Can we see more of linebacker Winston Reid the rest of the season, please? (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.
Browns GM Andrew Berry didn’t want to talk about the future at his annual bye week press conference.
A few of his talking points:
“Our focus is really on finishing out the 2024 season, having the team play at a higher level, and then kind of we’ll get to those maybe longer-term or big picture reflections at a later point in time.
“We’re going to make the adjustments necessary to improve our performance throughout the next eight games and then obviously make the adjustments to make sure we’re not feeling this way the first nine games of the year moving forward.
“The first nine games we haven’t played to an acceptable level. And so really everybody’s focus organizationally is to make the changes both short-term and long-term that would enable us to win consistently.”
The Browns are 2-7 at their half-season break. Their previous records after nine games in the Berry-Kevin Stefanski era were 6-3 (in 2023), 3-6, 5-4 and 6-3. So this is the worst season yet. And the future doesn’t look pretty with all the salary cap gymnastics sure to come as a result mainly of the Deshaun Watson contract.
But, in the spirit of Berry’s decree, let’s examine the present state of things on the team. Herewith are three takeaways from every position group.
Quarterback
Starter: Jameis Winston.
Backups: Dorian Thompson-Robinson, Bailey Zappe.
1. Stefanski has said Winston is the starter for the rest of the season. I’ll say he has two more games before the reins are taken.
2. DTR should be in the saddle for the Denver game on Monday night, December 2 (unless it’s flexed back to Sunday at 1 p.m.). The Browns have to evaluate if he’s a viable future transition starter and whether he can stay healthy over four-plus games.
3. Browns fans know where this is going. Zappe will be the fourth QB to start a game this season and the 11th in Stefanski’s five seasons.
Running back
Starter: Nick Chubb.
Backups: Jerome Ford, Pierre Strong, D’Onta Foreman, Nyheim Hines (IR).
1. At some point, the Browns might serve Chubb best by easing him back and shutting him down. A few more games, and then re-evaluate his future with the team. He wouldn’t play for another team if up to me.
2. Like Chubb, Ford is best in the under-center running game.
3. A running back with fresh legs needs to be in the draft thought process.
Wide receiver
Starters: Jerry Jeudy, Cedric Tillman, Elijah Moore.
Backups: Jamari Thrash, Jaelon Darden, James Proche (PS), Kadarius Toney (PS), Michael Woods (PS), David Bell (IR).
1. Jeudy, Tillman and Thrash are the only certainties to return in 2025.
2. Thrash probably displaces Moore very soon. He had a good rookie training camp. Let’s see what he’s got.
3. For the life of me, I never understood the pickup of Toney.
Tight end
Starter: David Njoku.
Backups: Jordan Akins, Geoff Swaim, Blake Whiteheart (PS), Cameron Latu (PS).
1. Njoku’s had a bad year. Too many days not practicing.
2. If the Stefanski offense stays, a young player here in the draft is needed.
3. Akins, 32, probably in his last weeks as a Brown.
Offensive line
Starters: Dawand Jones, Joel Bitonio, Ethan Pocic, Wyatt Teller, Jack Conklin.
Backups: Jedrick Wills, Michael Dunn, Zak Zinter, Germain Ifedi, Lorenzo Thompson (PS), Javion Cohen (PS), James Hudson (IR), Akeem Ideniji (IR), Nick Harris (IR), Luke Wypler (IR).
1. Bitonio and Teller count a combined $29 million on 2025 cap. Something’s got to give there.
2. By end of season, Jones will prove he’s the left tackle of the future.
3. Zinter should get more play time in the final month.
Defensive line
Starters: Ogbo Okoronkwo, Maurice Hurst, Dalvin Tomlinson, Myles Garrett.
Backups: Isaiah McGuire, Michael Hall, Shelby Harris, Sam Kamara, Marcus Haynes (PS), Elerson Smith (PS), Jowon Briggs, Alex Wright (IR).
1. Both end and tackle need an infusion of youth.
2. Kamara and Briggs should get more play time as season goes on.
3. Trade Garrett? A Godfather offer might accelerate overall team growth.
Linebacker
Starters: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (IR), Jordan Hicks, Mohamoud Diabate.
Backups: Winston Reid, Devin Bush, Nathaniel Watson, Khaleke Hudson.
1. JOK should be shut down after neck injury.
2. Hicks couldn’t say on field any longer than Anthony Walker.
3. More Reid. More Reid. More Reid.
Cornerbacks
Starters: Denzel Ward, Martin Emerson, Greg Newsome.
Backups: Cameron Mitchell, Mike Ford, Tony Brown (IR), Myles Harden (IR), Kahlef Hailassie (PS).
1. Newsome’s $13.3 million guaranteed fifth-year option in 2025 severely lessens his trade value.
2. I just don’t understand the thinking on Hailassie – 10 games active in two seasons.
3. Lots of dropped interceptions among this group.
Safeties
Starters: Grant Delpit, Juan Thornhill.
Backups: Rodney McLeod, Ronnie Hickman, D’Anthony Bell.
1. McLeod, in his final season before retirement, still is tied for second on team with two touchdowns.
2. Thornhill never panned out.
3. In two season together, Delpit and Thornhill combined for one interception.
Specialists
Starters: Dustin Hopkins, Corey Bojorquez, Charley Hughlett (IR), Jaelon Darden.
Backups: Rex Sunahara.
1. Hopkins in ’23: 15 games, five total misses. Hopkins in ’24: nine games, six total misses.
2. Bojorquez leads NFL with 50 punts for 2,600 yards. Browns offense has 2,470 yards.
3. Browns’ longest return of any kind – punts or kickoffs – is 29 yards. That’s pathetic.