Why can't people accept that Kirk Cousins is not coming to Cleveland?
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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.
Less than 10 days until the 2025 draft, the myths surrounding the Browns never end.
Handicapping what the Browns do in the draft depends on knowing fact from myth.
Here are eight myths about the Browns I’ve seen or heard on national platforms during the pre-draft season that have shaped inaccurate views of their draft plans.
I don't think I've ever seen so many "analysts" off base on their view of the Browns.
Myth: Andrew Berry and Kevin Stefanski have to win this year – or else.
Fact: Three weeks ago at the NFL annual meeting, owner Jimmy Haslam acknowledged, “There's things both of them can do better. There's things our entire organization could do better. It's a little bit of everything that could go wrong, did go wrong [in 2024], but I don't want to make any excuses. They can both do better. But we have high confidence in both of them.”
Myth: The Browns must be tanking if they don’t select a quarterback at No. 2.
Fact: Like just about every other QB-needy team in the NFL, the Browns are mindful of not manufacturing something that’s not there. From Day One of this draft season, everyone knew it was a weak draft in terms of “franchise quarterback” hopefuls. “It would be great if we could get the [franchise] quarterback, but we're not going to force it,” Haslam said. “We're going to be patient, and we're going to try to accumulate as many really good football players as we can.”
Myth: The Browns are still debating between Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter and Colorado receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter with the No. 2 pick.
Fact: The Browns have invested in four edge rushers to compete for the complementary defensive end spot opposite Myles Garrett while they haven’t added anybody at wide receiver. The incumbent young rushers are GM Andrew Berry draft picks Alex Wright (third round, 2022) and Isaiah McGuire (fourth round, 2023). This spring, Berry added veteran free agents Joe Tryon-Shoyinka (Tampa Bay first-round pick, 2021) and Julian Okwara (Detroit third-round pick, 2020). Clearly, the Browns believe they can make do with a rotation at left defensive end opposite Garrett.
Myth: There’s still a chance Kirk Cousins could join the Browns.
Fact: Cousins is under contract to the Falcons for three more years at salaries of $27.5 million (guaranteed), $35 million and $35 million, with salary cap numbers of $40 million in 2025, and $57.5 million in each of 2026 and 2027. A roster bonus of $10 million in 2026 also was guaranteed when the Falcons declined to release Cousins by March 16. Cousins also has a no-trade clause and reportedly will not waive it to go to a team that drafts a quarterback high. The only chance of Cousins joining the Browns lies with the infinitesimal possibility of the Falcons releasing Cousins. Why would they do that when they’re already on the hook for $37.5 million in guarantees to Cousins? Releasing Cousins would require the Falcons to sign another quarterback to back up starter Michael Penix.
Myth: There’s still a chance Deshaun Watson can play for the Browns in 2025.
Fact: Watson had surgery to repair a torn Achilles tendon on October 25 and a second one on January 10 after he retore it. Prior to the initial injury, the Browns took out a $44 million+ insurance policy on his 2025 salary of $46 million. It could lead to commensurate salary cap relief in 2026 if he doesn’t play at all in 2025. Further, Haslam has stated, “We took a big swing and miss with Deshaun. We thought we had the quarterback, we didn't, and we gave up a lot of draft picks to get him. So we've got to dig ourselves out of that hole.” I don’t think an owner can be any more emphatic about moving on from a franchise-altering mistake.
Myth: The Browns traded for Kenny Pickett to be QB3.
Fact: Pickett said he was told he would be given a chance to compete for the starting quarterback job. At the NFL annual meeting, Berry said he initiated the trade for Pickett because he had a high opinion of Pickett prior to the 2022 draft, and actually thought about trading for Pickett last year when Pittsburgh dealt him to Philadelphia. “We do think that there's a pretty credible path for him to continue to improve and take a step forward and I think you've seen that with players that they get into maybe new or sometimes maybe better environments for their particular path and their career,” Berry said.
Myth: The Browns signed Joe Flacco to appease their fans.
Fact: While Flacco was wildly popular with fans after leading the Browns to the playoffs in 2023, the No. 1 motivator in bringing him back was his affordability ($3 million guaranteed). No. 2 was his familiarity with the Kevin Stefanski offense. Flacco’s popularity in the Browns’ locker room was eminently more important than his popularity among fans.
Myth: The Browns did nothing to improve their offensive line.
Fact: One of the first things the Browns did after the 3-14 season in 2024 was replace offensive line coach Andy Dickerson with Mike Bloomgren, a former colleague of Browns legendary line coach Bill Callahan. This was an admission the Browns should not have strayed from their popular wide-zone blocking scheme implemented by Callahan. The Browns return four of their five starters from last year and added veteran backups Cornelius Lucas and Teven Jenkins. These changes more than likely restore the offensive line as the Browns’ strongest position group.