The Cleveland Browns spent considerable capital enhancing the wide receiver room this offseason, though the most meaningful upgrade may come from a player who was already on the roster.

The NFL has a short memory and fosters an unforgiving ecosystem of fierce competition, which allows players to tumble from the “next best thing” to “yesterday’s news” in a matter of games. Wide receiver David Bell was fairly well-hyped entering his rookie campaign, after Cleveland selected him with the No. 99 overall pick in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

Bell was positioned to compete with Donovan Peoples-Jones for the No. 2 spot behind leading man Amari Cooper. Instead, he finished sixth on the team in receiving with just 214 yards on 24 catches — a yardage tally that set him behind both aforementioned receivers, starting running back Nick Chubb and the team’s top two tight ends, David Njoku and Harrison Bryant.

The Browns’ addition of Elijah Moore at the cost of a second-round pick, as well as the signing of free agent speedster Marquise Goodwin and the drafting of promising rookie Cedric Tillman could push Bell further down the stat sheet. The other possibility is that their collective presence will motivate Bell to produce the kind of sophomore season that will force the doubters to forget about his underwhelming entrance onto the NFL stage last year.

David Bell Poised for Leap in 2023, Appears Big Part of Browns’ Future

GettyWide receiver David Bell of the Cleveland Browns makes a catch during an NFL game against the Cincinnati Bengals in October 2022.

Such is the prediction of Bleacher Report’s Christopher Knox, who contended on Sunday, June 25, that Bell is among the most likely second-year players to make a leap after an unremarkable rooking campaign.

Browns fans probably haven’t forgotten about David Bell, the 2022 third-round pick who played 47 percent of the snaps as a rookie. However, outsiders probably don’t know his name.

Fans should expect the Browns to push Bell for playing time, even with the new additions in the fold. Peoples-Jones is entering the final year of his rookie deal, and Cooper could be a 2024 cap casualty.

Bell has a chance to be a big part of Cleveland’s future, and with a strong training camp, its present too.

Bell is only 22 years old and will play the second season of a four-year, $5.1 million rookie deal with the Browns in 2023.

David Bell Won’t Start for Browns Right Away, May Contribute Big Before Season Ends

GettyWide receiver David Bell of the Cleveland Browns catches a pass during an NFL preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles in August 2022.

Moore is now in the fold and presumably positioned to compete with Peoples-Jones for the No. 2 job, with the third spot falling to the loser of that competition. Given that context, Bell isn’t a good bet to start for Cleveland — at least not in Week 1.

However, Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reported last week that Bell is all but a lock to retain a spot on the roster after training camp concludes at the end of August.

“Bell is still in great standing with the club and will make the 53-man roster,” Cabot wrote on June 22. “[Head coach] Kevin Stefanski loved him coming out of Purdue last season and still sees the same tremendous potential in him as a slot receiver in the mold of Jarvis Landry.”

There is a chance Bell will play his way into a major role in 2023, perhaps even into a starting role at some point. And, of course, there is the ever-present eventuality of injury on every NFL roster that more or less guarantees Bell will get a shot or two this year to show what he can do, assuming he remains relatively healthy.

The Cleveland Browns had high hopes for versatile running back Demetric Felton when they selected him in the sixth round of the 2021 draft. However, it’s time for the former UCLA standout to prove he can be a difference-maker for the Browns if he wants to stick around.

The Browns shuffled their running back room this offseason, with veterans Kareem Hunt and D’Ernest Johnson departing via free agency. Johnson is now in Jacksonville, while Hunt remains a free agent with a return to Cleveland unlikely.

Felton has floated between the running back and wide receiver rooms during his time in Cleveland, although it looks like he’ll be more slotted into the backfield for the coming season.

Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com believes that Felton is on the roster bubble for the coming year.

“I think Felton, the Browns’ sixth-round pick in 2021, is on the bubble heading into the season. He’s split time at running back and receiver — mostly receiver his first two seasons — and he’s never really found a home,” Cabot wrote in her latest mailbag column. “This year, he has a chance to make the team as a back, but the Browns really need a strong runner who can spell Chubb and Jerome Ford in the event they get hurt, and churn out 80-100 yards.”

There’s no doubt that Felton brings an added element as a pass-catcher but it might not be what the Browns are looking for.

“Felton’s versatility might help him, but it’s actually been a detriment to this point,” Cabot said. “While he battles for a roster spot, the Browns will continue to look for that third back to replace D’Ernest Johnson, who got the tough yards when they needed them but became too expensive for that role.”

Browns Will Lean Heavily on Nick Chubb Despite Changes

The Browns’ offense will look a little different next season, with Cleveland expected to rely more on the passing game and Deshaun Watson. But Cabot assured that Chubb will still have a significant role in the offense.

“The Browns recognize that Chubb is a huge part of the offense, and that’s not changing anytime soon,” Cabot said. “This is still the AFC North, and there’s still weather to contend with in November and December.”

Cabot also noted that Chubb will play a larger role as a pass-catcher out of the backfield, which has not been showcased extensively in the past. But as long as the Browns can get the ball in his hands, he’ll be a difference-maker. He’s coming off a season where he rushed for 1,525 yards and 12 touchdowns, earning second-team All-Pro honors and his fourth Pro Bowl nod.

Browns Still Searching for Another RB Option

Behind Chubb is Ford, who is unproven but expected to get a larger workload this season as the primary backup. Ford had just eight carries for 12 yards as a rookie.

The Browns are still in search of another option as insurance, although it won’t be one of the big names on the market like Dalvin Cook, Ezekiel Elliott or Hunt.

“The Browns will continue to keep their eyes peeled for another back, not just for training camp but one who can carry the load in a pinch,” Cabot said. “They’re not looking to add a big-name back such a Dalvin Cook or Ezekiel Elliott, and they have no plans to re-sign Hunt. But they will look to bolster the room sometime between now and the start of camp.”

The group the Browns could consider includes former Chargers RB Justin Jackson, Kenyan Drake, or a familiar face like Dontrell Hilliard, who started his career in Cleveland.

David Bell will have to work hard for his targets but the Cleveland Browns second-year wide receiver is not at risk of being cut, per a noted team insider.

Bell had a modest rookie year. He collected 24 catches for 214 yards in his debut season and there has been some scuttlebutt about his future with the additions to the Browns receiver corps.

However, Bell is someone the Browns want to keep around and rightly so. He was a third-round pick a year ago and the team believes he still has some significant upside.

“Bell is still in great standing with the club and will make the 53-man roster,” Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com reported. “Kevin Stefanski loved him coming out of Purdue last season, and still sees the same tremendous potential in him as a slot receiver in the mold of Jarvis Landry.”

Landry was a quick and skillful route runner with the Browns, stacking up large catch totals during his career. The Browns now have Elijah Moore to eat up some snaps in the slot, but they also plan to move him around, which can open the door for opportunities for Bell.

“The Browns love that Bell is reliable, coachable and works as hard as anyone. He’s got excellent hands and is always where he’s supposed to be,” Cabot said. “He’s the Peoples-Jones version of an accountable receiver, but in the slot. It won’t be easy to get targets this season with so many options, but Bell had an excellent offseason and worked hard to elevate his game.”

David Bell Has High Hopes for Second Season

Bell didn’t explode his rookie year but the former Purdue standout but he still has faith that brighter days are on the near horizon.

“I’ll tweak a few things based on what I need as far as to be the best player on the field, but I think I’m not gonna have everything figured out,” Bell told cleveland.com in March. “It’s still a learning process. It’s only going to be year two, but for the most part, I think I’m headed in the right direction.

“We’ve just got to sit down and watch the film and really dive into it to see the things that I have to work on to be a better receiver that can separate me from the rest — as far as in the league and also on my team — so I can get more opportunities to get more catches and to display my abilities.”

When he came out in the draft, NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein prasied Bell for his unpredictable releases into his routes, maximizing his yards after the catch and
detailed footwork.

Future Not so Bright for Anthony Schwartz

Bell is projected to stick around but it might take a small miracle for Anthony Schwartz — another former third-round pick — to make the roster. Schwartz’s separating factor is his world-class speed, which Cabot believes could earn him a roster spot if he becomes a bit more well-rounded.

“It’s something that can’t be coached, and if Schwartz can add in the other parts of his game — the route-running, hands and toughness — he can make a case for himself,” Cabot said.

Schwartz has been unable to get on the field with the Browns and now finds himself buried on the depth chart behind the likes of newcomers Elijah Moore and Marquise Goodwin, as well as young guns like Bell and rookie Cedric Tillman.

Schwartz has just 14 catches for 186 yards since arriving in 2021.

The Cleveland Browns beefed up the wide receiver room in a big way this offseason, which may leave a recent high draft pick the odd man out in 2023.

Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com on Thursday, June 22, contended that third-year wideout and 2021 third-round pick Anthony Schwartz “faces an uphill battle this camp with [Marquise] Goodwin taking over as the vertical stretch receiver.” However, Schwartz retains one attribute that Cabot says could spare him the offseason axe.

“His blazing speed gives him a chance,” Cabot wrote. “It’s something that can’t be coached, and if Schwartz can add in the other parts of his game — the route running, hands and toughness — he can make a case for himself.”

Another factor in Schwartz’s favor, Cabot said, is that Cleveland management isn’t known for giving up easily on players it selects out of college.

“Browns [general manager] Andrew Berry doesn’t like to part with his draft picks, especially because many of them are developmental prospects for down the road,” Cabot continued. “But Schwartz has struggled from an emotional and physical standpoint, and must prove he can handle the demands of the NFL. He’s [worked] hard on both issues in this offseason, and looked solid in OTAs and minicamp.”

Joint Practices May Determine Fate of Browns Wide Receiver Anthony Schwartz

GettyWide receiver Anthony Schwartz of the Cleveland Browns will have to earn his spot on the roster over the summer.

Schwartz struggled to find the field enough last year to make a case for himself moving forward, earning just 110 offensive snaps and 88 snaps on special teams across 11 games played, per Pro Football Reference.

As such, the live runs the Browns have scheduled this summer against the Philadelphia Eagles will be an important opportunity for Schwartz to showcase his skills and how they have developed in recent months.

“The joint practices against the Eagles in August will be a good test for Schwartz to see how far he’s come. If he can demonstrate significant improvement over last season  … he has a shot to make the roster,” Cabot wrote. “The Browns would love two world-class speedsters on the field at the same time in Schwartz and Goodwin, but Schwartz has to show he’s ready.”

Practice Squad Offers Failsafe for Anthony Schwartz Should He Fail to Make Browns 53-Man Roster

GettyWide receiver Anthony Schwartz of the Cleveland Browns is a cut candidate ahead of training camp.

Should Schwartz fail to make the 53-man roster, he could end up on the Browns’ practice squad rather than as an outright release.

Despite an abysmal statistical season in 2022, in which the wide receiver tallied just four catches on 10 targets for 51 yards and zero touchdowns, Schwartz’s speed is liable to earn him a second chance on another NFL roster should he ever find himself cut by Cleveland.

Schwartz will turn 23 years old just days ahead of the Browns’ season-opener at home against the Cincinnati Bengals on September 10. Not only does he represent the investment of a third-round pick, he is also entering the third season of his four-year, $4.9 million rookie contract.

Cabot is correct in her assessment that Berry and the rest of Browns front office have more invested in Schwartz’s success than the average training camp player, meaning his rope is likely to be longer than most. But at some point, especially after two full years in, that rope is going to run out.

Cleveland Browns cornerback Greg Newsome is a fan of the island life.

Newsome found himself playing in the slot for a large percentage of his snaps last season. He’s been vocal that it was not his preference and it even led to some unfounded scuttlebutt about the Browns moving on from the former first-round pick.

There’s no certainty that Newsome won’t be spending some time playing inside next season but heʻs made his stance clear.

“I would say the most difficult part about playing inside is really not even run fits, I would say just knowing like you aren’t in man too much,” Newsome told Brad Stainbrook of TheOBR.com. “It’s just really the competitive nature. I feel like it’s less competitive. There’s not a lot of one on ones and things like that. I feel like my body type is not fit to be in the box for half of the game. Just me being a competitor, I feel like I’m helping the team a little bit more.

He added: “I just feel like being on an island more is what I prefer to do.”

Greg Newsome Wants to be Among Best in the League

Newsome has started 26 games since being selected by the Browns and has made an impact. He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team during his debut season and earned an overall grade of 69.1 via Pro Football Focus last season — slightly up from his rookie campaign.

“This year I just feel like I just have to prove to myself exactly where I feel like I’m supposed to be, and I just think that is one of the best in the league,” Newsome said. “I just feel like I have to do it game in and game out. Stay consistent. Just proving to myself that I am that type of player that I’m expected to be especially after coming in a strong rookie year and then I feel like last year obviously position-wise and things like that, kind of maybe take a little bit of a step back I feel like, but just to get back to where I was. Im just going to continue to grow.”

Newsome has a good mentor in Denzel Ward, who when healthy is one of the best in the league at his position. Ward has a pair of Pro Bowls on his resume and is able to lockdown one side of the field for the Browns.

Greg Newsome a Fan of New Browns Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz

Newsome had some clear issues with former Browns defensive coordinator Joe Woods but has been happy with the direction Jim Schwartz has taken with the Browns defense.

“Jim Schwartz is amazing,” Newsome said. “He is more of like a leader-coach. He wants things to be done a certain way. He doesn’t care who you are. At the end of the day, he’s going to coach you harder which I like. Just his scheme I feel like it fits us so well.”

That being said, Schwartz has made no promises that Newsome won’t be playing inside next season.

“He’s been willing to do whatever we’ve asked. But the happiness of players is not my concern, and that’s not going to be the determining factor of how we play guys or anything else,” Schwartz said during minicamp. “We’re going to do what’s best for our team. We’re going to play guys in the best matchups.”

The Browns are set to kick off training camp on July 22 at The Greenbrier resort in West Virginia.

The Cleveland Browns‘ linebacker room struggled to stay healthy last season — one of several reasons why the team might consider adding to the position group.

Cory Kinnan of USA Today’s Browns Wire suggested on Wednesday, June 21, that NFL journeyman linebacker Kyle Van Noy is a “realistic” free agent addition for the franchise ahead of training camp, which is slated to begin in late July.

With the late-season injury to starting SAM linebacker Sione Takitaki, the Browns are currently slated to start Tony Fields II at that spot to [begin] the season. If the team does not feel comfortable starting Fields II, who played well down the stretch in 2022, [it] could go out and get a guy who has played SAM linebacker at a high level throughout his career in veteran Kyle Van Noy.

A solid run defender who is not afraid to lower his shoulder and set a strong edge from his post, Van Noy … has also racked up at least five sacks in each of the last four seasons. The linebacker room is the worst positional group on the [Browns’] roster.

Kyle Van Noy Has Extensive NFL Experience, Including 2 Super Bowl Rings With Patriots

GettyLinebacker Kyle Van Noy, formerly of the Los Angeles Chargers, celebrates after a play during an NFL game against the Las Vegas Raiders in September 2022. 

Van Noy played with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2022, though he has spent the majority of his career donning a New England Patriots uniform.

The Detroit Lions selected Van Noy with the No. 40 overall pick in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He played approximately 2.5 seasons in Detroit before the Lions traded him to the Patriots in October 2016.

Van Noy finished out his rookie contract in New England before signing a two-year extension in September 2017 to remain with the franchise. The linebacker landed the heftiest deal of his career two offseasons later in March 2020, signing with the Miami Dolphins for $51 million over four years. However, the Dolphins cut bait with Van Noy the following spring to save nearly $10 million against the salary cap, which landed the linebacker on the free agent market.

The Patriots again provided a home for Van Noy in 2021, signing him to a two-year contract worth $12 million. New England released the linebacker the following March, however, at which point he linked up with the Chargers on a one-year deal.

Van Noy won contributed significantly to two Super Bowl victories in New England, the first in 2016 and the second in 2018. He started all 16 contests for the team during the second of his two title runs, posting 92 tackles, including five tackles for loss, 10 quarterback hits, 3.5 sacks, two pass breakups, one interception, one forced fumble and a defensive touchdown, per Pro Football Reference.

At 32 years old, Van Noy is no longer the player he once was. However, he has been a starter for the majority of his nine-year NFL career, including last season. Van Noy has played in a total of 128 games as a professional, earning 86 starts. He produced 46 tackles, including eight tackles for loss, nine quarterback hits, five sacks, three pass breakups and a forced fumble across 17 games played and 13 starts for the Chargers in 2022, contributing to a postseason berth.

Browns’ Starting Linebackers Ravaged by Injury Last Season

GettyLinebacker Anthony Walker Jr. #5 of the Cleveland Browns celebrates after making a tackle for loss during an NFL game in 2022. 

Van Noy’s consistent production and history of winning offers real value to a Browns linebacker room that lacks both.

Takitaki and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah were the 36th- and 38th-best linebackers in the league out of 81 players who saw enough snaps to qualify at the position in 2022, per Pro Football Focus (PFF). However, both missed significant chunks of time due to injuries (five and six games, respectively).

Anthony Walker had the best PFF marks of the Browns’ bunch, posting an impressive overall grade of 82.7 that included a 90.0 grade in pass coverage. But those advanced stats came with a caveat, as Walker went down for the season in Week 3 due to a torn quad.

The Browns brought back all three of the aforementioned starters for the 2023 campaign but after missing a combined 25 of 51 games between them, the status of the position group is shaky, to say the least.

Fields, who Kinnan mentioned Wednesday as the linebacker Van Noy would likely usurp on the depth chart should the Browns choose to sign him, posted an overall PFF grade of just 50.0 last season. None of the other fill-ins at linebacker performed much better, and one in Jacob Phillips played considerably worse.

Cleveland had nearly $16.9 million in remaining salary cap space as of June 22 and all things considered, a couple million on a flier for Van Noy reads like a small price to play for some depth and insurance at what is arguably the Browns’ least reliable position heading into the upcoming season.

Kareem Hunt is still looking for his next opportunity but the former Cleveland Browns running back is confident he’ll have a new team soon.

So will that team be the Browns? There has been some talk about Hunt returning to Cleveland but the former rushing leader didn’t have much to say about it. However, it did sound like he left on good terms.

“The Browns are always going to be a team I have mad love for, but I’m not really talking about that stuff,” Hunt told Jeff Schudel of The News-Herald. “I’m in God’s hands and just looking forward to the next opportunity. It’ll be coming up soon, I’m pretty sure.”

The interest in Hunt has been limited in free agency but a recent report indicated that the Washington Commanders could be interested in his services.

“I’m told the Commanders have quietly been making some preliminary inquiries behind-the-scenes on free agent RB Kareem Hunt,” Josina Anderson of CBS Sports tweeted. “We’ll see if this leads to an opportunity for Hunt with Washington.”

Kareem Hunt Staying Ready for Next Opportunity

Hunt is a free agent after spending his last four seasons with the Browns. In all, he rushed for 1,874 yards and added 973 yards receiving. He found the end zone 23 times during his time in Cleveland but his final year with the Browns didn’t go as planned.

Hunt was embroiled in trade drama for the majority of the season. He asked for a trade before the start of the year and his name was brought up frequently before the deadline.

Ultimatley, Hunt stayed put in Cleveland but his role was reduced down the stretch. He finished with 468 yards on 123 carries with a per-carry average of 3.8 — the worst of his career.

The rough season has led to a lack of moment when it comes to finding his next team but Hunt isn’t sweating it and is staying ready.

“I’m just being patient,” Hunt said. “I’ve had some things come up. But right now, I’m enjoying my time with my family. I’m training and working hard and just staying ready.

“I’m not frustrated at all,” he added. “I know it’s all going to work out at the end of the day.”

Browns Unlikely to Reunite With Kareem Hunt

The Browns are in need of another proven running back but Hunt returning to Cleveland appears very unlikely. Veteran Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com doesn’t believe the Browns will pursue a big-name veteran for the role.

“I do think the Browns will add another running back before the season, but it won’t be a big-name back such as a Dalvin Cook or Ezekiel Elliott, and they won’t re-sign Kareem Hunt,” Cabot wrote in the June 18 edition of her mailbag column. “I think it will be a potential No. 3 back behind Nick Chubb and Jerome Ford who can serve as a solid No. 2 in the event of injury, and churn out 100 yards if both Chubb and Ford are hurt. I don’t think it will be hard to find a back to fill the role, especially behind this offensive line.”

A capable but less notable group of running back the Browns could look at includes former Chargers RB Justin Jackson, Kenyan Drake, or a familiar face like Dontrell Hilliard, who started his career in Cleveland.

The Cleveland Browns have spent heavily to revamp a defensive front that was, to be kind, porous last season. However, the work on the line may be one move shy of complete.

Field Yates of ESPN predicted on Wednesday, June 21, that the Browns will add a second defensive tackle alongside Dalvin Tomlinson, who the team signed to a four-year contract worth $57 million this offseason. Yates mentioned a couple of recognizable names the Browns might pursue, though the standout candidate is five-time All-Pro Ndamukong Suh.

“The Browns’ roster once again looks to be in good shape heading into training camp, but defensive tackle feels like an area to address,” Fields wrote. “While the team added a star in Dalvin Tomlinson and a massive run-stuffer in Siaki Ika in the third round of the draft, one more contributor to solidify the rotation would go a long way, especially since 2022 fourth-rounder Perrion Winfrey feels like a roster-bubble player right now. There are quality options available, including Shelby Harris and Ndamukong Suh.”

Ndamukong Suh Capable of Bolstering Browns Run Defense

GettyDefensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, formerly of the Philadelphia Eagles, warms up prior to a game against the Green Bay Packers in November 2022.

At this point in his career, Suh doesn’t read like a long-term signing. He didn’t join the Philadelphia Eagles until midway through the season, as he held out for a multiyear offer that never came.

Suh will turn 37 years old in January and has 13 seasons of NFL experience under his belt. Despite his age and tread, however, the defensive tackle has been wildly durable since joining the league as the No. 2 overall pick of the Detroit Lions in 2010. Prior to the 2022 campaign, Suh missed just two regular season contests due to injury across his entire career.

His production has fallen off some in recent years, though Suh remains a quality run-stopper. He posted an above-average grade of 68.9 as a run defender during his work as a rotational player with the NFC champions in Philly last year as well as a respectable overall player grade of 64.2, per Pro Football Focus (PFF).

Browns Should Seek to Sign Ndamukong Suh to Short-Term Contract

GettyDefensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, formerly of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Suh is presumably looking for something longer than a one-year contract after playing half of a season plus a playoff run with the Eagles on a $2 million deal. He played the two campaigns prior with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on one-year deals for $8 million and $9 million, respectively.

Cleveland is split between long-term and short-term commitments on the defensive line, holding multiyear agreements that will keep Tomlinson and edge rusher Myles Garrett on the roster for the next four seasons. The Browns traded with the Minnesota Vikings for edge rusher Za’Darius Smith this offseason, reworking his contract so as to pay him just north of $11.7 million in 2023 before allowing him to hit unrestricted free agency next March.

A one-year contract for Suh, or perhaps a two-year deal with a team option for 2024, feels like the appropriate range for a player who wasn’t a starter for the first time in his career last season. The five-time Pro Bowler isn’t the player he once was, but he offers a clear upgrade over defensive tackle Jordan Elliott who figures to start in 2023 if the team doesn’t add any new personnel to the position group.

Elliott started all 17 games as a third-year player last season and agreed to a new deal this month, the parameters of which essentially guarantee that he will remain on the roster throughout the year.

Deshaun Watson said he planned to be more active on social media this year and the Cleveland Browns quarterback has kept that promise.

Watson has been traveling around the world since mandatory minicamp wrapped up and has been sharing his globetrotting on social media. He attended the Champions League final in Turkey and has also been in Greece and France, per his posts.

Watson had a particularly strong message in a post that saw him smoking a cigar and sipping on a drink poolside from one of his locations.

@deshaunwatson

… seemin’ like that I’m the one that they don’t wanna see WIN!

♬ Emotional Torn – YoungBoy Never Broke Again

“… seemin’ like that I’m the one that they don’t wanna see WIN!” Watson wrote as the caption on TikTok, quoting lyrics from a YoungBoy Never Broke Again.

Another showed Watson riding scooters in Paris in front of the Louvre Museum during the early morning hours.

@deshaunwatson

2am at the Louvre Museum (Paris, France)

♬ original sound – Keep it g

Deshaun Watson Said He’d be More Active on Social Media

Watson had kept his life mostly under the radar over the last few years as he dealt with legal troubles stemming from dozens of sexual assault allegations during massage sessions.

He’s clearly feeling like he’s ready to put himself back out there.

“Definitely. I’m getting comfortable with the position I’m in, getting comfortable being here in Cleveland and in this organization,” Watson said when asked about his social media use. “And just my personality over time is going to continue to show and people are going to get to know me, like I mentioned last year. But all that time is patience and over the days, as we continue to work and stack and keep improving, more and more of that stuff will come up.”

While what Watson is putting out there is pretty harmless, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski has warned players about what messages they’re putting on social media in the past.

“I think you just have to be very careful,” Stefanski said in 2022. “I think everybody has to be very careful with social media because there is a lot – like we have discussed before – a lot of it is background noise. I think you just have to be careful with what you put out there because once it is out there, it is out there forever.”

Watson still disables the comments on most of his posts to keep the trolls and unwanted messages out.

Browns QB Deshaun Watson Shined During Offseason Workouts

The Browns — or their fans — won’t care too much about what Watson is doing on social media if his play on the field is stellar. And so far this offseason, Watson has looked more like the quarterback they expected when they pulled off a blockbuster trade for him last offseason.

“I think where he is right now, hard to compare to a year ago, but I certainly see a comfort level in what we’re doing offensively,” Stefanski said during an appearance on the Rich Eisen Show Wednesday on June 14. “I see a guy that is always going to be leading out in front, that’s kind of who he is.”

The Browns went 3-3 in Watson’s starts last season following his 11-game suspension. He completed 58.2% of his passes for 1,102 yards and seven touchdowns with five interceptions.

The Cleveland Browns boasted maybe the best one-two running back punch in the NFL last year and can do so again this season with a new supporting actor behind leading man Nick Chubb.

Former rushing champion Kareem Hunt isn’t walking through that door in 2023, but Cleveland doesn’t really need him to in order to remain one of the sport’s top rushing attacks. In reality, the franchise probably doesn’t need to add another high-level running back of any kind to the mix to claim one of the more formidable position groups in the league. That said, if the Browns sign Dalvin Cook, they will create a rushing tandem that is at the very least heads — and possibly also shoulders — above any other in the NFL.

There are a variety of reasons the pairing is unlikely, though there are also a few that render it sensible if Cleveland can get up the necessary cash to make a deal happen. The first is a connection between Cook and head coach Kevin Stefanski, who ran the Minnesota Vikings offense during the running back’s first of four consecutive Pro Bowl campaigns back in 2019. Cook, who will turn 28 years old ahead of this season, continues to retain significant steam and is already familiar with how the Browns play offense.

“Cook’s been running in a zone scheme his entire career. He catches the ball at a high level,” Pete Smith of Browns Digest tweeted on Monday, June 19. “I don’t need him to be a superstar, but as a second option to Chubb, he could be.”

Dalvin Cook Offers Browns Run-Game Security Behind Nick Chubb

GettyFormer Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook is a natural fit with the Cleveland Browns offense.

Chubb is a four-time Pro Bowler in his own right and in the conversation as one of the best three running backs currently suiting up on Sundays. Jerome Ford, a 2022 fifth-round pick, is slated as his backup.

Ford has almost no experience rushing the ball at a professional level, notching just eight carries for 12 yards during a rookie campaign that was almost entirely limited to special teams work. He needs to cut his teeth in the backfield at some point, but the Browns are under a considerable amount of pressure to win now considering the way they’re spending as a franchise. Because of that, running out Ford as the team’s only real option behind Chubb is unquestionably a risk.

That is precisely why Cleveland is openly searching for another player to add depth at the position, and Cook is the best available insurance policy by a wide margin.

Dalvin Cook’s Price Main Obstacle to Reunion With Kevin Stefanski in Cleveland

GettyHead coach Kevin Stefanski of the Cleveland Browns served as running back Dalvin Cook’s offensive coordinator with the Minnesota Vikings in 2019.

The only real problem with signing Cook is the contract he’s likely to command.

In general, running backs are a dime a dozen in the NFL, and that relative price tag is growing cheaper by the year. Cook is a prime example of that, as the Vikings cut him in June despite his fourth straight 1,100-yard rushing campaign and a 39-catch season that resulted in 295 yards and two scores through the air. The move saved Minnesota $9 million against its 2023 salary cap and got the team off of Cook’s five-year, $63 million deal after just two seasons.

Cook isn’t going to command that kind of annual salary or that number of contract years this offseason, but he remains an elite-level running back and has been open about his desire to be valued like one and compensated as such. The Browns boast one of the better offensive lines in the league, which could well frame Ford — or some other less expensive back looking for a new home — as a greater talent than he actually is. That reality argues for Cleveland pursuing a cheaper option than Cook who also offers more experience than Ford.

But there are zero questions about Cook’s ability as it has been displayed. The unknowns are how long he can continue at his current pace of production with six seasons of NFL tread on his tires and two years left until he hits the daunted age of 30, which has marked the beginning of precipitous declines for so many other running backs throughout the recent history of the sport.

If the Browns can get Cook to agree to a one- or two-year deal, then a flier is probably worth taking. Spotrac projects his market value at $8.7 million annually over the course of a two-year contract. That number is probably too high for Cleveland, even despite the team’s nearly $17 million in available cap space as of June 20. The encouraging notion is that Spotrac’s valuation of Cook is probably too high for just about any team in the league.

Chubb’s $36.6 million contract expires two years from now and includes a team out following this season. If Cleveland was more likely to move on from Chubb after the 2023 campaign, a two- or three-year deal for Cook would make more sense. He isn’t likely to get more than three years anywhere and given the late stage at which Cook finds himself a free agent, a one-year deal that would be logical for the Browns could eventually end up on the table.

There are other teams that might offer an extra season or a bit more money to acquire Cook, namely the Miami Dolphins or the Dallas Cowboys. But a short-term deal for the running back, if it’s possible, is an avenue the Browns should explore. That is particularly true as quarterback Deshaun Watson’s on-field reliability represents a relative unknown heading into a season in which Cleveland intends to win, and win big.

Former Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott’s next team will not be the Cleveland Browns.

Elliott continues to look for a new home after being cut loose by the Cowboys in March. He has received limited interest from teams around the league and one squad that won’t be investigating adding the former two-time rushing leader is the Browns.

Cleveland is looking for some running back depth but won’t be opting for one of the bigger-named veterans like Elliott or Dalvin Cook, per Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot.

“I do think the Browns will add another running back before the season, but it won’t be a big-name back such as a Dalvin Cook or Ezekiel Elliott, and they won’t re-sign Kareem Hunt,” Cabot reported. “I think it will be a potential No. 3 back behind Nick Chubb and Jerome Ford who can serve as a solid No. 2 in the event of injury, and churn out 100 yards if both Chubb and Ford are hurt. I don’t think it will be hard to find a back to fill the role, especially behind this offensive line.”

The Browns were rumored to be interested in Elliott earlier this offseason, although the scuttlebutt didn’t seem to have legs.

“A league insider told Sportskeeda that the most likely landing spots for Ezekiel Elliott are either the Cleveland Browns or the Los Angeles Chargers,” Robert Gullo of Sportskeeda reported on May 15.

Elliott never seemed like a logical fit for Cleveland. The Browns have Chubb, who is among the elite backs in the league. Elliott’s forte is short-yardage situations but Chubb will have that covered with the Browns.

Cowboys Still Open to Bringing Ezekiel Elliott Back

Another team being out of the mix could be good news for the Cowboys, who are still interested in bringing Elliott back at a lower price tag.

“I never shut the door never relative to the potential to smartly add to our team for this year,” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said on Monday, June 5. “I will tell you that 99% of my thinking is about this year. Now you got to think about the impact on other years when you make these decisions. So you name it, whether it be Zeke whether it be where we are with like the guys we worked out here today. So it’s all wide open for me.”

Elliott is not the back he once was but still has some good football left in him. He’s coming off a year where he rushed for a career-low 876 yards but did find the end zone a dozen times. Elliott ranks third all-time in Cowboys history in rushing yards (8,262) and rushing TDs (68).

Ezekiel Elliott Needs to Come to Terms With Pay Cut

The Cowboys saved nearly $11 million by parting ways with Elliott. But a reunion in Dallas could be what’s best for both sides, although Elliott will have to come to terms with not being the franchise back anymore.

“It’s his best landing spot. Jerry wants him. He knows what kind of teammate he is. He knows how valuable he can be in the backfield with Pollard,” NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger told the 33rd Team. “It’s just a matter of when he walks into the Star [the Cowboys’ training facility in Frisco, Texas], can he walk in as a $4 million player instead of a $10 million or $12 million player?”

Elliott has played his entire career with the Cowboys, so he’d be able to maintain the sense of familiarity in Dallas, although the playbook will be shifting a bit with Mike McCarthy calling plays.

But Elliott will continue to wait by the phone for a new opportunity to come calling and will sort out his best options before the start of the year.

The Cleveland Browns picked up Jedrick Wills‘ fifth-year option this offseason but it’s far from a foregone conclusion that his long-term future is secure with the team.

The Browns selected Wills with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2020 draft, hoping that he could be their left tackle of the future. Wills has started every game he’s appeared in but his play has been uneven, bringing into question the Browns’ willingness to ink him to a long-term deal at a premium position. The top-tier left tackles around the league are making more than $20 million per season.

Cory Kinnan of Browns Wire believes Wills is heading into a make-or-break season with Cleveland and will have to prove that he belongs with consistent play.

“[Wills] will go through a two or three game stretch of shutting down Pro Bowl pass rushers, but then will go through an equal stretch of looking unmotivated and unplayable,” Kinnan said. “While he has two more years left on his contract, 2023 will be the telling year as to whether or not Wills will be in the long-term plans of the Browns. He has all of the tools and talent in the world, but it is up to him to lock in on a down-to-down basis.”

Browns Have Invested Heavily in Offensive Line

Wills earned an overall PFF grade of 62.9 last season, with a below-average 55.3 mark in run blocking. He’s also playing as part of an elite unit, which might cover up some of his shortcomings at times.

Picking up a fifth-year option isn’t always a surefire sign that a player is in a team’s plans for the future — just ask Baker Mayfield. After all, if the Browns were convinced, they could try to reach a longer-term deal with Wills. It feels very much like his last shot to prove himself, as noted by Kinnan.

However, he’s got some nice money coming his way, with a guaranteed base salary of $14.175 million for 2024.

The Browns are invested heavily in their offensive line, with some big cap hits coming in 2024. Joel Bitonio is set to count $19.6 million, followed by Wyatt Teller ($13.9 million), Jack Conklin ($12.97 million) and Ethan Pocic ($3.98 million).

Browns Feel Good About Jedrick Wills’ Progression

Wills has struggled with some injuries in his career, playing through a handful of them. But when he’s healthy, the Browns feel good about having him on the field protecting Deshaun Watson’s blindside.

“I think in the moment, in the season, you felt (good about Wills) because he was healthy and was playing well,” Stefanski said in March, prior to the team picking up his fifth-year option. “But as you go back and watch a lot of the tape over and over, he’s doing a nice job in the run game and the pass game. He’s winning his one-on-one matchups. Never perfect because it’s hard to be perfect as a left tackle in this game. But he played well. I really think, if he stays healthy, the trajectory continues to ascend.”

The Browns are expected to be more pass-heavy next season and a lot of pressure will be on Wills and the rest of the offensive line to keep Watson’s jersey clean. He also loves to extend plays, so it might take some extra effort from the big guys up front to maximize Watson’s play-making potential.

The Cleveland Browns are still looking to stockpile depth at running back, but a reunion with Kareem Hunt appears to be off the table.

“I do think the Browns will add another running back before the season, but it won’t be a big-name back such as a Dalvin Cook or Ezekiel Elliott, and they won’t re-sign Kareem Hunt,” Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot wrote in the June 18 edition of her mailbag column. “I think it will be a potential No. 3 back behind Nick Chubb and Jerome Ford who can serve as a solid No. 2 in the event of injury, and churn out 100 yards if both Chubb and Ford are hurt. I don’t think it will be hard to find a back to fill the role, especially behind this offensive line.”

Hunt spent the last four seasons with the Browns and now is a free agent. In all, he rushed for 1,874 yards and added 973 yards receiving. He found the end zone 23 times as a member of the Browns.

He was mostly a great complement to Chubb during his time in Cleveland but is coming off a turbulent down year defined by trade drama. He finished with 468 yards on 123 carries with a per-carry average of 3.8 — the worst of his career. There also were concerns from the Browns that the one-time rushing leader had lost a step, per Terry Pluto of Cleveland.com.

Kareem Hunt Draws Interest From Commanders

Hunt recently received some interest from the Washington Commanders, per Josina Anderson of CBS Sports. But it’s unclear what Hunt’s role would be in Washington. The Commanders have Brian Robinson Jr. and Antonio Gibson as their top two backs, so there wouldn’t be much work for Hunt unless one of the backs ahead of him got injured.

That being said, Hunt has a link to the Commanders in offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy. The two worked together with the Kansas City Chiefs and he saw Hunt lead the league in rushing as a rookie in 2017.

However, a limited-opportunity spot is far from what Hunt had hoped would manifest during his time as a free agent. He was looking for a big contract or, at minimum, more of an opportunity to prove himself so he could cash in next offseason. He’s just 27 years old and could have one solid payday on the horizon if the right opportunity presented itself.

Browns Happy With Jerome Ford Taking on Larger Role

Part of the Browns’ lack of interest in Hunt has to do with Jerome Ford, who is entering his second season in Cleveland. He had just eight carries for 12 yards last season, but the Browns are confident he can take on a larger role with both Hunt and D’Ernest Johnson now out of the picture.

“Jerome’s got a skill set that can allow him to do any and everything,” running backs coach Stump Mitchell said during minicamp. “Pass protection we’ve worked a lot on in the spring, so that was the only thing that we didn’t really have a good handle on because he didn’t do it a lot in college. But he’s worked extremely hard. We know about his skill set with the ball in his hands.”

Adding Hunt might put some added pressure on Ford, and the Browns have been clear they want to see what he can add, especially as a pass catcher.

The Cleveland Browns appear stacked at the wide receiver position heading into this season, though that could change quickly.

Personnel uncertainty will permeate Cleveland’s roster for the next four years due to the remainder of QB Deshaun Watson’s fully-guaranteed $230 million contract. One of the most likely salary cap casualties due to that deal is wide receiver Amari Cooper, as the Browns can trim nearly $12.5 million off of the wide receiver’s approximately $23.8 million cap hit in 2024 by cutting or trading him after this season.

Should Cooper find himself playing elsewhere a year from now, the Browns will have a handful of quality targets in the passing game without boasting anything like a true No. 1 option. That is where former sixth-round pick Donovan Peoples-Jones factors into the equation. Peoples-Jones is a player the team must seriously consider extending long-term now in order to soften the blow of the potential loss of Cooper next spring.

Donovan Peoples-Jones Went From Potential Odd Man Out in Cleveland to Possible No. 1 Option in 2024

GettyWide receiver Amari Cooper #2 of the Cleveland Browns celebrates a touchdown alongside teammate Donovan Peoples-Jones #11.

Peoples-Jones ending up, at the very least, a bridge savior to the Browns’ next big-name pass-catcher isn’t a notion that can be proposed absent a twinge of irony. The fourth-year wideout was mentioned numerous times as potentially the odd man out in Cleveland should the franchise pursue free agent DeAndre Hopkins, a former Pro-Bowl teammate of Watson’s with the Houston Texans.

Adding Hopkins now reads as a pipe dream, more or less, for Browns fans, particularly in contrast to the sobering reality that Peoples-Jones and Elijah Moore may be WR Nos. 1 and 2 as early as one year from now. But that scenario isn’t as dire as it might appear at first glance.

Peoples-Jones’ trajectory as an NFL player is encouraging. His target totals, receptions and receiving yards have all increased with each passing season, capping out at career-highs of 61 grabs for 839 yards and three touchdowns on 96 looks across 14 games played in 2022, per Pro Football Reference.

Furthermore, those numbers were produced primarily with Jacoby Brissett and what was presumably a subpar version of Watson under center attempting to shake off nearly two years of sideline rust on the fly. There is no reason to expect that Peoples-Jones, who established himself as a legitimate No. 2 option last season, can’t make another leap in 2023.

That, combined with the confidence he would glean from a new contract and more targets via the potential exit of Cooper, lines up to render Peoples-Jones far better than the worst candidate for a top receiver job that the NFL as a whole can produce.

Donovan Peoples-Jones Should be Among Browns’ Top Priorities Ahead of 2023 Season

GettyWide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones of the Cleveland Browns reacts after making a first-down catch during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals in November 2021.

Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report contended on Monday, June 19, that Peoples-Jones is the most important player for the Browns to extend before the 2023 campaign begins in September.

The Cleveland Browns took steps to revamp their receiving corps this offseason, signing Marquise Goodwin, trading for Elijah Moore and drafting Cedric Tillman. Because of this, extending 2024 free agent Donovan Peoples-Jones may seem counterintuitive.

However, extending Peoples-Jones could be a vital part of maintaining offensive continuity moving forward. … While Peoples-Jones might not be suited to take over the No. 1 role, he emerged as a dependable second option last year.

Peoples-Jones is the longest-tenured Brown in the receiver room and has spent his entire career under head coach Kevin Stefanski. He can take over as the veteran leader in the receiver room if Cooper departs, but the Browns run the risk of losing both wideouts if they don’t extend him now.

Cleveland had approximately $17 million in cap space at its disposal as of June 19 and a roster stacked with talent across most other units, rendering an extension for Peoples-Jones relatively painless should the franchise choose to pursue it.

The Washington Commanders are taking a closer look at adding former Cleveland Browns running back Kareem Hunt.

It’s the first real interest Hunt has received this offseason as a free agent. He spent the previous four seasons with the Browns but is coming off a disappointing final campaign. He finished last season with 468 yards on 123 carries, with his overall effectiveness diminishing.

Hunt’s per-carry average of 3.8 was the worst of his career and his opportunities tapered off towards the end of the year. He had more than five carries just once over the final five games and wasn’t as involved in his pass-game role.

But the Commanders might be willing to give Hunt a shot, per Josina Anderson of CBS Sports.

“I’m told the Commanders have quietly been making some preliminary inquiries behind-the-scenes on free agent RB Kareem Hunt,” Anderson tweeted. “We’ll see if this leads to an opportunity for Hunt with Washington.”

It’s unclear what Hunt’s role would be in Washington outside of a veteran third option. Washington has Brian Robinson Jr. and Antonio Gibson as their top two backs and there wouldn’t be much work for Hunt unless an injury happens.

Browns Haven’t Shut Door on Kareem Hunt Reunion

While unlikely, the Browns haven’t completely slammed the door on bringing Hunt back. General manager Andrew Berry was asked specifically about the idea of bringing Hunt back for another go-around and gave a diplomatic answer.

“I don’t think we’ve necessarily shut the door on anything,” Berry said. “We’re not playing games until September, so we’ll remain open-minded to anything that can help the team.”

Privately, the Browns might have different thoughts. Terry Pluto of Cleveland.com reported that Cleveland feels like Hunt may have lost a step and his speed is slipping.

Hunt also has some veteran competition vying for the few spots around the league. Ezekiel Elliott, Dalvin Cook and a few other notable names remain without teams.

Browns Looking to Add Veteran RB Before Training Camp

GettyJerome Ford of the Cleveland Browns.

The Browns are looking for another running back before the start of training camp next month that could hopefully stick around to provide depth behind Chubb and second-year back Jerome Ford.

Demetric Felton Jr., John Kelly Jr., Nate McCary and Hassan Hall are the other running backs on the roster and the Browns want some more established insurance in case of injury.

“The Browns will continue to keep their eyes peeled for another back, not just for training camp but one who can carry the load in a pinch,” Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com reported. “They’re not looking to add a big-name back such a Dalvin Cook or Ezekiel Elliott, and they have no plans to re-sign Hunt. But they will look to bolster the room sometime between now and the start of camp.”

The Browns do appear ready to give Ford a real shot as the primary backup to Chubb. He’ll also get his fair share of work in the passing game. For had just eight carries for 12 yards last season but the Browns appear confident he can step into the role.

The Cleveland Browns are built to win now. If they don’t, some of the most prominent heads in the organization are likely to roll, starting with head coach Kevin Stefanski.

Sam Monson of Pro Football Focus on Thursday, June 15, listed Stefanski’s seat as the hottest in the NFL heading into the 2023 campaign.

“It’s not necessarily his fault, but the Browns have heaped a whole lot of pressure on themselves with their moves over the last couple of seasons, and Stefanski will likely be the first sacrificial lamb if none of it works out,” Monson wrote.

The key to both the Browns’ success and Stefanski’s job security will be the play of quarterback Deshaun Watson, who has four seasons remaining on a five-year, $230 million contract that management fully guaranteed last offseason.

“Deshaun Watson played his first games for the team last season and was disastrous, earning a 55.3 overall PFF grade, marginally worse than Desmond Ridder’s and Sam Ehlinger’s scores,” Monson continued. “Watson may have thrown seven touchdowns to five interceptions but recorded just three big-time throws to nine turnover-worthy plays. Cleveland did major work this offseason to improve the defense and continues to add weaponry on offense, but if Watson doesn’t bounce back in a significant way and the Browns [don’t] challenge for the division, it’s tough to see Stefanski making it to the 2024 season.”

Browns Have Regressed Since Making Playoffs During Kevin Stefanski’s First Year as Head Coach

GettyHead coach Kevin Stefanski of the Cleveland Browns is under pressure to perform in 2023.

Stefanski opened his career in Cleveland with a bang but has regressed every year since.

The Browns finished the 2020 campaign with an 11-5 record, earning a berth in the postseason and the franchise’s first playoff win since 1994. That the victory was a 48-point showing on the road over the AFC North Division rival Pittsburgh Steelers was merely icing on the cake. Cleveland was competitive in the divisional round of the playoffs the following week, falling to the eventual AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs by just five points.

Since then, however, the Browns have produced 8-9 and 7-10 seasons, respectively. The franchise took a monster swing and a monster risk adding Watson last year while the QB was still mired in civil and legal issues stemming from dozens of allegations of sexual misconduct.

The public relations hit the Browns suffered after making the deal was even greater than the hit on the field, where Jacoby Brissett filled in for Watson through the first 11 games. Watson returned for the final six contests, completing just over 58% of his passes for 1,102 yards and seven touchdowns compared to five interceptions, per Pro Football Reference.

Browns’ Spending Spree on Top-Level Talent Adds to Pressure on Kevin Stefanski This Season

GettyHead coach Kevin Stefanski of the Cleveland Browns.

The heat the franchise took for inking Watson and subsequently failing to adequately replace him after the NFL suspended the quarterback fell on the shoulders of both Stefanski and general manager Andrew Berry, as well as team ownership.

However, after a spending spree that has included the acquisitions of wide receiver Amari Cooper last offseason as well as edge rusher Za’Darius Smith, defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson and wide receiver Elijah Moore this offseason, there will be nowhere for Stefanski to hide if the team underachieves.

Moore struggles through locker room issues with the New York Jets over his first two years in the NFL, while Smith is on the wrong side of 30 and slowed down significantly during the second half of a Pro-Bowl campaign with the Minnesota Vikings last season. That said, it’s hard to argue that Berry hasn’t built one of the more talented rosters in a stacked AFC.

Watson returning to the Pro-Bowl form that defined his career from 2018-20 is still the most crucial element to the Browns’ success this season and beyond. But Cleveland hired Stefanski due to his offensive acumen after a one-year stint as the Vikings offensive coordinator in 2019 that followed two years as that franchise’s quarterbacks coach.

If Stefanski can’t coax Watson’s best version out of the QB this season, then perhaps it is time the Browns start searching for someone who can.

The Cleveland Browns were never truly interested in signing DeAndre Hopkins and are confident in the receivers they have — particularly Elijah Moore.

The Browns reshaped their wide receiver room this offseason and Moore has been a popular pick to be a breakout candidate.

Moore was traded to the Browns on March 22 after an interesting two years as a member of the Jets. He had a strong rookie year, notching 43 catches for 538 yards and five touchdowns in just 11 games. However, he couldn’t improve upon that a year ago, catching just 37 balls for 446 yards and one touchdown, clashing with the coaching staff and quarterback Zach Wilson.

The Browns are confident Moore can look more like the high-upside receiver he was as a rookie, which limited their interest in Hopkins.

“It just seems like a good fit such a good fit, in fact that they really didn’t have any intentions whatsoever of going out there and signing a DeAndre Hopkins,” Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot said during an appearance on The Chico Bormann Show.

Elijah Moore Can be Dynamic in Cleveland

Cabot went a little more in-depth on what the expectations are for Moore for his first year in Cleveland, pointing out that some stability at the quarterback position unlocks a higher ceiling for the former second-round pick.

“Elijah Moore had five touchdown cast catches with the Jets in his rookie year two seasons ago. Imagine what he can do with a quarterback like Deshaun Watson,” Cabot said. “Elijah Moore has the quickness that twitchiness, the suddenness to really mesh with a player like Deshaun Watson. And I think that Deshaun is going to know exactly how and when to get him the ball.”

Moore will have some help, too. Amari Cooper is coming off a strong first year in Cleveland, going over 1,000 yards and tying his career-best mark in touchdowns with nine. The Browns also have Donovan Peoples-Jones, who is coming off a career year, and veteran speedster Marquise Goodwin.

Browns Were Once Favorite to Land DeAndre Hopkins

The Browns were once dubbed the favorite for Hopkins after a public pitch from quarterback Deshaun Watson — his former teammate with the Houston Texans.

“Me and D-Hop, we just naturally talk. We’ve been talking since the Houston days, and whenever he was in Arizona, we were always talking,” Watson said. “He’s always been a brother of mine since I was coming out of high school. Our connection, our relationship has always been great. And I know there’s a lot of things swirling around in the media about him possibly coming to Cleveland. For me, my answer to that is, of course we’d love to have him.”

Hopkins has made visits with the Tennessee Titans and New England Patriots, although a deal does not appear imminent at this time. He’d be a much more needed piece for both of those AFC squads as opposed to the Browns, where he would very much be a luxury for Watson and Co.

Hopkins played in just nine games last season with the Arizona Cardinals, notching 717 yards on 64 grabs with three touchdowns.

The Cleveland Browns have their workhorse in Nick Chubb but still aren’t too sure about the depth behind him.

Chubb will carry the majority of the load in the backfield, as he has for nearly all of his career in Cleveland. He’s coming off a season where he rushed for 1,525 yards and 12 touchdowns, earning second-team All-Pro honors and a Pro Bowl nod.

The depth behind Chubb is the issue, with the Browns relying on second-year back Jerome Ford to step into a large role and not much insurance behind him. The Browns are evaluating their options, per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, although it won’t be a big-name veteran like Ezekiel Elliott or Dalvin Cook.

“The Browns will continue to keep their eyes peeled for another back, not just for training camp but one who can carry the load in a pinch,” Cabot said. “They’re not looking to add a big-name back such a Dalvin Cook or Ezekiel Elliott, and they have no plans to re-sign Hunt. But they will look to bolster the room sometime between now and the start of camp.”

Browns Have Confidence in Jerome Ford

The need for another running back isn’t necessarily an indictment of Ford. A couple of seasons ago, the Browns dealt with injuries to both Chubb and Kareem Hunt and were lucky that D’Ernest Johnson was waiting in the wings ready to step up. Hunt and Johnson are now gone and Cleveland doesn’t have the same kind of confidence in Demetric Felton Jr., John Kelly Jr., Nate McCary or Hassan Hall to step into that kind of situation.

As for Ford, the Browns are confident he can be a contributor despite his lack of work last season — eight carries for 12 yards — especially in the passing game.

“Jerome’s got a skill set that can allow him to do any and everything,” running backs coach Stump Mitchell said during minicamp. “Pass protection we’ve worked a lot on in the spring, so that was the only thing that we didn’t really have a good handle on because he didn’t do it a lot in college. But he’s worked extremely hard. We know about his skill set with the ball in his hands.”

The Browns also plan to get Chubb more involved catching the ball out of the backfield. He’s rarely done so in the past but if the Browns go more pass-heavy, as expected, it’ll be a necessity.

“He’ll have the opportunity to catch more passes, so I think people will see that he’s more than just a running back,” Mitchell said. “Given the opportunity to catch some passes, I think he’ll be successful. It’s an opportunity to perhaps gain a thousand yards receiving as well. So I’m loving it actually. And I’m telling Nick the same thing — relish the opportunity.”

Realistic RB Options Still Available for Browns

If the Browns are looking for a veteran running back, there are still affordable options they could before camp. That group could include former Chargers RB Justin Jackson, Kenyan Drake, or a familiar face like Dontrell Hilliard, who started his career in Cleveland.

As for his workload, Chubb isn’t worried if the Browns rely on the pass more than they did in the past. He’s just going to control what he can — which is being a force when the ball is in the hands.

“I’m not worried at all. I can’t control what I can’t control,” Chubb said. “When the ball is in my hand, I have full control, so I’m not worried about anything.”

Running backs have had a tough go of late and Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb may not be immune to the recent trend.

Chubb has established himself as one of the best running backs in the league since being drafted by the Browns in 2018. He has four Pro Bowls on his resume and was a second-team All-Pro selection last season after rushing for 1,525 yards and 12 touchdowns.

The Browns are facing a decision with Chubb after the coming season. He’ll account for a $16.2 million cap hit in 2024 but Cleveland has some options. They could cut Chubb — which would result in only $4 million in dead cap — or extend him and soften the cap hit.

Considering what’s happened with other high-profile backs around the league recently, Trey Wingo of the 33rd Team and formerly of ESPN isn’t so sure he’ll be in Cleveland for the 2024 season.

“I would really like for them to extend the contract and spread the money out. But I mean look at the Vikings just did with Dalvin Cook,” Wingo said during an appearance on The Ken Carman Show with Anthony Lima. “Over the last six years, [Cook] had been one of the top four running backs in terms of yards. They won 13 games last year. And they were like, nah we’re good because they have Alexander Mattison. So they drafted Dalvin Cook’s replacement a couple of years ago. I don’t think that person exists in Cleveland yet and I would love to see Nick Chubb get his just reward. But if I’m reading the tea leaves of the NFL and just seeing the trends, I would highly suggest it’s probably going to go the other way.”

Jerome Ford Unlikely Replacement for Nick Chubb With Browns

As Wingo points out, the Browns don’t have another running back waiting in the wings to take over for Chubb. Cleveland drafted Jerome Ford last season but he did little as a rookie to show he could be the future in Cleveland. Ford had just eight carries for 12 yards last season.

That being said, Ford has shown some upside as a versatile weapon and the team has been pleased with his progression this offseason.

“Jerome’s got a skillset that allows him to do anything and everything,” run game coordinator/running backs coach Stump Mitchell said after mandatory minicamp. “Pass protection, we worked a lot (on that) this spring, so that was the really the only thing we didn’t really have a good handle on because he didn’t do it a lot in college.”

Ford will have more opportunities this season following the departures of Kareem Hunt and D’Ernest Johnson. He’s expected to be the primary backup to Chubb and there’s little proven depth behind him.

Nick Chubb Not Worried About Role in Browns’ Offense

The Browns are expected to be a more pass-heavy team next season in Year 2 of Deshaun Watson. That could lead to less work for Chubb but the stoic running back isn’t sweating it.

“I’m not worried at all. I can’t control what I can’t control,” Chubb said at minicamp. “When the ball is in my hand, I have full control, so I’m not worried about anything.”

Watson played in six games last season after his 11-game suspension. Chubb did not find the end zone during those six games after finding it a dozen times previously.

“You can’t really look at the numbers. Twelve is the most I’ve ever had since I’ve been here. I don’t think it had much to do with it,” Chubb said. “I think we did have to figure some things out, get the kinks out on offense but I don’t think I’m hindered by Deshaun at all.”

The Cleveland Browns have some solid depth at the quarterback position and the passer who will likely be left on the outside looking in is Kellen Mond.

The Browns claimed Mond off waivers after final roster cutdowns in August and he stuck around for the entire year despite not being active. Jacoby Brissett was the starter for the first 11 games of the season, with Joshua Dobbs serving as the backup. When Deshaun Watson returned from his 11-game suspension, Brissett went to the bench, while Dobbs was cut, later being claimed by the Tennessee Titans and starting games down the stretch.

Mond is now part of a quarterback room that includes, Watson, Dobbs — who returned as a free agent this offseason — and rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson.

Mond was a third-round pick of the Minnesota Vikings in 2021. He has no resume to speak of, going just 2-of-3 for 5 yards in his one career regular-season game with the Vikings.

Zac Jackson of The Athletic believes that Thompson-Robinson is a potential future starter for the Browns and that Mond could end up being traded — or on the practice squad.

“Barring something unforeseen, the Browns are going to their extended training camp with four quarterbacks and plan to keep three on the active roster,” Jackson wrote. “As part of that plan, Dobbs is the No. 2 quarterback on a relatively cheap one-year contract, and Thompson-Robinson will be the No. 1 quarterback of the future and a game-day inactive. Look for Thompson-Robinson and Kellen Mond to get chances to play in the preseason; the Browns could eventually try to trade Mond or keep him on the practice squad.”

Joshua Dobbs Excited to be Back With Browns

At least for the meantime, Dobbs is slated to be the backup for Watson next season and it was a good get for the Browns. They brought in someone who knows the system and got the opportunity to start some meaningful games at the end of last season.

He may have had a chance to compete for a starting role somewhere else but was compelled to come back to the Browns, especially with some additional stability around Watson’s situation.

“For one, it’s a second year for everyone in the scheme, especially at the QB position,” Dobbs said. “And then, two, there’s no uncertainty. You know the situation. Last year at this point, you didn’t know if he was going to get suspended at all, if he was going to be suspended all season. There was just a lot of unknowns out there, and I think that weighs on everyone, that weighs on the QB room, that weighs on Deshaun — obviously, the most important person it weighs on — the coaching staff and the team.”

Dobbs impressed in his preseason appearances last year with the Browns, completing 35 of 53 passes for 338 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. In two games with the Titans as the starter, Dobbs passed for 411 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions, completing around 59% of his passes.

Deshaun Watson Has Shined in Preseason With Browns

Watson has some visible rust last season when he got on the field, which was expected after 700 days away from football. He played the final six games for the Browns and the team going 3-3 in his starts, completing 58.2% of his passes for 1,102 yards and seven touchdowns with five interceptions.

Watson has looked sharp this offseason in OTAs and minicamp, impressing his coaches and teammates.

“I’m pretty far ahead of where I was last year,” Watson said at minicamp. “Last year was, as far as football, being on the field, just running a new system, trying to adapt to different teammates, different players, how guys run routes, how Kevin calls the plays, and just being able to process the game at the speed I know.”

The NFL All-Pro list is the definitive measure of a player’s stature as the elite of the elite at his position, and the honor that garners the most respect when it comes to defining legacies.

Early summer is a time when hope springs eternal for NFL teams, and players, alike, as minicamps wind down and the grind of training camp and the upcoming season await with much optimism and promise. It’s also the perfect time to project out which players will shine the brightest in the fall.

Projecting which players will wind up as a First-Team All-Pro can be a daunting task, but easy all at once, by simply placing the name of the best player at his position the prior season into your projected list for the next one.

But, in order to make things a bit more interesting, to shine the spotlight a little brighter on some of the stars of the game that are knocking on the doorstep of reaching “elite’ status, we opted instead to make the list of players most likely to become a First-Team All-Pro selection for the first time.

Here are our selections:

QB: Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles

Hurts very nearly stole the MVP and a first-team All-Pro slot from Patrick Mahomes last season, but the stage seems set for the 24-year-old to make another significant stride in his development. Given that this will be Hurts’ second season throwing to dynamic receiver A.J. Brown, as well as DeVonta Smith’s third NFL season (when receivers typically begin to peak), all of the pieces are in place for Hurts to take his game and the Eagles’ outlook to new heights.

RB: Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns

Chubb was a Second-Team All-Pro in 2022, and he’s one of the most feared backs in the game. The combination of the Browns‘ run-based scheme, an offensive line that can make a strong claim as one of the two best in the league, and Chubb’s ferocious running style give the 27-year-old a great chance to make the varsity squad in 2023.

RB: Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons

Running back might be the easiest position to make the leap to first-team All-Pro as a rookie. Especially when a rookie running back can expect the kind of workload Robinson can in Atlanta, combined with his explosiveness as a runner and versatility as a pass-catcher out of the backfield. If Robinson’s 104 forced missed tackles and 1,o71 yards after contact from last season at the University of Texas translate to the NFL, look out.

WR: A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles

Not only was A.J. Brown a touchdown-maker, catching a career-high 11 in his first season in Philadelphia, he was a monster averaging 6.4 Yards After the Catch per Reception. If that was Brown’s introduction to the Eagles‘ offense, imagine how much more prolific he’ll be in a second season as Hurts’ favorite target.

WR: Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals

Chase was a second-team All-Pro selection in 2021, but each year the dynamic receiver’s chemistry seems to strengthen with quarterback Joe Burrow. Injuries limited Chase to just 12 games last season, yet he still produced 1,046 receiving yards with nine touchdowns. Given that Chase averaged 4.8 Yards after The Catch per Reception, just imagine how productive he’ll be if he can stay on the field for the entire 2023 campaign.

WR: Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins

One might think that the addition of a speedster like Tyreek Hill on the other side might limit the production of a player like Waddle, but that’s not exactly how 2022 played out. Sure, Waddle only caught 75 passes (down from 104 in 2022), but his yards per catch average nearly doubled to an eye-popping 18.1. Waddle’s speed gives him the ability to take the top off a defense. Playing opposite Hill creates space. Don’t be surprised if Waddle finds a way to build on last season’s 1,356-yard and 8-touchdown outburst.

TE: T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings

Hockenson was an absolute revelation to the Vikings‘ offense, after arriving in a midseason trade. The 25-year-old caught 60 passes for 519 yards with 3 touchdowns during the final 10 games of the season. With Justin Jefferson flying down the perimeter, expect there to be plenty of room for Hockenson to operate underneath, and plenty of check down targets from Kirk Cousins for him to rack up yards and touchdowns this season.

LT: Andrew Thomas, New York Giants

Andrew Thomas is one of the ascending stars along the offensive line, and the trajectory of his career has been ticking upward the past two seasons, in a big way. A Second-Team All-Pro selection in 2022, Thomas only allowed three sacks and continued to emerge as a stalwart along the Giants’ offensive line.

RT: Kaleb McGary, Atlanta Falcons

McGary is a dominant presence along the line of scrimmage, and one of the Falcons’ building blocks on offense. Last season, McGary was Pro Football Focus’ No. 3 highest-rated offensive tackle, with an 86.6 overall grade. The addition of Robinson in the backfield will give McGary even more opportunities to showcase his ability as a lead-blocker in the running game, where he posted the highest run-blocking grade of anyone not named Trent Williams, at 91.6.

LG: Joe Thuney, Kansas City Chiefs

Joe Thuney has been a stalwart of consistency throughout his career, and he has elevated his game to new heights since arriving in Kansas City in 2021. Last season, Thuney was instrumental in keeping Mahomes upright, allowing only one sack and 15 total pressures. That kind of consistency up front makes it easy for a freelancer like Mahomes to create big-play opportunities.

RG: Teven Jenkins, Chicago Bears

Teven Jenkins is a road grader up front in the running game, a tactician in pass protection, and one of the anchors of the Chicago Bears‘ offensive line. Last season, Jenkins only allowed 2.0 sacks and 12 quarterback pressures. He’s already on the cusp of breaking through as an All-Pro, and if the Bears’ offense makes major strides, this could be his season to crack the list.

C: Creed Humphrey, Kansas City Chiefs

Creed Humphrey is the most consistently dominant young center in this league. Full stop. Humphrey is a complete mauler as a run-blocker, producing an elite 91.1 run-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus, and a stonewall in pass protection, where he didn’t allow a single sack last season, with just one surrendered through the first two seasons of his career. Maybe more impressive than the fact that Humphrey allowed just 21, quarterback hits is that he was flagged for only 4 penalties in 1,138 snaps in 2022. Humphrey is an ascending talent and perhaps next in line to be a permanent All-Pro fixture.

EDGE: Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas Raiders

There are few pass-rushers who strike as much fear in opposing offensive tackles as Maxx Crosby does when he’s flying off the edge. It is almost unfair that a player has that much burst and that much speed, flying off the corner. Beyond freakish athleticism, Crosby’s productivity speaks for itself; 15.0 sacks, 81 total pressures, 4 forced fumbles, and 70 tackles in 2022 as the centerpiece of the Raiders‘ defense. Given the exotic blitz packages defensive coordinator Patrick Graham is accustomed to drawing up, don’t be surprised if even those numbers from Crosby take a big jump in 2023.

EDGE: Montez Sweat, Washington Commanders

Montez Swat is borderline unblockable off the edge, where he produced 8.0 sacks and 63 total pressures as the centerpiece of the Commanders’ front-seven in 2022. What makes Sweat special is that he’s one of the more dominant run-stopping edge players in the game, on top of being a game-wrecker when rushing the passer. Sweat is one of the more complete players at his position, and if he continues his upward trajectory, could find himself on All-Pro lists this season.

DL: D.J. Reader, Cincinnati Bengals

Injuries limited D.J. Reader’s production last season, he missed six games due to a knee injury while finishing with 27 tackles and 1.0 sack, but don’t let those numbers fool you into thinking this isn’t one of the top players at his position. Reader is a matchup nightmare, a dominant interior pass-rusher, and as steady as they come against the run. If Reader can stay on the field all season, 2023 could be the year he solidifies his place among the elite of the position.

DL: Dexter Lawrence, New York Giants

Few humans walking the earth can move with the speed and burst that Dexter Lawrence shows on each snap, at a mammoth 6-foot-4 and 342 pounds. Not only does Lawrence take up boatloads of space against the run, but his 9.0 sacks and 63 total pressures are absolute game-wreckers up the middle for opposing quarterbacks. Lawrence was a Second-Team All-Pro selection in 2022, and playing another season in coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale’s scheme should create even more opportunities for Lawrence to destroy things up the middle. If he does, well, etch his name on the First-Team list this season.

LB: Tremaine Edmunds, Chicago Bears

Edmunds arrives in Chicago coming off the most dominant season of his prolific career. Once again surpassing 100 total tackles, Edmunds produced a team-high 101, while holding opposing quarterbacks to a passer rating of just 87.1. All that, only to leave Buffalo without a contract extension. Given Edmunds’ productivity, his talent, and the added motivation that comes with being spurned by your former team, expect big things from the centerpiece of the Bears’ revamped defense in 2023.

LB: Devin Lloyd, Jacksonville Jaguars

Lloyd didn’t waste any time throwing his weight around, as a rookie in the Jaguars’ linebacker corps last season. The Utah alum’s three interceptions led all linebackers, and he was consistently around the football, carding 110 total tackles. If Lloyd builds on his stellar rookie season, don’t be surprised to find him on this list by year’s end.

LB: Dre Greenlaw, San Francisco 49ers

A strong case can be made that each member of the 49ers’ front-seven could wind up an All-Pro, but Greenlaw should benefit more than most from Javon Hargrave’s arrival. Last season Greenlaw had 127 tackles and was just a brick wall against the run. Expect that to continue in 2023.

CB: Charvarius Ward, San Francisco 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers boast one of the most talented defenses in the league, and the best defensive back on the roster might be Charvarius Ward, who is criminally underrated outside the Bay Area. Opposing quarterbacks managed only an 88.2 passer rating when targeting Ward last season, and receivers had little room to operate, averaging just 11 yards per catch. Given the combination of the 49ers’ ferocious front-seven and Ward’s prowess in man coverage, the stage could be set for the 27-year-old to have a career year in 2023.

CB: Asante Samuel Jr., Los Angeles Chargers

Entering his third season, Samuel Jr. hasn’t just already proven himself to be a legitimate ballhawk, but he continues to get better. Quarterbacks rarely targeted Samuel Jr. last season, and when they did, they managed a meager 97.6 passer rating on those throws. Samuel Jr. already etched his name in the record books, becoming the first player to pull down three interceptions in his playoff debut. If Samuel builds on a stellar finish to 2022, there’s a good chance he finishes 2023 as an All-Pro.

S: Kyle Hamilton, Baltimore Ravens

Hamilton is as versatile as they come at safety, and aims to build on a prolific rookie season, that was capped by him leading the Ravens’ defense with 9.0 tackles in a Wild Card loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Not only does Hamilton thrive in coverage, where he played both deep safety and in the slot while holding opposing receivers to only 9.9 Yards per Reception, but he’s a real weapon up near the line of scrimmage. Hamilton’s 2.0 sacks and 20 run-stops underscore his value at all levels of the Ravens’ defense.

S: Antoine Winfield Jr., Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Winfield Jr. is an ascending talent at the safety position, who could see more opportunities to create turnovers as head coach Todd Bowles dials up the pressure via the blitz this season. Moving to free safety this season could create more opportunities for Winfield to flash in coverage, where he held opposing receivers to just 10.5 Yards per Reception in 2022. If the Buccaneers’ defense bounces back, and Winfield plays a starring role, don’t be surprised when he winds up being an impact player this season.

The Cleveland Browns may eventually have to make a decision between Amari Cooper and Donovan Peoples-Jones and a noted NFL insider believes that the team would opt for the more youthful — and cheaper — option.

Peoples-Jones will be a free agent next offseason and another season of improvement will earn him a nice pay raise. He’s a terrific bargain for the Browns currently, with the sixth-round pick on the books for $2.73 million for next season.

Cooper has two more years left on his deal but the Browns could decide to go in a different direction and save a good chunk of money against the cap.

If the Browns are forced to choose, Albert Breer of the MMQB believes Cleveland would go with Peoples-Jones.

“Probably Peoples-Jones, just because he’s younger and he’s homegrown,” Breer said on The Afternoon Drive on 92.3 The Fan. “At this point, if you wanted to do an extension, it’d be a lot cheaper.”

Breer pointed to Jakobi Meyers as an example of what a deal for Peoples-Jones could look like. The Las Vegas Raiders signed Meyers to a three-year, $33 million contract this offseason.

Browns Would Need to Find Replacement for Amari Cooper

The Browns could save some money by extending Peoples-Jones over Cooper but it would come with some hurdles. His upside is likely a quality No. 2 pass-catcher, so the Browns would have to pursue a replacement for Cooper and his production.

“If Amari is walking out the door, now you got to figure out what you’re gonna do as far as finding a No. 1,” Breer said. “I don’t know if you push People-Jones out there as your No. 1. You know, that can be a little complicated because you still have another year where you’re not going to have a first-round pick, which means, it’s gonna be hard to find one in the draft and it’s going to be hard to go out and trade for one.”

Cooper did not disappoint during his first year in Cleveland. The 28-year-old caught 78 passes for 1,160 yards with a career-high nine touchdowns last season. And he put up those numbers with Deshaun Watson missing 11 games to start the year and Jacoby Brissett throwing him the ball.

Browns Pleased With Donovan Peoples-Jones

Peoples-Jones has proven to be a late-round gem for the Browns and is coming off a year where he caught 61 passes for 839 yards. He’s continued his progression this offseason and has impressed the Browns’ coaching staff.

“Donovan Peoples-Jones has been outstanding this spring,” receivers coach Chad O’Shea said during minicamp. “I really think he’s made an improvement. He’s been a very good player and a big part of what we do offensively, but this spring he has been so impressive on just the improvement. He’s so coachable. He works so hard and he’s just a great player to have on our team.”

Peoples-Jones might have a little more competition for targets this season. The Browns brought in Elijah Moore, signed veteran free agent Marquise Goodwin and drafted Cedric Tillman in the third round of the draft.

The Cleveland Browns have one of the best offenses in the NFL — at least on paper — but even the best things eventually fall apart.

Such was the message from Jacob Roach of USA Today’s Browns Wire on Wednesday, June 14, when he predicted two-time Pro Bowl right guard Wyatt Teller would be the team’s most likely trade candidate.

“Though I don’t see anything happening until next year, I think the most likely [trade] candidate is Wyatt Teller,” Roach wrote in response to a mailbag question. “He hasn’t been as good as he was when the extension was given, and [the Browns] have so much money invested in the rest of the line. It will be telling next offseason if they sign a veteran guard in free agency that they are leaning [toward moving] on. Teller is good, but he is much better as a run blocker than a pass blocker, and the offense will be throwing the ball a lot more going forward.”

Wyatt Teller Has Earned 2 Pro-Bowl Nods Since Signing Contract Extension With Browns

GettyRight guard Wyatt Teller of the Cleveland Browns celebrates after a win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in November 2022.

Teller signed a four-year extension worth $56.8 million in November 2021, with a little more than half of that money ($29.1 million) fully guaranteed. The deal keeps the offensive lineman under contract through 2025, though the Browns have an out following the upcoming season. Releasing Teller would cost Cleveland $7.65 million in dead money.

Roach’s position that Teller hasn’t been as good since signing his extension is a hard sell, considering the guard went on to earn his first Pro Bowl nod in 2021 and followed it up with another last year. He has also won second-team All-Pro honors twice in his career (2020, 2021).

Teller will turn 29 years old in November, as he nears the end of his sixth professional campaign. He has been fairly reliable from a health standpoint, appearing in 58 of 66 regular season contests over the past four seasons and starting 52 games during that span.

The offensive lineman finished 2022 with a Pro Football Focus (PFF) overall grade of 70.3, which included a run-blocking grade of 70.3 and a pass-blocking grade of 67.9. Teller’s numbers rendered him the 18th best guard in the NFL last season out of 77 players who played enough snaps to qualify at the position.

Browns Likely to Extend Jedrick Wills Jr. Long-Term Despite Struggles

GettyOffensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. of the Cleveland Browns.

PFF ranked Teller’s counterpart, left guard Joel Bitonio, as the second-best guard in the league, while the analytics-based website listed center Ethan Pocic as the third-best player at his position.

The Browns were weaker at the tackle spot, with right tackle Jack Conklin coming in with a grade of 66.7 — good enough for the 45th spot out of 81 qualifying players. Left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. had the lowest grade of Cleveland’s offensive line starters, pulling a 62.7, which ranked him as the 56th-best tackle in the league in 2022.

High-quality tackles are a little harder to come by in the NFL than guards because the position requires a rangier skill set to protect the quarterback against opposing pass rushers on the outside. Roach is right that the Browns’ offensive evolution is likely to include a greater emphasis on the air attack with quarterback Deshaun Watson expected to start Week 1 at home against the AFC North Division rival Cincinnati Bengals on September 10.

Those two facts combine to make it harder for the Browns to move either Conklin or Wills, despite Conklin’s significant injury history and Wills’ failure to live up to his draft position as a 2020 first-round pick (No. 10 overall). Cleveland has displayed its loyalty to both players, inking Conklin to a four-year, $60 million extension last December and picking up its fifth-year option on Wills’ rookie deal, locking him in through the 2024 campaign at a cost of nearly $14.2 million that season. The Browns are also projected to sign Wills long-term, per Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report.

Bitonio and Pocic are each signed through 2025 and unlikely to go anywhere anytime soon after finishing near the top of their respective positions in 2022, based on PFF’s analytics model. All of this does point to Teller potentially being the odd man out in Cleveland, though it remains difficult to get there.

The Browns will still focus heavily on their ground game next season, with four-time Pro Bowler Nick Chubb starting at running back. At some point, Cleveland will need to roll back its spending, as Watson’s $230 million fully guaranteed deal is going to strap the team’s salary cap each of the next four years. That could mean parting with a highly valued player still in his prime next offseason.

That said, Cleveland will have several options from which to choose if and when the franchise decides it needs to trade one of its higher-end, higher-paid players. Should Teller produce his third consecutive Pro-Bowl campaign in 2023, Browns fans can expect management to look elsewhere to employ cost-cutting measures.

DeAndre Hopkins has started making his rounds as he weighs where he’ll sign next but he’s not expected to be visiting with the Cleveland Browns any time soon.

The Browns were once the betting favorite to land Hopkins but it seems like the idea of signing the former All-Pro pass-catcher is firmly on the back burner, per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com

“They do not plan to bring him in,” Cabot said during an appearance on Sports4CLE on Tuesday. “As we know, he was with the Titans [Monday] and is visiting the Patriots. And then he might schedule more visits after that. The only way he would end up here is if the Browns end up with a significant injury and if D-Hop waits and his market isn’t what he wanted it to be. If he figured, you know what, let me let me wait and let somebody go down in training camp, or a preseason game and let somebody need me enough to give me the money that I feel I deserve.”

The idea of signing Hopkins was always seen as a luxury, not a necessity for the Browns, who have already done work this offseason to improve their wide receiver depth. They’ve added Elijah Moore, Marquise Goodwin and rookie Cedric Tillman to a receiver corps that already included Amari Cooper and Donovan Peoples-Jones.

Browns QB Deshaun Watson Made Pitch to DeAndre Hopkins

The idea of reuniting Hopkins and quarterback Deshaun Watson was an intriguing one and the Browns quarterback made a public pitch to his former teammate shortly after he was released by the Arizona Cardinals.

“He’s always been a brother of mine since I was coming out of high school. Our connection, our relationship has always been great,” Watson said on May 31. “And I know there’s a lot of things swirling around in the media about him possibly coming to Cleveland. For me, my answer to that is, of course we’d love to have him.”

Watson was asked for an update on the situation during mandatory minicamp and had nothing to report, referring the question to general manager Andrew Berry.

Cabot: DeAndre Hopkins Wants to Situation to be Right

Shortly before becoming a free agent, Hopkins listed the things he wanted out of his next team. It included a steady front office, a quarterback with the ability to rally the troops and a great defense. The Browns check those boxes, although they would likely not be the team to tender him the most lucrative offer.

“He’s obviously getting up there. So this is not a situation where he’s a 26-year-old receiver out there getting free agency for the first time,” Cabot said of the 31-year-old Hopkins. “So you know, he’s got to grab the brass ring while he still can. And he wants the situation to be right. He really does. Want to have an opportunity to challenge for the Super Bowl and do all those kinds of things.”

Hopkins is a three-time first-team All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowler. However, he’s played in just 19 games over the last two seasons due to injury and a PED suspension. He notched 64 catches for 717 yards and three touchdowns in nine games last season with the Cardinals.

Cleveland Browns analyst Tony Rizzo doesn’t think adding DeAndre Hopkins to the wide receiver room is necessarily in the Browns’ best interest, despite quarterback Deshaun Watson being all for it.

Hopkins was cut by the Arizona Cardinals at the end of May, the team announced on its Twitter account. The speculation immediately ramped up about where D-Hop would land and the Browns have definitely been in the mix.

In fact, at the annual Browns Foundation Golf outing, quarterback DeShaun Watson was asked about potentially picking up Hopkins and he gave his full-throated support, per the NFL’s Brad Stainbrook.

“Me and D-Hop, we just naturally talk. We’ve been talking since the Houston days … He’s always been a brother of mine since I was coming out of high school. Our connection, our relationship has always been great. And I know there’s a lot of things swirling around in the media about him possibly coming to Cleveland. For me, my answer to that is, of course we’d love to have him,” said Watson.

But Rizzo wonders if Hopkins’ “free spirit” personality is a good fit for the Browns.

Here’s what ESPN’s Tony Rizzo had to say on the matter:

Tony Rizzo Questions Whether the Browns Want to ‘Open Up That Can [of Worms]’ of Adding Hopkins’ Personality

On ESPN Cleveland on Tuesday, June 13, Rizzo said that first of all, he doesn’t think the Browns “are gonna pay him what he wants,” but maybe they could get him at a discount.

“If he goes all over, if he goes on this tour and he doesn’t get the number he wants, well then, maybe you get him at discounted price. That’s the only way I could see him coming here,” said Rizzo.

But he went on to say that he’s not sure they should sign him even at a discount.

“I also question whether the Browns want to open up that can [of worms] in their receiver room right now. They’ve got a good group, everybody gets along. Hopkins is said to be a bit of a free spirit. Not that he’s a bad locker room guy, but there are some people who feel like he would want to be the alpha dog in the receiver room right now and I don’t know how that would work here in Cleveland,” said Rizzo.

In the comments, one fan agreed with Rizzo, questioning whether Cleveland wants Hopkins’ “personality in the locker room.”

The fan wrote, “Do we really want his personality in the locker room? We just dodged a bullet with Perrion Winfrey’s shenanigans. Hopefully nothing more percolates out of that. But I trust our WR room, right now, I think it’s just about a Super Bowl-ready wide receiver corps. Truly.”

Tony Rizzo Appears to Have Changed His Tune From Early June

The comments about not wanting to rock the boat in the wide receiver room is a marked change from what Rizzo said on the matter on June 2.

“I’d take [Hopkins], man. I think the dude can still play. I think Deshaun wants him and that means I want him,” said Rizzo.

He added, “He’s one of the best receivers in the league, he’s got a relationsihp with my quarterback, why wouldn’t I take him? Amari Cooper is one high-ankle sprain from going down, then what? I would take D-Hop here right now, yes.”

This year will mark Hopkins’ 11th year in the league. Per NFL.com’s stats, he has amassed over 11,000 yards receiving and 71 touchdowns. He and Watson were on the Houston Texans together for three seasons, 2017-2019, and in that time, Hopkins had over 4000 yards and 31 touchdowns. He also had the two biggest seasons of his career in 2017 and 2018 — 2018 was his most yards ever in a single season and 2017 was his most touchdowns ever in a single season, though that was Watson’s rookie season and he only played in seven games.

The Cleveland Browns have taken a handful of huge personnel swings this offseason, and some of them are bound to miss the mark.

Ogbonnia Okoronkwo had a career year in 2022 after the Houston Texans moved him into the defensive end position. The pass rusher amassed five sacks and 24 quarterback pressures over the final six games of the season, per Doug Farrar of USA Today’s Touchdown Wire. Okoronkwo’s performance slotted him inside the NFL’s top-10 in both categories across that span.

The result was a three-year, $19 million deal in Cleveland that positioned Okoronkwo as a starter on the Browns’ defensive line until the team traded with the Minnesota Vikings for three-time Pro Bowler Za’Darius Smith. However, that the Browns felt they needed Smith at all points to reasonable questions about Okoronkwo’s production projections for 2023.

Jake Rill of Bleacher Report predicted on Monday, June 12, that Okoronkwo will take a step back as an edge rusher in his first season with the Browns and finish the year with fewer than three sacks.

Ogbonnia Okoronkwo’s Playing Time Will be Limited Due to Browns’ Trade for Za’Darius Smith

GettyFormer Houston Texans edge rusher Ogbonnia Okoronkwo signed a three-year deal with the Cleveland Browns in 2023.

Okoronkwo is a physical specimen at 6-feet, 2-inches tall and 253 pounds who played his first three NFL seasons at the linebacker position. He will also play the entirety of the upcoming campaign, his fifth as a professional, at the age of 28. As noted previously, Okoronkwo also had the best season of his life in 2022 — another factor that points to the Browns’ new acquisition as a player still on the rise.

Rill’s argument for a turndown in Okoronkwo’s production in 2023 is less about his talent or trajectory, and more about the fact that the addition of Smith is likely to limit Okoronkwo’s playing time.

The edge rusher could still get considerable time on the field, but not nearly as much now that Smith is in the fold.

Okoronkwo doesn’t have a long track record. He … had only 4.5 [sacks] total in 33 games over the previous three years with the Los Angeles Rams. He also had never started a game until starting eight in 2022.

While [Okoronkwo] is a solid player, it’s going to be tough for him to get five sacks again in his first year in Cleveland, where [Myles] Garrett, Smith and the starting [defensive tackles] are all likely to get plenty. Because of that, his sack total won’t be nearly as impressive this upcoming season.

Browns May Look to Add Another Pass Rusher in Yannick Ngakoue

GettyFormer Indianapolis Colts defensive end Yannick Ngakoue says he wants to play for a Super Bowl contender during the 2023 season.

Cleveland still has nearly $16.9 million in salary cap space available, which means that another edge rusher could potentially join Okoronkwo, Smith and Garrett on the defensive line.

Free agent Yannick Ngakoue makes the most sense, as a sack specialist from the defensive end position who is a natural fit with the Browns’ 4-3 base defensive scheme. Ngakoue will play next season at the age of 28 and has never finished any of his seven NFL seasons with fewer than eight sacks, per Pro Football Reference.

The Browns are relatively set on offense, unless they decide to add another wide receiver or a second-string running back behind Nick Chubb. If the team chooses not to add an offensive weapon, depth on the edge or at defensive tackle makes sense as a place to spend its remaining cap space.

The Cleveland Browns have added some significant depth to their wide receiver room, which has put recent third-round pick David Bell on the roster bubble.

Bell was selected in the third round of the 2022 draft after a strong college career at Purdue, where he was a two-time first-team All-Big Ten selection. But he turned in a fairly disappointing rookie season with the Browns, catching 24 passes for 214 yards.

Browns general manager Andrew Berry has given his draft picks a lot of rope in Cleveland, but Bell may end up on the outside looking in as the team shapes it’s 53-man roster. Cleveland.com’s Dan Labbe has Bell missing the cut in his most recent 53-man roster projection, which has the Browns keeping Amari Cooper, Marquise Goodwin, Jakeem Grant Sr., Elijah Moore, Donovan Peoples-Jones and rookie Cedric Tillman.

“It’s hard to imagine Andrew Berry would cut such a recent draft pick. Taking away from another position would create space for Bell, but this is more a reminder of how tight this room will be,” Labbe wrote. “Between Bell and Grant — if Grant is close to 100 percent by the end of August after rupturing his Achilles last year — Grant simply does more. It’s likely Bell could make it through waivers, too, considering his quiet rookie season. The point here isn’t to say Bell’s out — it’s June — it’s to reinforce that everyone has to battle this camp, especially at crowded positions.”

Jakeem Grant Has Pro Bowl Resume as Return Man

The Browns have a new special teams coordinator in Bubba Ventrone and he’ll make the call on Grant as the primary return man. It seems the logical choice and a reliable return game was something the Browns were lacking last season.

Prior to his injury, Grant made a pair of Pro Bowls as a specialist, which could put him over the top when the team is making its final decision on who to keep around, Labbe noted. And from the sounds of it, Grant and Ventrone already have built a solid relationship.

“He’s a guru in the special teams and we instantly clicked,” Grant told Noah Weiskope of Browns Digest in March. “The way his energy was whenever he was on the phone was amazing. Me and him sat down and talked for a good 30 minutes about schemes. We left that alone and then talked about who he is as a person and who I am as a person. When you develop that type of bond with a coach, you’ll run through a brick wall for him.”

Grant has made a name for himself as a return man but has also been clear about wanting to do more as a receiver.

“I always preach that I’m a receiver first before a returner, and I’m going to continue to preach that message,” Grant said prior to lat season. “And I’m going to continue to work on that until I get that opportunity to have that breakout season.”

Browns WR Anthony Schwartz Also on Chopping Block

Bell is not the only notable Browns receiver who has to worry about his roster spot in Cleveland. Embattled speedster Anthony Schwartz is also running time to prove he belongs on the Browns’ roster.

“I would be stunned if both Bell and Schwartz made the team,” Scott Petrak of The Chronicle-Telegram said on Monday during an apperance on “Baskin & Phelps” on 92.3 The Fan. “I could see a scenario where neither makes the team. I’d give Bell the advantage. He was a third-round pick a year ago and Schwartz has had so many issues. You know Bell can catch the ball, but does he run fast enough and can he create separation? I don’t think either of those guys — Schwartz or Bell — are guaranteed a roster spot.”

Schwartz has just 14 catches for 186 yards since arriving in 2021 and his miscues have become more of the storyline. He was given some opportunity in the preseason but struggled with drops and overall consistency. During a preseason contest last season, he was booed by the home crowd. The Browns have been able to add some more reliable speed with the likes of Goodwin, Moore, and even Grant. So keeping Schwartz around isn’t as much of a priority for the Browns.

If the Cleveland Browns‘ defense is going to play at its maximum potential next season, Myles Garrett will have to step up — both on and off the field.

Garrett has been a pillar of the Browns’ defense since being selected with the No. 1 overall pick in 2017. He has four Pro Bowls to his name and has twice been a first-team All-Pro, racking up 74.5 sacks — the most in franchise history and he’s still in his prime.

But where Garrett has lacked is in the leadership department, which Terry Pluto of cleveland.com explored a little more in-depth recently. Pluto pointed to multiple instances where Garrett didn’t rise to the occasion as a leader, also adding that the Browns may have given the powerful pass-rusher some “special treatment.”

Pluto pointed to a few instances that stood out, including Garrett skipping out on the team’s trip to the Hall of Fame last season.

“One significant player declined: Garrett,” Pluto wrote, noting that Garrett said he didn’t want to go until he was in the Hall of Fame. “Other players on the team also noticed Garrett’s absence and the team’s lame response.”

Myles Garrett May Have Received ‘Special Treatment’

Veteran defensive end Jadeveon Clowney blasted the Browns for how he was being used last season, accusing the team of giving Garrett preferential treatment and more favorable matchups.

“You’re all trying to get somebody into the Hall of Fame when all that matters is winning,” Clowney told cleveland.com. “Everybody got here for a reason, and we can all make plays. I know I am.”

Perhaps Clowney — who later apologized to Garrett — wasn’t so far off and might have been voicing something other players were feeling as well, per Pluto.

“One of Clowney’s basic charges was that Garrett received special treatment,” Pluto wrote. “I’d heard [Joe Woods] may have been guilty of that – or at least, some players on defense thought so.”

Browns Star Myles Garrett Can Thrive Under Jim Schwartz

The Browns sent Woods packing shortly after the season ended and brought in veteran defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, who is a no-nonsense coach who will push Garrett. Schwartz runs a scheme that puts the defensive line in focus and Garrett is excited about the shift.

“You have a lot of guys who have just been waiting on this opportunity that we have,” Garrett said. “I know Schwartz likes to say, ‘Take off the seatbelt.’ I think that’s really the mindset. You get out there and you’re just letting it loose. Don’t worry about all these rules and doing all this as soon as you know your assignment.”

Pluto sees the leadership of Schwartz as something that can be a positive catalyst in Garrett’s growth.

“Perhaps earlier in his career, Garrett may not have been as receptive of the tough coaching he’ll receive from Schwartz. This should be different. This should be better,” Pluto said. “Garrett should be ready to embrace a defensive leadership role on the field – and off it. The right things are now in place for him to do so.”

Schwartz has been open that he feels Garrett can be even more productive, which is a high bar considering he’s coming off back-to-back 16-sack seasons. And he’ll have some new company on the defensive line, which could feature three new starters. The Browns signed Ogbo Okoronkwo and Dalvin Tomlinson this offseason and also pulled off a big trade for Za’Darius Smith.

The Cleveland Browns have nearly $17 million in salary cap space and perhaps the best place they can spend it is on more pressure off the edge.

Cleveland already has the No. 1 and No. 17 best pass rushers in the NFL heading into 2023 in Myles Garrett and Za’Darius Smith, respectively, per Trevor Sikkema of Pro Football Focus (PFF). On top of that, the Browns invested this offseason in Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, who put up a career year in 2022 that included five sacks after transitioning from linebacker to defensive end.

But no team can ever have enough depth, especially at the most important positions on the field, and Cleveland is uniquely situated to add Yannick Ngakoue, a player who ESPN’s Matt Bowen recently listed as the best edge rusher still available and the third-best free agent overall remaining on the market.

“Ngakoue had 9.5 sacks in 2022, bringing his total to 65 over [seven] NFL seasons,” Bowen wrote on Friday, June 9. “Given his subpar tape as a run defender, however, he should be targeted as a situational pass-rusher, a role in which he can use his top-end traits to win on the edge: burst off the ball, hand usage and the ability to bend around offensive tackles. We know NFL teams value edge rushers, and so Ngakoue will have a market even if he tops out as a pass-rusher on nickel snaps.”

Yannick Ngakoue Has Proven Himself Consistent Top-End Sack Artist in NFL

GettyEdge rusher Yannick Ngakoue, formerly of the Indianapolis Colts, celebrates after a play against the Minnesota Vikings during a game in December 2022.

The same reason Ngakoue makes sense for the Browns is the same reason teams like the Chicago Bears haven’t yet made the defensive end an offer — he isn’t a complete player.

But Cleveland doesn’t need Ngakoue to set the edge the way Jadeveon Clowney could, or the way the Browns believe Ogbonnia can after inking him to a three-year deal. Were the team to sign Ngakoue, it would be solely as a pass-rush specialist, which is something he’s done at a high level his entire career, including at a Pro-Bowl level in 2017 with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Ngakoue doesn’t just have 65 career sacks, as Bowen noted. He has also produced 135 quarterback hits and forced 21 fumbles over the course of his career.

When it comes to applying pressure to opposing quarterbacks, Ngakoue has also been incredibly consistent. He has never produced fewer than eight sacks in a campaign and has put up an average of 33.4 quarterback pressures per season over the last five years, per Pro Football Reference.

Yannick Ngakoue Offers Browns Insurance Against Za’Darius Smith Injury, Lack of Production

GettyThe Cleveland Browns traded for former Minnesota Vikings edge rusher Za’Darius Smith during the 2023 offseason.

Smith slowed down during the second half of last season with the Minnesota Vikings and is only under contract in Cleveland through 2023. He will play this year at the age of 31 and missed all but one game in 2021 with a serious back injury that required surgery.

The Browns were one of the worst teams in the NFL last year at getting to opposing quarterbacks, putting up just 34 sacks despite an effort of 16 sacks from Garrett alone. A primary reason for that was injury hampering Clowney for much of the season.

Unfortunately, Smith presents a similar risk, and while Okoronkwo is a better third option than any Cleveland had at its disposal in 2022, he’s not a prolific enough pass rusher to guarantee there won’t be a significant drop off in the team’s sack total should Smith suffer injury or taper off as the season wears on.

For that reason alone, Ngakoue makes sense as add to the Browns roster on a one- or two-year deal. The defensive end has also spoken publicly about his desire to play for a contender in 2023, which the Browns should be considering the amount of money they’ve poured into a roster that is built to win now.

The Cleveland Browns shot at landing DeAndre Hopkins has taken another hit, with the former All-Pro receiver scheduling a visit with the New England Patriots.

It’s the second visit Hopkins has scheduled, per NFL Network. He’s set to meet with the Tennessee Titans earlier in the week. Both teams could use a receiver of Hopkins’ caliber — more than the Browns, who have a clear No. 1 pass-catcher in Amari Cooper and bolstered the receiving corps with Elijah Moore, Marquise Goodwin and rookie Cedric Tillman.

Patriots head coach Bill Belichick is a fan of Hopkins and heaped some praise on the five-time Pro Bowler prior to their matchup last season.

“He’s every bit as good as anybody I’ve ever coached against,” Belichick said. “… He’s got tremendous ball skills. He catches everything, has great hands, and he’s long so he’s never covered. Even if he’s covered, there’s a place where the ball can be that he can get it and still make the catch. Great coordination on the sidelines, and he doesn’t really look it but he’s a strong kid.

“He’s a very smart football player, very savvy. But his ball skills are at the very elite level with guys that I’ve seen in this league. He’s up there with whoever the top guys are, the Cris Carters of the world and guys like that.”

Browns Were Early Favorite to Land DeAndre Hopkins

The Browns were established as an early favorite to land Hopkins, mostly due to his relationship with Cleveland quarterback Deshaun Watson. The two combined for some big years with the Houston Texans and there was mutual interest in a reunion, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2.

Watson also made a public pitch to Hopkins while speaking to reporters at a charity golf event.

“I’ll just say this, D-Hop, DeAndre Hopkins would love to be in a place where the opportunity is there for us to win,” Watson said. “We check all those boxes and I think for us to know and make sure we check all those boxes on the national stage, we’ve got to go out there and prove it and I think D-Hop would love to be a part of that.”

The two played together from 2017-19 and Hopkins thrived during that span. He caught 315 passes for 4,115 yards and 31 touchdowns.

Browns Happy With Current Receivers

Adding Hopkins at this point of the offseason would be a luxury for the Browns, who did some work to give Watson new weapons.

“I really, really like our wide receiver room,” Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters when asked about Hopkins. “I love the guys that are in there. [General manager Andrew Berry] and his crew are always looking at every avenue and that type of thing. So I won’t comment specifically on the player, other than to say I really like our roster.”

Watson is also ready to put last season’s disappointments behind him and has impressed so far this offseason. With a full offseason and no suspension looming, he’s looking more like the Pro Bowl talent he was in Houston that led the league in passing yards.

“I feel really good. Like I said before, the biggest thing is the confidence level. Who I am trusting, what I do trust in the work that I put in these past couple of years to get back to this position I’m in,” Watson said. “And have the opportunity to go out there and try to win some games and do it with the guys that we have on the field. So I’m enjoying myself, I’m having fun, and I just keep stacking days.”