QB Colt McCoy Retires
Colt McCoy is set to transition from playing to broadcasting. The veteran quarterback informed NFL Network’s Peter Schrager on Monday that he is retiring and has since announced the move. McCoy has a “high profile” position in his new line of work lined up, Schrager adds. NBC has since announced the longtime QB2 will be part of their Big Ten coverage in 2024. 
McCoy entered the league as a Browns third-rounder in 2010. He started each of his first 21 games with the team before making three appearances off the bench in 2012. The end of McCoy’s Cleveland tenure was followed by a single season in San Francisco and then a five-year run in the nation’s capital. The latter stretch consisted of seven starts and 12 total appearances.
The Texas alum spent the 2020 campaign with the Giants and made a pair of starts that year. His most recent action came with the Cardinals. Signing in Arizona in 2021, he made three starts and eight appearances. The following year, McCoy made three starts in the wake of Kyler Murray‘s ACL tear; he was positioned to handle starting duties while Murray continued to recover during the summer. Poor showings in training camp led to McCoy’s release, however, and the trade acquisition of Josh Dobbs.
Left on the open market following roster cutdowns last summer, McCoy found himself on the radar of the Patriots as they sorted out their QB depth chart. The Jets also made an inquiry after Aaron Rodgers‘ Achilles tear, but no deal came about. Before Kirk Cousins was sidelined by the same ailment, the Vikings hosted McCoy on a workout. He ultimately sat out what would have been a 14th season in the league before officially making the decision to hang up his cleats.
Now 37, McCoy exits the game a veteran of 56 games and 36 starts. Even after seeing many of his multi-year deals be reworked or terminated over the course of his career, he accumulated nearly $28MM in career earnings. McCoy’s attention will now turn to broadcasting as he begins the next phase of his career.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/18/24
Sunday’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Released: WR James Washington
Chicago Bears
- Activated from active/NFI list: T Kiran Amegadjie
Cleveland Browns
- Released from IR: CB Vincent Gray
New York Jets
- Signed: DL Jaylen Twyman
- Placed on IR: WR Malik Taylor
Philadelphia Eagles
- Reverted to IR: DB Mekhi Garner
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Activated from active/NFI list: Tanner Taula
- Waived (injury designation): DL Eric Banks
Washington signed in late July, but his Falcons tenure has proven to be brief. The 28-year-old was let go to clear a roster spot for Justin Simmons‘ arrival. Washington last played a regular season game in 2022, and he will now look to find another opportunity ahead of roster cutdowns.
Latest On Browns’ T Situation
The Browns entered yesterday’s preseason game with starting tackles Jedrick Wills and Jack Conklin still on the mend from the injuries which shortened their 2023 campaigns. Several other O-linemen were banged up during the loss to the Vikings, but Cleveland is not seeking out additional depth at this point. 
Germain Ifedi suffered a hand injury on Saturday, but head coach Kevin Stefanski indicated he should not miss practice time. That will be the case, however, for James Hudson and Hakeem Adeniji. Ankle and knee injuries, respectively, will keep those blockers sidelined for a stretch; Stefanski said Adeniji will be on the shelf for “a little bit of time.” As he continues to rehab an MCL sprain, meanwhile, Wills will not practice this week as he remains on the active/PUP list.
“We feel really good about the people we have in this building,” Stefanski said when speaking about the offensive tackle situation (via the team’s website). “We got guys that are working hard to get back and we’ll just deal with it day to day.”
Wills is on the books for 2024 via his fifth-year option, and a Browns restructure lowered his cap hit for this season. That move set Cleveland up for a dead cap charge of $11.81MM in 2025 if he were to depart in free agency, though, so returning to full health and serving in a first-team role will be critical for team and player. Conklin has three years left on his pact, but no guaranteed salary is in place beyond the coming season. His level of play when back on the field will also be key in determining his financial future.
Stefanski also confirmed that quarterback Deshaun Watson is still on track to suit up for the Browns’ preseason finale. That will mark Watson’s first game action since Week 10 of the 2023 season as he continues to rehab from a season-ending shoulder injury. It will be interesting to see how healthy Cleveland’s offensive line is for that contest and, more importantly, when the regular season begins. For now, an addition should not be expected despite the numerous injury situations the Browns are dealing with.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/17/24
Saturday’s minor moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Released from IR via injury settlement: WR Deven Thompkins
Cleveland Browns
- Reverted to IR: S Brady Breeze
Las Vegas Raiders
- Claimed off waivers (from Panthers): LB Jackson Mitchell
New York Giants
- Reverted to IR: TE Tyree Jackson
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: T Gottlieb Ayedze
- Waived (injury designation): DB Mekhi Garner
- Placed on IR: CB Tyler Hall
Minor NFL Transaction: 8/16/24
Friday’s minor moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: OL Ike Boettger
- Waived: LB Jackson Mitchell
- Reverted to IR: G Nash Jensen
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: S Tyler Coyle, LS Rex Sunahara
- Waived: LB Brandon Bouyer-Randle
- Waived (injury designation): S Brady Breeze
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: DE Joe Gaziano
- Released: DE Rasheem Green
Las Vegas Raiders
- Waived: QB Anthony Brown
Green was let go after failing to disclose a physical condition, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 notes. The 27-year-old has bounced around the league after playing out his rookie contract, playing with the Texans (2022) and Bears (2023) following his four-year Seahawks stint. Green signed with Jacksonville late last month, giving him the chance to compete for a depth role. He will now return to free agency, but without being healthy it will likely be some time before he finds another contract.
Browns Notes: Chubb, Vrabel, Cooper, Hicks
Nick Chubb‘s 2023 season ended with a major knee injury which required two surgeries to repair. The four-time Pro Bowler started training camp, as expected, on the active/PUP list. He could be activated at any point, but missed time to start the campaign would come as no surprise.
A roster projection from The Athletic’s Zac Jackson predicts Chubb will begin the season on the reserve/PUP list (subscription required). Such a designation would require at least a four-game absence as Chubb continued to recover. The 28-year-old’s Week 1 availability has been a question mark throughout the offseason, although Cleveland has remained optimistic he will be able to suit up at some point in 2024.
Chubb agreed to a pay cut this offseason, putting to rest speculation the Browns could move on. Only one year remains on his contract, however, so returning to full health and his previous form will be critical for his future. Once roster cutdowns take place later this month, a decision on placing Chubb on the PUP list or leaving the door open to a debut before Week 5 will be made.
Here are some other notes out of Cleveland:
- Mike Vrabel did not land a head coaching position after his Titans ouster, but he joined the Browns in March. The 49-year-old will work as a consultant on Kevin Stefanski‘s staff. Those efforts have included work in a number of capacities this offseason, but Vrabel said (via Tony Grossi of The Land on Demand) he will not have a role on gamedays. Needless to say, an under-the-radar gig in 2024 will likely not help his chances of landing a HC (or coordinator) job during the 2025 hiring cycle.
- Wideout Amari Cooper worked out a restructure by having most of his base salary converted into a signing bonus and $5MM in incentives added for 2024. On the latter point, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports notes the pending free agent will collect $500K for a second-team All-Pro nod or $1MM for first-team honors. A five-time Pro Bowler, Cooper has yet to receive All-Pro recognition during his career. In addition, Jones details that he will receive between $1MM and $4MM based on individual and team performances. A season of 1,251 or more yards without a playoff berth would land on the low end of that range, while 1,400+ yards and a Super Bowl would lead to maximum earnings.
- Linebacker Jordan Hicks has been out of practice since August 4 with an undisclosed injury, and Stefanski called him “week to week” (h/t Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk). The 32-year-old signed a two-year, $8MM pact in free agency and he is slated to start at linebacker with his new team. Being to return to the field for even a brief period before Week 1 would thus be a welcomed development for team and player in his case.
Browns Extend Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah
AUGUST 16: This contract’s base value checks in at $37.5MM, per OverTheCap. At $12.5MM per year, Owusu-Koramoah becomes the NFL’s sixth-highest-paid off-ball linebacker. Of the $25MM guaranteed, $20MM is locked in at signing, with the Browns stretching full guarantees into 2026. The team guaranteed its top linebacker $6MM for 2026.
Cleveland used four void years to keep Owusu-Koramoah’s cap hits low. None of the ILB’s cap figures are higher than $8.5MM on this deal, though as of now the team would take on more than $17MM in dead money if the player is not extended again before the 2028 league year.
AUGUST 14: Already carrying big-ticket contracts at the other four positions on defense, the Browns will reward their top linebacker. Looming as an extension candidate for a bit now, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is no longer in a contract year.
The Browns came to terms with the fourth-year linebacker on a three-year deal worth up to $39MM, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports. Owusu-Koramoah secured $25MM guaranteed on this deal, one that makes him one of the league’s highest-paid off-ball LBs.
Cleveland has Myles Garrett, Dalvin Tomlinson, Denzel Ward and Grant Delpit on lucrative second contracts, with the team also finding room to re-sign Za’Darius Smith this offseason. Linebacker had housed lower-end contracts on this payroll, but after the Browns led the NFL in pass defense in Jim Schwartz‘s first season as DC, they are rewarding a three-down linebacker. The former second-round pick is now signed through the 2027 season.
Owusu-Koramoah, 24, appeared on Cleveland’s extension radar this offseason. The Notre Dame alum has emerged as the team’s central presence on its defensive second level, as various other pieces have come and gone around him in recent years.
While the “up to” phrase is notable here, Owusu-Koramoah receiving $25MM guaranteed places him fifth among off-ball LBs — behind only Roquan Smith, Tremaine Edmunds, Fred Warner and Matt Milano. The Browns have now surpassed the Eagles with 13 $10MM-per-year players (h/t Grand Central Sports Management’s Brad Spielberger), moving into the NFL lead.
Named a Pro Bowler as an alternate last season, Owusu-Koramoah played a lead role in the Browns’ defense igniting under Schwartz. Despite operating primarily as a non-rush linebacker (though, he is an effective blitzer), Owusu-Koramoah registered 20 tackles for loss. Not only did that pace all traditional linebackers by five, the total ranked fourth across the NFL. The speedy defender totaled 101 tackles, 3.5 sacks, two interceptions and a forced fumble in a breakthrough third season. Pro Football Focus slotted Owusu-Koramoah 18th among ILBs in 2023.
This is not the best period to excel as a traditional linebacker, as the market has cooled a bit. Perennial Pro Bowler C.J. Mosley and Jaguars tackling machine Foye Oluokun took pay cuts (in exchange for increased guarantees) this offseason, leaving only six players earning more than $11MM at this position. Owusu-Koramoah becoming No. 7 would reflect the Browns’ belief he can thrive in this scheme for years.
More impressively, last year’s emergence came after a 2022 Lisfranc injury. The Browns saw promising work from JOK over his first two seasons, as injuries piled up at the position, with four forced fumbles coming from 2021-22. Losing Sione Takitaki in free agency, the Browns are aiming to pair their LB centerpiece with veteran Jordan Hicks. Wednesday morning’s agreement firmly places Owusu-Koramoah as a pillar alongside the above-referenced D-linemen and DBs in a suddenly strong defense.
Browns DT Mike Hall Jr. Arrested
12:40pm: A follow-up report from Oyefusi provides further details on the incident. The police report alleges Hall engaged in a violent confrontation with his fiancée which included pointing a handgun at the woman’s head and saying, “I will f—ing end it all. I don’t care.”
Hall’s bond has been set at $10K. He has a court hearing scheduled for September 10, two days after Cleveland’s regular season opener. The Browns and the NFL will have a short period to issue any discipline before that time; the parties could, alternatively, allow Hall’s legal process to play out before making a final decision.
10:00am: The first draft pick the Browns made this year, Mike Hall Jr. has run into legal trouble early in his Cleveland tenure. The rookie defensive lineman was arrested Tuesday morning, according to ESPN.com’s Daniel Oyefusi.
A domestic violence charge is likely. The Athletic’s Zac Jackson and Jason Lloyd reported earlier Tuesday that Hall was expected to be booked after a domestic dispute occurred Monday night. This incident is believed to have occurred in Avon, Ohio, a West Cleveland suburb.
Lacking a first-round pick for a third straight year (due to the Deshaun Watson trade), the Browns led off their draft by choosing Hall at No. 54. The Ohio State product has impressed during Browns training camp. This arrest certainly represents a key deterrent early in the early-round draftee’s career.
“We are aware of the incident involving Mike Hall Jr. last night,” a Browns statement read. “Mike and his representatives have been in touch with the appropriate authorities. We are in the process of gathering more information and will have no further comment at the time.”
Although the exact charge(s) are not known, Hall would be subject to a suspension — even if no conviction ends up coming to pass — under the NFL’s personal conduct policy. It should not be considered a lock Hall will be banned, as facts are not yet public, and no suspension is guaranteed to occur this season.
The Browns have big plans for the in-state product, who played at nearby Streetsboro High School. The team has Dalvin Tomlinson on a four-year, $57MM deal but has not seen him practice during training camp. Tomlinson is one of a few Cleveland starters on the active/PUP list. The Browns also re-signed Shelby Harris and Maurice Hurst Jr., adding veteran D-lineman Quinton Jefferson to the mix as well. Through a long-term lens, however, Hall joins Tomlinson as centerpiece DTs in Jim Schwartz’s defense. The Browns will wait on more information coming out about their top 2024 prospect.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/12/24
Here are Monday’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: CB William Hooper, S Josh Thompson
- Waived: WR Austin Mack
- Waived/failed physical: RB Robert Burns
Baltimore Ravens
- Activated from active/PUP list: CB T.J. Tampa
Cincinnati Bengals
- Activated from active/PUP: DT Devonnsha Maxwell
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: LB Brandon Bouyer-Randle, S Chase Williams
- Released: RB John Kelly
- Waived: DE Marcus Haynes
- Waived/injured: CB Vincent Gray
Denver Broncos
- Claimed (from Giants): DB Kaleb Hayes
- Waived: ILB Alec Mock
Detroit Lions
- Signed: QB Jake Fromm, LB Ty Summers
- Waived: G Ike Boettger
- Waived/injured: WR Antoine Green
Houston Texans
- Signed: DE Pheldarius Payne
- Waived: WR Jadon Janke
Indianapolis Colts
- Claimed (from Bears): RB Demetric Felton
- Waived/injured: RB Trent Pennix
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: LB Shaquille Quarterman, WR Isaiah Wooden
- Waived: QB Casey Bauman, WR Praise Olatoke
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: LB David Anenih, LB Wyatt Ray
- Placed on IR: Cam Brown, Grayson Murphy
New England Patriots
- Signed: RB Deshaun Fenwick
- Waived: DE John Morgan
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: WR Shaq Davis
- Waived: WR Marquez Callaway
New York Giants
- Signed: RB Lorenzo Lingard
New York Jets
- Signed: LB Anthony Hines, TE Neal Johnson
- Waived: LB Jimmy Ciarlo, CB Myles Jones
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Claimed (from Ravens): OL Tykeem Doss
- Waived/injured: DB Kalon Barnes
San Francisco 49ers
- Waived/injured: WR Frank Darby
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: P Nolan Cooney
- Waived from NFI list: QB Zack Annexstad
Hernia surgery forced Tampa to the Ravens’ active/PUP list, but the fourth-round pick is ready to return. Needing a double hernia operation after minicamp (per The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec), Tampa is unlikely to be ready for practice until at least next week. By avoiding a move to the reserve/PUP list, Tampa is no longer at risk of missing Baltimore’s first four games.
A rookie UDFA, Murphy went down with an MCL injury, per NFL.com’s Cameron Wolfe. The Dolphins signed Brown, a four-year Giants special-teamer and backup presence, in April. While the Dolphins continue to deal with linebacker injuries, they did bring Jaelan Phillips off the PUP list today.
Fromm spent most of the past two seasons with the Commanders, but the team — as it transitions to a new regime — cut the former Georgia passer in May. He joins a Lions team that still rosters Nate Sudfeld along with Jared Goff and Hendon Hooker.
Browns QB Deshaun Watson Cleared For Full Contact
AUGUST 12: While Watson will not take part in Cleveland’s second preseason contest, he will make his 2024 debut one week later. Stefanski said on Monday (via Cabot) the Browns plan to play Watson in their exhibition finale against the Seahawks. Making it through that contest healthy would set the stage for a critical regular season slate.
AUGUST 11: Deshaun Watson has hit another checkpoint in his recovery process. Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said on Sunday the team’s franchise quarterback has been cleared for full contact. 
Watson was limited to just six games last season due to a lingering shoulder injury. After being shut down for the campaign – the second of his fully guaranteed, $230MM contract – his attention turned to rehab. That process has gone well to date, with an update from June stating he was ahead of schedule.
Now, Watson will continue his preparation for the 2024 season during this week’s joint practices with the Vikings. Stefanski confirmed the three-time Pro Bowler will not play in Cleveland’s second preseason contest, as was the case this past weekend (by which time, as Stefanski clarified via Cleveland.com’s Mary KayCabot, Watson had received clearance). The 28-year-old will, however, receive the “vast majority” of first-team reps over the coming days.
The Browns dealt with a slew of injuries at several offensive positions last season, and the team relied on Joe Flacco at quarterback down the stretch and in the postseason. Flacco departed in free agency and Cleveland has brought in the likes of Jameis Winston and Tyler Huntley in addition to returnee Dorian Thompson-Robinson. Regardless of how the rest of the depth chart shakes out, though, Watson will of course face high expectations as starter once the campaign begins.
After sitting out the first 11 weeks of the 2022 season through suspension for a personal conduct policy violation, the former Texan did not impress in his opening Cleveland starts. The Browns went 5-1 during his six appearances this past season, but his passer rating in that span (84.3) fell well short of his career average and his best Houston years. Returning to his previous form – and thus making the monster trade price the Browns paid to acquire him, in addition to the historic extension, easier to justify – would be critical for Cleveland’s chances of making a postseason run.
Unlike last offseason, the team did not adjust Watson’s contract. As a result, he is set to carry a record-breaking cap charge of $63.77MM in 2024. The pact also calls for cap hits of just under $64MM in 2025 and ’26, so remaining healthy and delivering a strong outing on Watson’s part will be critical for the team’s finances now and in the future. This latest update is another sign he is back at 100% well before Week 1.