Ex-Ravens QB Tyler Huntley thought he'd sign with the Seahawks, Steelers and Eagles. Now he's trying to make the Browns 53 roster. (Cleveland Browns)
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
WHITE SUPHUR SPRINGS, WV
Takeaways from Browns bonding day at The Greenbrier Resort …
Perhaps the most surprising, out-of-nowhere acquisition this year was quarterback Tyler Huntley leaving the Baltimore Ravens to compete for, at best, the tenuous third quarterback spot on the Browns roster.
“Definitely came out of nowhere,” Huntley said before a practice this week at The Greenbrier Resort.
After four years in Baltimore as Lamar Jackson’s backup, Huntley entered free agency when the Ravens decided to move on from him. Huntley’s agent initially engaged in talks with three teams – the Seahawks, Steelers and Eagles.
An unlikely series of events unfolded in the span of five days in March that resulted in Huntley signing a one-year NFL minimum deal with, of all teams, the Browns.
This is what happened:
* March 12: Browns agreed to terms with Jameis Winston to serve as QB2 behind Deshaun Watson.
With Dorian Thompson-Robinson entering his second season, it was assumed there would be no other veteran addition to the Browns’ quarterback room. Maybe a late-round draft pick-up, but nobody with NFL experience.
* March 14: The Seahawks traded for Sam Howell of Washington to back up starter Geno Smith.
The deal ended Seattle’s interest in Huntley.
* March 16: The Steelers agreed to trade for Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields.
A shocker in Pittsburgh scratched Huntley off the Steelers’ list to back up Russell Wilson.
* March 16: The Steelers traded Kenny Pickett to the Eagles.
Another shocker eliminated Huntley as a candidate to back up Philadelphia starter Jalen Hurts.
When the quarterback carousel finally stopped, Huntley was left without a team. That’s when Browns GM Andrew Berry scooped him up.
At NFL owners meetings a week later, Berry said, “[Huntley] got caught standing in a game of musical chairs unexpectedly. We felt that was a great opportunity for us.”
Fast forward to now. Huntley, who goes by the nickname Snoop, and DTR are locked in one of the few roster battles in training camp.
Berry said he’d like to keep three quarterbacks on the 53 roster. But the 16-man practice squad is a safety blanket because the NFL relaxed rules this year to enable teams to promote a QB from the practice squad to serve as a QB3 on game day.
DTR has the advantage of being drafted by Berry in the fifth round in 2023. DTR came through for the Browns as a rookie in an emergency start when he led a winning drive in a key triumph at home against the Steelers.
Huntley has the advantage of starting experience in nine games over four seasons with Baltimore. He won two crucial starts in place of injured Jackson at the end of the 2022 season that enabled the Ravens to eke into a wild-card berth.
Huntley started the Ravens playoff game in Cincinnati and threw a 41-yard TD to Demarcus Robinson to tie the game, 17-17, in the third quarter. Huntley then led a Ravens drive to the Bengals’ 1 in the fourth quarter. Alas, he lost a fumble on a QB sneak that was returned 98 yards by end Sam Hubbard for the Bengals’ winning touchdown.
Many in Baltimore believe that play was the beginning of the end with the Ravens for Huntley.
Nothing is guaranteed for Huntley with the Browns.
“I’m just here to play ball. The rest will take care of itself. I’m hoping to make the roster,” he said.
“I love the offense [installed by] Ken Dorsey. Ken Dorsey is a great coordinator and quarterback coach. I think I’m going to take great strides here.”
Coach Kevin Stefanski said, “I think Snoop’s done a really nice job since he’s been here. He’s very good in the meeting room, very good on the practice field. He’s a guy that we’ve played against. I know what it feels like when you’re going against Snoop, and he’s a really athletic player, can make all the throws, can hurt you with his feet. So we’re excited about what he can bring to our team, potentially.”
A key factor in this decision is Berry. He picks the 53 roster, not Stefanski.
A year ago, it looked like Josh Dobbs was a shoo-in for the QB2 role. Stefanski named him the backup, in fact. But three days before the 53 roster cut, Berry stunningly traded Dobbs to Arizona for a fifth-round draft choice and kept only Watson and DTR as the QBs entering the regular season.
The Browns wound up having to play five starting quarterbacks. It leads you to believe Berry might want to try to keep Huntley and DTR either on the 53 or practice squad this year.
Some defensive chatter
The Browns’ defense has taken a back seat to the offense all offseason and training camp, so far. Almost all the coaching changes were on offense and most of the significant player acquisitions were on offense.
The defense added Jacques Cesaire as defensive line coach and projected starters tackle Quinton Jefferson and linebacker Jordan Hicks.
Here’s some dope on the defense from the perspective of safety Grant Delpit.
“It’s a new year. We want to be the best in every aspect of defense. We have the people to do it, we have the defense to do it, we have the coaches to do it. Now it’s on us [players], really,” Delpit said.
“There are new faces. We got a new MIKE ‘backer [Hicks], calling the shots in the middle. Everybody’s got to jell around him. JOK [Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah] is coming off a huge year. Great secondary coming back, great defensive line.
“Like I said, we got the pieces. Right now is the most important part. Being out here in the middle of West Virginia in the rain, Jurassic Park in the background, putting it together with the guys. We’re having fun.”
Delpit believes he has unfinished business to tend to.
He has missed both of the Browns’ playoff appearances since drafted in the second round in 2020. That surprising playoff season, Delpit was wiped out by an Achilles injury in his first training camp. And when the Browns returned to the playoffs last season, Delpit was sidelined with a severe groin injury.
The injury occurred the day after he signed a three-year contract extension for $36 million, joining him with Myles Garrett and Denzel Ward as foundation players on the Browns’ defense.
“Looks like I’m gonna be here for the long run,” Delpit said. “Wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. I’m so thankful for the organization. The Haslams and AB [Berry] believe in me. I feel I haven’t shown anything yet. So that excites me, being able to take care of that, put that behind me and reach for new heights.”
Brownie bits
The Browns return to the field on Thursday for what is anticipated to be their most competitive, full-padded practice in the nine days at The Greenbrier Resort. They will have a final practice on Friday morning and then depart for home …
The Browns spent Wednesday on mostly bonding activities, which included basketball, cornhole competitions, and golf.