was never charged with any crime but was placed on the Commissioner’s Exempt list after signing a new deal with the Browns. He ended up serving an eight-game suspension as a result of the incident.

Hunt became a restricted free agent after that first season in Cleveland, eventually signing a two-year, $13.25MM contract extension. Just before the second year of the two-year deal, Hunt requested a trade from the Browns, unhappy with his contract situation. The Browns refused to honor his request, letting him play out the 2022 season on the final year of his contract. He was not re-signed this time and spent seven months in free agency.

After Chubb went out for the season, the Browns reached out, desiring Hunt’s familiarity with the team’s offense among a relatively inexperienced running backs room. Hunt would play out a one-year deal for the remainder of the season. With that season coming to an end yesterday in the Browns’ loss to the Texans, Hunt is once again destined for free agency.

This time, though, Hunt is looking forward to testing the open market. Despite not spending camp or the preseason with the team, Hunt delivered a strong contribution in 2023, scoring more rushing touchdowns this year (9) than he had in any other season of his career.

“I’m definitely going to test free agency and see what the right option is for me or what’s best for me and my family and everything,” Hunt told Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal. “But, for the most part, this is always home for me. It’s Cleveland until I die, so I’m going to have a special place in my heart for them.”

While it sounds like a goodbye letter to Cleveland, Hunt made sure to clarify that he isn’t “closing (any) doors.” He emphasized that he will “always consider being in Cleveland over anything,” but for now, he’ll test the free agent market and see if another franchise decides they need him more.

Minor NFL Transactions: 1/12/24

January 12th, 2024 at 7:17pm CST by Ely Allen

Some minor roster moves heading into Super Wild Card Weekend:

Cleveland Browns

It appears that Patterson will be serving kicking duties for Cleveland for the third week in a row. Regular kicker Dustin Hopkins will not be available for the first week of the playoffs as he continues to deal with a hamstring injury.

No practice squad callups for the Texans is a good sign for some of the injuries the team has been dealing with. With wide receivers Robert Woods and Noah Brown coming into the game with questionable designations, signs are pointing to them being available tomorrow.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 1/10/24

January 10th, 2024 at 6:48pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are today’s mid-week practice squad moves:

Baltimore Ravens

Cleveland Browns

Los Angeles Rams

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Fracisco 49ers

After seeing two defensive backs in Hawkins and Verrett suffer injuries that won’t allow them to return for the playoffs, San Francisco made the move to add the veteran cornerback Mitchell. Mitchell had signed with the 49ers just prior to the preseason, but the team was forced to place him on injured reserve a week later. Since being released with an injury settlement, Mitchell has not signed with another team, failing to make an appearance in the 2023 regular season. Still, he provides San Francisco with some experienced depth in the secondary, should they call his number.

Browns Designate S Grant Delpit For Return

January 10th, 2024 at 8:29am CST by Sam Robinson

Entering the playoffs with the NFL’s No. 1-ranked total defense, the Browns will hope to have one of their injured starters back for Saturday’s wild-card matchup against the Texans.

They designated Grant Delpit to return from IR on Wednesday. The fourth-year safety has missed the past four games due to a groin injury. While Cleveland has seen several starters suffer season-ending injuries on the offensive side, Jim Schwartz‘s unit has not seen its troops suffer as many setbacks. Upon placing Delpit on IR, the team had targeted a playoff return.

The Browns and Delpit reached a rare gameday extension agreement; at least, the news came out about the deal hours before the team’s Week 14 game. But Delpit sustained the injury during that contest. He agreed to a three-year, $36MM extension, which came with $14.9MM fully guaranteed.

A 2020 second-round pick, Delpit has come a long way since an Achilles tear sidelined him for his entire rookie season. The LSU product has become a key piece, working as a three-year starter. Despite the four-game hiatus, Delpit sits second on the team with 80 tackles this season. Pro Football Focus slots Delpit just outside the top 30 among safeties, giving him a better mark for his coverage work compared to run defense.

While the Browns have not seen their defense battered compared to what has happened to their offense, the team did lose Rodney McLeod for the season. However, rookie UDFA Ronnie Hickman — a starter during Delpit’s absence — has shown flashes early. Hickman notched a pick-six against the Jets in Week 17 and, albeit on a limited snap count, finished his first NFL regular season as PFF’s No. 6-ranked safety. Hickman joins Delpit and Juan Thornhill on Cleveland’s defensive back line.

Thornhill signed a three-year, $21MM deal in free agency, and Delpit’s subsequent accord locks in both Browns starting safeties through at least the 2025 season. The team can devote resources elsewhere come March as a result of keeping Delpit off the 2024 market. The Browns’ injury issues notwithstanding, they are in great shape in terms of IR activations. Five such moves remain available for the AFC’s No. 5 seed.

Commanders Send Out Five GM Interview Requests

January 8th, 2024 at 1:25pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Commanders have not yet dismissed Martin Mayhew from his GM post, but that has been expected. Owner Josh Harris will take the unusual step of sending out GM interview requests despite the incumbent still residing on staff.

Not long after firing Ron Rivera, Washington’s new ownership sent out five GM interview requests Monday. The team will attempt to meet with Bears assistant GM Ian Cunningham and Browns assistant GM Glenn Cook, according to the Washington Post’s Nicki Jhabvala. 49ers assistant GM Adam Peters also received a request, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter reports, adding Chiefs assistant GM Mike Borgonzi also garnered one. Eagles assistant GM Alec Halaby did as well, per NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero.

Many staffers listed have been connected to GM vacancies in the past, and have had their names floated as ones to watch in the 2024 hiring cycle. As such, it comes as no surprise that the Commanders will involve them in their transition to a new organizational structure. Former Golden State Warriors general manager Bob Myers as well as former Vikings GM Rick Spielman are in place as advisors for the search process concerning Washington’s’ next head coach and president of football operations.

Cunningham has been a top GM candidate in recent years. He joined the Eagles’ staff after a lengthy tenure with the Ravens before taking his current Bears posting under Ryan Poles last offseason. Cunningham spoke with the Titans about their vacancy in 2023, and he turned down the Cardinals position. He will no doubt be a leading candidate for teams in need of a new GM this year as well.

Like Cunningham, Peters is considered a name to watch. The 2023 campaign marks his third in his current role with San Francisco, as he spent the previous four seasons as the 49ers’ vice president of player personnel. That came after a lengthy stint with the Broncos, making him an experienced option on the GM market. A personal connection could also be in play with respect to the Commanders’ vacancy.

Peters and Myers have a long history with one another, as noted by Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. That could explain (to an extent) the latter’s inclusion on Harris’ hand-picked search committee to replace Rivera and, eventually, Mayhew. Likely to be significantly in demand this offseason, Peters will be able to afford to be choosey when electing to remain in the Bay Area or depart for a GM opening. He will interview with Washington this week, per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer.

The Commanders could be an attractive vacancy given Harris’ presence as owner, the team’s signficant cap space heading into free agency and the No. 2 selection in this year’s draft. A rebuild will be required, and the lack of a head coach certainly leaves the franchise with a degree of uncertainty, though. When speaking to the media on Monday, Harris said he intends to have a new head of football operations in place before a HC. The timeline along which a GM will be brought in will be worth watching closely.

Sam Robinson contributed to this post.

Updated 2024 NFL Draft Order

January 7th, 2024 at 10:40pm CST by Sam Robinson

Week 18 is in the books, meaning the top 18 draft slots are locked in going into the offseason. The Commanders, Patriots, Cardinals and Chargers all lost. Only the Bolts changed positions, by virtue of the Giants’ win over the Eagles. The Giants, however, only dropped one spot through their home win.

The Falcons and Saints’ efforts to upend the Buccaneers in the NFC South did not pan out, with Tampa Bay beating two-win Carolina in its regular-season finale. This will keep Atlanta and New Orleans in much better draft positions. Despite finishing 8-9, Tampa Bay now cannot move past No. 19 without a trade.

While the Bears’ seminal decision — Justin Fields or Caleb Williams, seemingly, with all the trade and contract factors that go along with this forthcoming choice — will headline the leadup to this draft, the Commanders have secured the No. 2 selection and will have their own call to make. New owner Josh Harris showed he will help drive his front office to moves that will load up draft capital, as the Montez Sweat and Chase Young trades showed, and he is all but certain to hire a new regime in the coming weeks.

The draft’s second-best quarterback will be available to Washington, which saw its Sam Howell wire-to-wire season fail to solidify him as the team’s surefire long-term QB. Will Washington become closely connected to Howell’s North Carolina successor (Drake Maye)? The Commanders’ call will help shape how the Patriots proceed, unless New England — which is also all but certain to move on from Bill Belichick and start anew — completes a trade-up effort.

As the postseason determines the bottom 14 draft slots, here is how the top 18 look after the regular season:

  1. Chicago Bears (via Panthers)
  2. Washington Commanders: 4-13
  3. New England Patriots: 4-13
  4. Arizona Cardinals: 4-13
  5. Los Angeles Chargers: 5-12
  6. New York Giants: 6-11
  7. Tennessee Titans: 6-11
  8. Atlanta Falcons: 7-10
  9. Chicago Bears: 7-10
  10. New York Jets: 7-10
  11. Minnesota Vikings: 7-10
  12. Denver Broncos: 8-9
  13. Las Vegas Raiders: 8-9
  14. New Orleans Saints: 9-8
  15. Indianapolis Colts: 9-8
  16. Seattle Seahawks: 9-8
  17. Jacksonville Jaguars: 9-8
  18. Cincinnati Bengals: 9-8
  19. Green Bay Packers: 9-8
  20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 9-8
  21. Arizona Cardinals (via Texans)
  22. Los Angeles Rams: 10-7
  23. Pittsburgh Steelers: 10-7
  24. Miami Dolphins: 11-6
  25. Philadelphia Eagles: 11-6
  26. Kansas City Chiefs: 11-6
  27. Houston Texans (via Browns)
  28. Detroit Lions: 12-5
  29. Buffalo Bills: 11-6
  30. Dallas Cowboys: 12-5
  31. San Francisco 49ers: 12-5
  32. Baltimore Ravens: 13-4

Minor NFL Transactions: 1/6/24

January 6th, 2024 at 8:33pm CST by Ely Allen

The last week of pregame transactions and gameday callups for several teams this season:

Arizona Cardinals

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

  • Placed on IR: T Mike McGlinchey
  • Activated from IR: T Alex Palczewski
  • Signed to active roster: CB Art Green
  • Elevated: S Devon Key

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

  • Placed on IR: TE Hunter Henry
  • Signed to active roster: TE La’Michael Pettway
  • Elevated: TE Matt Sokol, OL Andrew Stueber

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

Philadelphia Eagles

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

Several teams whose season is set to come to an end tomorrow have elected to move injured players to injured reserve in order to create roster spots for practice squad options, particularly those who have had their three gameday elevations exhausted. In the case of the Broncos, McGlinchey will see his debut campaign in the Mile High City come to a premature end. Signed to a five-year, $87.5MM deal, the 28-year-old was part of a revamped O-line which did not produce the desired rebound on offense. Manning his usual right tackle spot, McGlinchey was charged with eight sacks and 49 pressures allowed by PFF, resulting in an overall grade of 67.5.

While the Giants will have an interesting decision to make with respect to Xavier McKinney‘s future, they will have Pinnock on the books for at least one more season. The latter’s rookie contract is set to expire following the 2024 campaign, one in which he will no doubt remain a vital member of New York’s secondary. Pinnock has recorded 85 tackles, two interceptions (including a 102-yard pick-six), six pass deflections and a pair of forced fumbles while logging over 1,000 defensive snaps this season. A return to health and a continuation of his 2023 level of play will be sorely needed next fall.

Browns DC Jim Schwartz Interested In HC Opportunities

January 6th, 2024 at 2:18pm CST by Ely Allen

The Lions have clinched a playoff spot for the first time in six years. Before this dry spell, which is a relatively short one for the Detroit fans, the Lions made three playoff appearances in six years. That run started with a 2011 season behind then head coach Jim Schwartz, who currently resides as the defensive coordinator for the Browns. Schwartz was fired two years later and has yet to hold a head coaching position since. That doesn’t mean the goal is out of mind for the Cleveland assistant.

In a recent interview, Schwartz made his desires known for the future, according to ESPN’s Jake Trotter. “You always aspire to the top of the profession,” Schwartz told the media, “and I’m not different there.”

Schwartz first achieved that pinnacle of the sport after an extended tenure in Tennessee. After serving three years as a personnel scout in Cleveland and three more as an outside linebackers coach in Baltimore, Schwartz took a defensive assistant position with the Titans and was promoted to linebackers coach a year later. After a year coaching linebackers, he was promoted once again to defensive coordinator, a role he would hold for eight seasons before getting his first head coaching opportunity.

Schwartz faced an extremely difficult task in his first gig, inheriting Rod Marinelli‘s infamous 0-16 2008 Lions squad. Alongside rookie quarterback Matthew Stafford, Schwartz would chip away at what would ultimately end as a 12-year playoff drought, winning two games in his first year and six in his second. Detroit would earn a Wild Card spot with a 10-6 record in Schwartz’s third year before falling to the Saints in the first round of the playoffs. The team would regress in the next two seasons, failing to make the playoffs in either year.

Since then, Schwartz has done nothing but lead top NFL defenses. In his first year post-Detroit, Schwartz led a Bills defense that finished fourth in both points and yards allowed. Two years later Schwartz began the turnaround of one of the league’s worst defensive units in Philadelphia. In only his second year on the job, Schwartz had taken a defense that was bottom-five before his arrival and helped them to finish fourth in points and yards allowed during their 2017 Super Bowl run.

In 2020, Schwartz would resign from his position due to health issues and decided to step away from his usual role as a coordinator, accepting a senior defensive assistant position back in his old home in Tennessee. The Browns hired Schwartz a year ago in hopes that he would be able to take their defense from average to great, and he delivered in a big way. While an unproductive offense at times this year put the defense in bad situations and added points to the board for the other team, Cleveland’s defensive unit has allowed the fewest yards in the NFL by a large margin.

Having delivered in multiple locations, turning around poor defenses in short amounts of time, it’s no surprise now that Schwartz is garnering head coaching interest, once again. And while Schwartz appears to be happy in Cleveland, the lure of leading a team is strong. If the right situation presents itself, we may see Schwartz take a second opportunity to make a name as a head coach in the NFL.

Browns Place LB Anthony Walker On IR

January 5th, 2024 at 1:40pm CST by Sam Robinson

After going week to week with Anthony Walker, the Browns will give his roster spot to someone else. Out for the past three games following arthroscopic knee surgery, Walker is now on IR.

Barring the Browns making their first Super Bowl appearance in franchise history, the veteran linebacker is done for the season. Although Walker has missed time already, his IR clock — mandating a four-game absence — begins in Week 18. The Browns signed defensive end Sam Kamara from their practice squad to fill Walker’s roster spot.

Knee scopes have offered players the chance to return after short- or medium-term hiatuses for a while, but the team evidently deemed Walker’s return timetable as lengthy enough a playoff comeback was not guaranteed. Walker started all 12 games he played for the Browns this season, his third with the team.

Walker joins Grant Delpit, Rodney McLeod and Maurice Hurst Jr. as Browns defensive regulars on IR. Offensively, Cleveland has dealt with far more obstacles. Nick Chubb, Deshaun Watson, Jack Conklin, Jedrick Wills and Dawand Jones are on the Browns’ injured list. Delpit has a chance to return in the playoffs, but the rest of this lot will not come suit up again before September.

This is familiar territory for Walker, who ended last season on IR as well. The former Colts draftee suffered a torn quad tendon in September 2022. As part of a decent linebacker-retention effort, the Browns re-signed Walker on a one-year, $1.23MM deal. Cleveland also brought back Sione Takitaki, who has seen more playing time alongside Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah since Walker’s latest injury. Walker posted 113 tackles for the Browns in 2021; he heads to IR with 44 stops, four passes defensed and two fumble recoveries this season. Pro Football Focus rates Walker 31st among linebacker regulars.

On a more positive note, Kevin Stefanski said Ogbo Okoronkwo could return to action despite suffering what was initially believed to be a season-ending pectoral injury. The rotational edge rusher has missed the past three games, but after additional testing, the Browns did not place the free agency pickup on IR. Okoronkwo has tallied 4.5 sacks and a career-high 12 tackles for loss during his first season in Cleveland.

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