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Mike Vrabel Rumored As Potential Raiders Frontrunner; Saints On Radar

December 30th, 2024 at 3:56pm CST by Sam Robinson

With the 2025 coaching carousel not viewed as especially deep, the chances of Mike Vrabel slipping through the cracks for a second straight year appear slim. Vrabel joins Lions HC Ben Johnson as the top candidates in this year’s pool, and multiple teams are being tied to the former Titans leader.

The Raiders have not fired Antonio Pierce, but that will be considered. If the team pulls the plug on Pierce after one season as full-time HC, Vrabel should be considered on the radar. Plenty around the NFL believe Vrabel would be the Las Vegas frontrunner if the team did fire Pierce, SI.com’s Albert Breer notes. Considering Vrabel and Tom Brady‘s past, it would not surprise if this became a landing spot to closely monitor.

For a minority owner, Brady appears set to hold substantial power in Vegas — both with regards to the team’s HC and QB searches — despite his role as a broadcaster. While Brady’s announcing gig could cause issues ahead of Super Bowl LIX, Mark Davis is prepared to lean on the all-time QB great during a pivotal offseason. Brady and Vrabel played together in New England for eight years, and Breer adds the ex-quarterback’s appearance at a Raiders practice late last season — when he was not yet a part-owner — signaled to some Vrabel would be on the team’s radar for the 2024 season.

As it turned out, no one hired Vrabel this year. Though, the Chargers are believed to have viewed him as their Jim Harbaugh backup plan. Vrabel, 49, closed out his consulting run with the Browns on Monday. His Cleveland contract expired, per ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter, freeing him up for HC interviews before season’s end. Vrabel’s contract having this particular expiration date certainly points to the free agent coaching candidate wanting to explore an NFL return, and although a return to Ohio State surfaced recently, the former linebacker’s alma mater may well not have a job opening at season’s end.

Regardless, Breer adds Vrabel is leaving the Browns on good terms, as the sides separating now would allow Vrabel to conduct in-person interviews for HC positions before his competition. All coaches who are tied to other teams must wait until divisional-round week to begin meeting with teams, but unattached coaches can begin interviews for vacant jobs at any point. The Raiders do not have a vacancy presently, but other teams who do figure to be interested in Vrabel.

The Saints are one of three teams who can interview coaches now, having fired Dennis Allen weeks ago, and Breer adds Vrabel is on Mickey Loomis‘ radar. The 23rd-year GM is believed to be safe and free to run another coaching search. The Saints went with an in-house option to succeed Sean Payton, though the latter had not previously worked with Loomis when he was hired in 2006. Considering Allen’s struggles, Loomis casting a wider net this time around makes sense.

While interim HC Darren Rizzi is well-liked, it would be rather surprising if the Saints went with a second straight in-house promotion given the issues they have had since Payton left. Joe Brady having worked as a Payton assistant for two late-2010s seasons could be of note if the Saints prefer familiarity again, but the second-year Bills OC may have options as well. Lions DC Aaron Glenn, who coached the Saints’ DBs before heading to Detroit, is expected to factor into the team’s HC search prominently as well.

Updated 2025 NFL Draft Order

December 30th, 2024 at 10:39am CST by Adam La Rose

Plenty of changes took place regarding the projected draft order on Sunday. Most notably, the Giants’ first home win of the year took them out of the top spot and greatly lowered their chances of securing the No. 1 pick.

Instead, the Patriots are now in pole position to select first in April. New England already has Drake Maye in place, so adding another Day 1 passer would be out of the picture. With Travis Hunter being seen as the top overall prospect in the class, the Heisman winner could be a suitable target as a key figure in New England’s rebuilding process.

Meanwhile, a number of teams which could be in the market for a first-round passer are near the top of the order. That includes the Browns and Raiders, teams which each face uncertainty under center for 2025 despite already having a number of quarterbacks under contract beyond this season. Bringing in Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders would provide another short-term option for next year along with a potential long-term answer at the position. Plenty could still change in the order over Week 18, though, and the evaluation process of both of the top signal-callers in the class obviously has a long way to go.

For non-playoff teams, the draft order will be determined by the inverted 2024 standings — plus a series of tiebreakers, starting with strength of schedule — with playoff squads being slotted by their postseason outcome and regular-season record. Here is an updated look at the current draft order:

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

Patriots Move Into Top 2025 Draft Slot

December 29th, 2024 at 10:15pm CST by Ely Allen

With surprising wins today by the Giants and Raiders, the top of the draft order was shaken up once more. The Raiders, now on a two-game winning streak, have plummeted from a top-two pick to No. 8 overall, and a win by the Giants knocked the Colts out of playoff contention and knocked New York down three draft slots to No. 4 overall. Here’s a quick look at some other consequences of today’s games.

Today’s wins and losses have now placed New England in the driver’s seat for the No. 1 overall spot. If the Patriots lose in their season finale to the Bills, they will secure the rights to the top pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. This opens up a number of possibilities for New England. The Patriots have holes on the offensive line, receiving corps, pass rush, and cornerbacks group.

For some time, the top picks have been projected to be Miami quarterback Cam Ward or Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders, but with no need to draft a quarterback with a top pick for the second year in a row, the Patriots are poised to shake things up. With no elite options at offensive line in this year’s draft class, they could go for Heisman-winning athlete Travis Hunter from Colorado, who could fill holes at both cornerback and receiver. Arizona receiver Tetairoa McMillan is another top receiver option who projects as a stronger receiving prospect than Hunter. They could also go for Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter, though that would seem like a bit of a reach in the top spot.

The other option available to New England opens the door for any of the quarterback-needy teams to trade up into the No. 1 overall pick. The Titans (No. 2), Browns (No. 3), and Giants all have interest in adding a top quarterback to the roster. One of these teams may pursue that quarterback through free agency with Sam Darnold, Russell Wilson, and Kirk Cousins all currently on their way to free agency. If not, they can take a chance and hope to land Ward or Sanders in their current slots.

They may also want to keep an eye on teams like the Panthers (No. 6), Jets (No. 7), and Raiders, though, as all of those teams may have interest in trading into the top draft slot. All three of those teams have quarterback situations that could greatly benefit from the addition of Ward or Sanders, and the Patriots could likely still fill a major need — even offensive line — after moving back later in the top-10 picks. It would also make selections like Carter or Michigan cornerback Will Johnson seem like less of a reach.

There are way too many possibilities to speculate on from this situation at this point in time, but New England’s prospective hold on the No. 1 overall pick introduces a litany of fun potential outcomes. They will need to close it out with a home defeat at the hands of the Bills next week, but the chaos from today’s games has provided plenty for draft nerds to drool over in the days to come.

Browns Could Target First-Round QB

December 29th, 2024 at 10:13pm CST by Adam La Rose

Deshaun Watson will remain with the Browns for (at least) one more season, with his latest restructure now on the books. Cleveland will look to add competition at the quarterback spot this offseason, though, and the draft is an avenue which could be used in that effort.

The Browns enter Sunday’s action with a record of 3-12, making them a candidate for a top-five pick in April’s draft. Holding such a premier selection could open the door to adding one of the top passers in the 2025 class, depending on how the rest of the order at the top of the board shakes out. Provided the team is in position to do so, Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com writes the Browns will be a candidate to select a Day 1 quarterback.

Trading for Watson and committing to a fully guaranteed five-year, $230MM contract was of course meant to provide the Browns with a long-term solution under center. The former Texan has dealt with an 11-game suspension followed by major injuries in consecutive seasons during his Cleveland tenure, however, and there is a chance he could miss time at the start of the 2025 campaign while recovering from his Achilles tear. At least one outside passer will likely be brought in to compete with Watson and Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who unlike veteran Jameis Winston is under contract for next year.

The 2024 draft produced six quarterbacks in the first 12 picks, but a repeat of that showing is not expected this time around. Only two passers are currently slated to receive consideration at the top of the board in 2025 – Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders. Cleveland could land within range of one or both, and in that event the team would no doubt spend considerable time evaluating each QB. Not long after paying three first-round picks as part of the price to acquire Watson, using a Day 1 selection on his successor would obviously not represent a wanted move on the part of general manager Andrew Berry, but Watson’s play when healthy would justify bringing in a replacement starting option.

Of course, the Browns could do so well before April. Several quarterbacks are set to hit the market, with Sam Darnold beingthe top option in free agency provided he does not re-sign with the Vikings. Minnesota wants to keep him in place (on a deal which will entail a considerable raise compared to his current pact), but failing that there will be several outside suitors. Cleveland could be one of them, and adding Darnold would provide the team with a multi-year starting option while riding out the remainder of Watson’s cumbersome contract and its salary cap implications.

Outside of Darnold, a mix of journeymen veterans and younger passers like Justin Fields and Mac Jones are on track to be available. Short-term commitments to quarterbacks in that tier could help the Browns meet their stated goal of returning to the playoffs in 2025, and success could pave the way to a new direction under center beyond that. If Cleveland elects to steer clear of a lucrative QB deal this spring, though, adding a rookie passer would increasingly become a possibility to watch for.

NFL Injury Updates: Eagles QB, Ford, Watts

December 29th, 2024 at 9:22pm CST by Ely Allen

The Eagles were able to pull out a dominant win over the Cowboys today despite playing nearly the entire second half with a third-string quarterback. Philadelphia started Kenny Pickett this week as usual starter Jalen Hurts continues to sit with a concussion, but rib injuries ended up taking Pickett out of the game, forcing Tanner McKee to make his NFL debut in the win.

Pickett came into the game with some rib issues, necessitating pain relief injections both before the game and at halftime. After taking a shot to the ribs early in the second half, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, Pickett left the game headed for the X-ray room and did not return to the game.

McKee finished a game that was already very much out of hand, completing three of four passes for 54 yards and two touchdowns in his first game action after getting drafted in the sixth round last year. At 13-3, the Eagles are locked into the 2-seed. Even if the Lions lose tomorrow night, the No. 1 overall seed will be decided in the Vikings’ trip to Detroit next week. The loser will get the 5-seed, and Philadelphia will be the second-best division-winner no matter what.

With that in mind, it would be no surprise to see McKee start week 18 against the Giants. The team is risking nothing but further injury, and they’d likely be thankful for the opportunity to give both the starter, Hurts, and the primary backup, Pickett, an extra week of recovery.

Here are a few other injury updates from around the NFL:

  • The Browns continue to deal with injuries in the offensive backfield. Starting quarterback Deshaun Watson and starting running back Nick Chubb are on injured reserve, and backup quarterback Jameis Winston was ruled out with a right shoulder injury before today’s game. Late in the first half of today’s loss to the Dolphins, Cleveland saw another backfield offensive player go down when running back Jerome Ford was landed on by right tackle Jack Conklin, per Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal. Ford appeared to suffer an injury to his right foot and/or ankle and did not return for the remainder of the game. The Browns finished the game with Pierre Strong and D’Onta Foreman at running back. With the final game of the season coming against one of the league’s top rushing defenses in Baltimore, Cleveland may be fielding a third-string quarterback and running back in their season finale.
  • The Giants saw veteran defensive tackle Armon Watts suffer what looked to be a serious knee injury today, according to Dan Duggan of The Athletic. The cart was immediately rushed out for Watts, and he was quickly ruled out for the remainder of the game. While not likely to join IR like so many other defensive linemen on the team, Watts may have seen his last action of the season, regardless.

NFL Coaching Rumors: Vrabel, Desai, Falcons

December 29th, 2024 at 8:11pm CST by Ely Allen

Following his first head coaching stint in Tennessee, Mike Vrabel has been serving as a coaching and personnel consultant in Cleveland. His job with the Browns was obviously a last-second alternative after he attempted to go after another head coaching gig in the offseason and failed.

We had heard rumors back in January following the hiring of Jim Harbaugh in Los Angeles that Vrabel was the second option for the job. That rumor was reiterated by Diana Russini of The Athletic recently. Vrabel had reportedly nailed his interview with the Chargers, and there was legitimate concern that Harbaugh might have backed out of the agreement to become head coach. Unfortunately for Vrabel, Harbaugh returned to the NFL, leaving Vrabel in a quick search for work.

The next head coaching cycle should give Vrabel a bit more time to find a job, and according to Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com, he may not be the only one who departs. Kay claims that, should Vrabel leave for his next head coaching gig in 2025, there’s an expectation that he will attempt to bring pass game specialist and tight ends coach Tommy Rees with him.

Rees doesn’t have much NFL experience. Starting his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Northwestern, Rees spent one season as an offensive assistant for the Chargers in 2016 before going back to the collegiate ranks. He spent three seasons as Notre Dame’s quarterbacks coach before earning the offensive coordinator title for three more years. Before joining Cleveland, he spent a single season as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for Alabama.

Here are a couple other coaching rumors from around the NFL:

  • Another coach who took a small role in 2024 was former NFL defensive coordinator Sean Desai. Desai has spent two separate seasons as a coordinator in the NFL, both times failing to retain his position into the next year. After being fired by the Eagles following the loss of six of their final seven games, Desai took the role of senior defensive assistant with the Rams, calling the scout team defense against the team’s offense in practice. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Desai is expected to be a hot name in the upcoming cycle as a candidate to once again become a defensive coordinator.
  • In the realm of college, Falcons pass game specialist Chandler Whitmer has been hired to serve as the quarterbacks coach and co-offensive coordinator for Indiana in 2025, per ESPN’s Pete Thamel. He is set to replace Tino Sunseri who will take the opportunity to call plays at UCLA next year. Whitmer brings four years of NFL experience, previously working as a quality control coach with quarterbacks for the Chargers. He also spent time as a graduate assistant with Clemson and Ohio State. This will be his first job as a full-time position coach.

Browns LG Joel Bitonio Undecided On Continuing Playing Career, Will Not Seek Trade Or Release

December 29th, 2024 at 10:00am CST by Rory Parks

Browns star edge defender Myles Garrett said he will consider a trade request if, after speaking with Cleveland brass this offseason, it becomes apparent that the club is contemplating a rebuild. We subsequently heard that, since the Browns are not considering a rebuild and are eyeing a return to contention in 2025, the team is not overly concerned about Garrett’s comments.

Still, it is noteworthy that the Browns’ season has gone so poorly and created so much uncertainty that their best player – who is under contract through 2026 and who could land another lucrative extension this offseason – wants to hear about their future plans before making decisions about his own future. Likewise, the longest-tenured member of the Browns, left guard Joel Bitonio, would like to know where the team is headed before deciding whether to return for the final year of his own contract in 2025.

“It’s hard to go out there and have three wins right now,” Bitonio said (via Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com). “That’s been tough. It’s tough on your body. You just don’t feel as good on Monday when you lose a game. So it’s part of the process and you’d love to hear what the plan is going forward and kind of see where we’re at, see how much winning you can do.”

Bitonio, 33, was selected by the Browns in the second round of the 2014 draft, and aside from being a bastion of durability for most of his career, he has also been one of the league’s best interior blockers. From 2018-2023, he rattled off six consecutive Pro Bowl nods, a stretch that included First Team All-Pro acclaim in 2021 and 2022. Per Pro Football Focus’ metrics, however, his play has regressed a bit in 2024, as his 63.1 overall grade ranks 41st out of 74 qualified players and would represent the lowest mark of his career.

Given how good he has been throughout his lengthy Cleveland tenure, the Browns would surely love to have him back just the same, particularly since he is due just a $1.26MM base salary and $3MM roster bonus in 2025. But Bitonio has not yet made a decision one way or another.

“We’ll see how we’re doing in a couple weeks after the season,” he said. “It’s very hard to make a decision when you’re in the middle of it, you’re going through the daily grind. So I’m going to finish the year as strong as I can and see how we feel in a couple weeks and go from there.”

While Bitonio would like to know the team’s 2025 plans, both at quarterback and in general, Tony Grossi of TheLandOnDemand.com interpreted Bitonio’s comments to mean that the decorated lineman’s decision as to whether he will retire or return to play out the last year of his contract will mostly be dictated by his health.

“Truthfully, it’s mostly personal, just how my body feels going into another season,” Bitonio said, underscoring Grossi’s point. “The game, it’s an amazing game, blessed to play it, but it’s a stressful game, you put a lot on your body, how are you going to feel in 10 years or 15 years or 20 years?”

Whether or not he hangs up the cleats after the current season, Bitonio will not request a trade or release and will finish his career as a member of the Browns. 

“For me personally, I don’t know what they’re thinking [with respect to quarterback plans], but I’m going to be a Cleveland Brown, I think, for my career,” he said. “So if I come back, whatever decision they make at quarterback is what decision they make. I’m not as young as Myles where you have some options other places. So for me it’s more going to be like how I feel personally, how my family feels and all that stuff.”

Myles Garrett Seeking Answers On Browns’ Long-Term Plan; DE Would Consider Trade Request

December 28th, 2024 at 9:42pm CST by Sam Robinson

DECEMBER 28: Garrett confirmed (via Cabot) one member of the Browns’ front office reached out to him to assess his thoughts on any potential trade request. With no rebuild being considered, though, Cabot adds Garrett’s comments have not drawn a significant reaction from the organization. Watson’s latest restructure could provide added financial flexibility to made a QB move this offseason, something which could further dissuade thoughts of being dealt on Garrett’s part.

DECEMBER 20: Drafted first overall after the Browns went 0-16, Myles Garrett has been through a rebuild. Overseen by three GMs, that climb produced a quality roster that has seen quarterback hiccups — one that has the team in an unprecedented bind — otherwise define the period.

In a statement that sounds a bit more like what an NBA superstar would provide, Garrett wants clarity from Browns management about the team’s plans. Making it clear he is not interested in being part of another rebuild, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year did not dismiss a trade request if he does not receive the answers he wants.

“First of all, I want to win. I want the Browns to be able to put me and us in position to win. I’m not trying to rebuild,” Garrett said, via cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot. “I’m trying to win right now. I want that to be apparent, when the season’s over and we have those discussions, I want them to be able to illuminate that for me, illustrate that for me, so that can be something that I can see in the near future.

“I’m going to stay loyal to a team that showed loyalty to me and faith in me by drafting me. But we have to do, at the end of the day, what’s best for us.”

This strategy has keyed numerous NBA exits, in a league in which the stars hold more power compared to the NFL. The league Garrett plays in features additional mechanisms, most notably the franchise tag, for teams to retain stars. As Deshaun Watson‘s struggles pushed that situation well past a crisis point ahead of the trade deadline, teams asked about Garrett. The Browns shot them down, viewing he and Denzel Ward as building blocks. But Garrett may be ready to force the issue soon.

“Absolutely,” Garrett said when asked (via Cabot) if the Browns need to explain a QB plan. “As uncertain as it is now from the outside looking in, it’s uncertain for us as well. So if [Dorian Thompson-Robinson] is the solution or someone else is, it’s got to be drawn out. There’s got to be a plan of action and just got to know where things are going.

Cleveland has Garrett under contract (at a below-market rate) for one more season. The team did well to sign the 2017 top pick to a five-year, $125MM deal, giving the club seven years of control. Probably the best pass rusher in Browns history, Garrett has outplayed that deal. Nick Bosa now leads the pack with a $34MM-per-year deal, and 2025 will also bring Micah Parsons and T.J. Watt contract years. Although Garrett is also in line to cash in during a Browns contract year, doing so appears contingent on the team convincing its top player it can compete despite the Watson albatross.

Trading Garrett would cost the Browns more than $36MM in dead money. This being the Andrew Berry-era Browns, four void years are on the standout’s contract. That will raise the price of a trade, one that would not bring any cap relief if completed before June 1. While the Browns could take the route of overwhelming Garrett with an extension offer, inking him to a third contract appears contingent on a better quarterback plan.

The Browns have no way out of the Watson mess. No second suspension under the personal conduct policy is coming, keeping the QB’s guarantees intact. It would cost the Browns more than $172MM to release Watson in 2025, making it a non-starter. The team plans to keep the struggling quarterback as a result. Although Browns decision-makers are not saying Watson will be benched in 2025, signs point to a search for competition — at the very least — coming soon. The contract Berry authorized in 2022 will prevent an expensive QB search, but he does plan on going through with a third restructure to reduce Watson’s 2025 cap hit (currently a record-shattering $72.9MM). This will make it harder for the Browns to dump the disappointing trade acquisition in 2026, but that appears the cost of doing business at this point.

A team that traded for Garrett would need to pay up; the Browns would undoubtedly ask for a first-round pick and change. The prospect of an acquiring team needing to then authorize a market-setting extension north of $35MM per year would complicate trade talks, as would Garrett turning 30 in 2025. But the five-time All-Pro would be ready to ask for a deal if he and the Browns are not aligned.

“I mean, it’s a possibility, but I want to be a Cleveland Brown,” Garrett said of a trade request. “I want to play here, play my career here. But if we choose to do a rebuild and it’s two, three, four years out, I want be able to compete and play at a high level, play meaningful games and be playing past January.”

Garrett did not provide any clarity whether he would ask to be moved if Berry and Kevin Stefanski are fired, which they are not expected to be, or if a to-be-determined rookie usurping Watson would change his plans. But the Browns may soon be dealing with an ultimatum, providing a significant complication as they attempt to weather the storm the Watson contract has brought.

Browns, QB Deshaun Watson Agree On Reworked Contract

December 27th, 2024 at 10:42pm CST by Ely Allen

The Browns and veteran quarterback Deshaun Watson have agreed to new terms on his fully guaranteed $230MM contract, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The new terms do not affect the amount of money Watson will receive over the final two years of the deal but will impact Cleveland’s cap commitment over the next several seasons.

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Watson’s income will not be affected. In signing the reworked deal, Watson is not taking a pay cut from the remaining funds due to him. Over the next two seasons, Watson is set to earn $46MM per year. What the new contract does do is move some of the cap hit from the deal into new voidable years. The deal before today already had two void years tacked on after the contract ends in 2027, and with today’s updates, the deal will now have a total of four void years.

Seemingly, what this move indicates, is that Cleveland has not yet given up on Watson as their franchise quarterback. Despite how disastrous the contract has worked out towards this purpose to date, the Browns seem to be saying that Watson should return next year as the team’s starting quarterback. His contract has him set for free agency following the 2026 season, meaning he could be the Browns’ passer for both years.

Four years ago, this wouldn’t have sounded like a bad deal. After an impressive rookie season, in which Watson threw for 19 touchdowns in only six starts, was cut short due to injury, the young quarterback out of Clemson delivered three straight Pro Bowl seasons for the Texans, leading the league in passing yards in his final year with the team.

His fifth-year option was exercised, but Watson became disgruntled with the front office and coaching staff, leading to a trade request. During the contract and trade negotiations, a number of sexual harassment allegations emerged, draping Watson in controversy. Between the contract issues and allegations, Watson would sit out the entire 2021 season. Despite missing a year and being plagued with potential for suspension, the Browns sent a massive draft package in exchange for Watson and signed him to the largest, most-guaranteed contract in NFL history.

The allegations resulted in an 11-game suspension to begin his Browns’ tenure. In the two seasons since, Watson has missed a total of 21 games with injury. His short healthy spurt in 2023 saw him go 5-1 in six starts, while a seven-game stretch this season saw him go 1-6. So far, Cleveland’s massive investment has resulted in 19 starts and a 9-10 record. Luckily, as most teams are wont to do, the Browns insured Watson’s contract so that they receive some cap relief for his missed time.

Along with spreading out some of the cap impact, the Browns’ new deal with Watson should make the impact of cutting him a bit easier, should they choose to do so. On his previous deal, Watson would’ve represented $119MM in dead money if cut as a post-June 1 release before the 2025 season. Similarly, the number would reduce only to $73MM before 2026. Theoretically, those numbers should reduce under the new terms.

Ensuring that Watson comes back next year doesn’t mean the team won’t address the position in the offseason, though. The team is reportedly doing their research on secondary options to compete with Watson and fill in in case of further injury issues. There’s certainly a chance that the secondary quarterback could be Jameis Winston or Dorian Thompson-Robinson, though Winston is set to hit free agency, but a quarterback in the draft is certainly an option, as well. For now, though, the adjusted contract sets the table for Watson to return as the 2025 starter.

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/26/24

December 26th, 2024 at 8:32pm CST by Adam La Rose

Thursday’s minor moves around the NFL:

Arizona Cardinals

  • Reverted to season-ending IR (practice window expired): CB Elijah Jones

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

Detroit Lions

New York Jets

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Harris’ second season with the Browns saw him play a key role with 13 starts and a 59% snap share on defense. The 33-year-old remained consistent against the run (37 tackles) while chipping in as a pass rusher (1.5 sacks), but his campaign is now over as he deals with an elbow injury. One year remains on Harris’ contract, although none of his scheduled $1.26MM base salary is guaranteed.

Alexander joined the Lions late last month as part of the team’s bid to add healthy options at the linebacker spot. He made a pair of appearances with Detroit prior to today’s move, one which may not mark the end of his time with the team. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the Lions hope to be able to sign Alexander, 30, to their practice squad provided he clears waivers. Teams will be able to put in a claim until tomorrow afternoon, by which point he will become a free agent if no interested parties emerge.

Zuerlein has been on injured reserve since the end of October, spurring the Jets to turn to other kicking options. If the veteran is activated in the near future, he will be able to make a late-season return in 2024, his third campaign with the Jets. Failing that, New York will still have Anders Carlson and recent practice squad addition Greg Joseph in place at the position.

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