#HeyTony: How did Deshaun Watson roll his ankle while rehabbing from Achilles tendon surgery?

Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.

Hey Tony: Do we have any more insight into whether Deshaun Watson’s latest Achilles injury took place during a rehab workout and if that has any impact on his contract? Seems odd that it wasn’t brought up until his exit interview and not when it actually occurred.

-- Jake, Columbus, OH

Hey Jake: The Browns have not been transparent about how Watson “rolled his ankle” in Miami. Was he under supervision in a rehab session? Did he roll it while not wearing the protective walking boot that is commonly prescribed for an athlete rehabbing from Achilles tendon surgery? I assume they care enough to find out because they could void his contract if he was negligent. It just seems they have given Watson undeserved exalted status since they acquired him.

Hey Tony: Assuming the Browns do not draft Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders and Quinn Ewers enters the portal, which draft eligible QBs intrigue you?

-- Kevin, Plano, TX

Hey Kevin: It’s early in my pre-draft process (LOL). Right now, the only ones that intrigue me are Ward and Jaxson Dart of Mississippi. I might change my mind after the Combine.

Hey Tony: Nick Chubb just didn't look like ‘Nick Chubb’ after the injury. Offensive line woes? Not completely healed? Blocking Scheme? And, will he be a Cleveland Brown again?

-- Tim, Amherst, OH

Hey Tom: All of the above, particularly the last two. I think Chubb agrees to minimal compensation to come back and finish his career with the Browns.

Hey Tony: You are the GM for the Browns heading into the 2025 Draft. Elaborate on your plan.

-- Ron, Salisbury, MD

Hey Ron: 1. Find out the cost to move to No. 1 and take Ward. 2. If not doable, make a determination on Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter. 3. If neither is the pick at No. 2, listen to trade offers from the Giants (No. 3) and Raiders (No. 6) and select the best defensive tackle or wide receiver. 4. Evaluate Jaxson Dart thoroughly and make sure to get him if he’s the best QB after Ward and Sanders. 5. Don’t be fooled by Jalen Milroe.

Hey Tony: Do you expect the Browns to draft a kickoff returner?

-- Mike, Smithville, OH

Hey Mike: No.

Hey Tony: Why is Abdul Carter a situational pass rusher when he’s also bigger than Von Miller and Khalil Mack were at the combine?

-- Josh, Cleveland, OH

Hey Josh: At the Combine, Khalil Mack measured 6-2 5/8 and 251 pounds. Von Miller was 6-2 5/8 and 256. According to Websites I’ve seen, Carter is listed as 6-3 and 251. He looks smaller to me. Let’s see how he measures at the Combine. That said, he’s still better suited in a 3-4 defense. I made the comment that he would be a situational rusher in Jim Schwartz’s scheme. 250-pound defensive ends get gashed in the running game and shouldn’t be on the field on run downs.

Hey Tony: If it was up to you, who do you want to be the new OC? Do you want him to call plays or Kevin Stefanski to go back to calling plays? Also, do you prefer to have a vet QB to start the season. If so, who is your preference?

-- George, Bartlett, IL

Hey George: I’m not upbeat about the next OC hire because he will probably be a coordinator in title only. I expect a return to the Stefanski offense with him as play-caller. I do prefer Daniel Jones to be the veteran QB the Browns acquire. If I were GM, I would have signed him from the Vikings practice squad in the last month of season. I have no reason to believe the Browns like him.

Hey Tony: I like trade down. Who would be our trading partner?  LV seems to make the most sense. 

-- John, Stow, OH

Hey John: If the Titans select Cam Ward, the Giants and Raiders would want to move up for Shedeur Sanders, and other teams might covet the No. 2 pick for Travis Hunter. I would think the Browns should be able to attach a premium to any team seeking the No. 2 pick. I would hold out for a No. 1 in 2026. I would be wary of moving down below No. 6.

Hey Tony: Shedeur Sanders. Your opinion? OU, Oh yeah.

-- Fred, Pomeroy, OH

Hey Fred: Sanders has incredible toughness, more so, I believe, than any of the quarterbacks. I don’t believe he is worthy of the No. 2 pick, however. And the whole circus atmosphere that comes with his father is a complete turn-off.

Hey Tony: Is there any cap relief in the Watson injury situation? I hear different things.

-- Jim, Kettering, OH

Hey Jim: As I understand it, the Browns purchased insurance to cover $44 million of Watson’s $46 million salary in 2025. If Watson does not play as a result of his two Achilles tendon surgeries, the Browns would receive $44 million in salary cap credit in 2026, I believe.

Hey Tony: Will we see a return to the tight ends playing a major role in the offense next year, and if so how could this impact the draft? 

-- Leonard, Troy, OH

Hey Leonard: I would expect Stefanski to go back to using multiple tight ends more often and scrap the spread formations that were ineffective in 2024. If so, the Browns need to supplement David Njoku with two or three capable tight ends.

Hey Tony: Can we assume the Browns revert back to a wide-zone scheme next year? If so, how does that impact the type of quarterback skillset they go out and try to find this offseason?

-- Eric, Columbus, OH

Hey Eric: I assume they do go back to the wide zone. Supposedly, they called legendary wide zone guru Bill Callahan and he recommended Mike Bloomgren, the new O-line coach. The linemen love it and it’s what they do best. If so, the next quarterback should be more comfortable under center and be able to execute the play-action game with the mobility to leave the pocket with his eyes focused on the field.

Hey Tony: I love Chubb passionately. Tears in my eyes on his first TD. My question though is with all QB talk, 1) don't you think it was underplayed how little backup plan they had for RB since the knee? Ford is not workhorse. Others were  journeymen. 2) what about RB this year? Need!

-- John, Hiroshima, Japan 

Hey John: The Browns have been pining to use the running back-by-committee approach and were just waiting for Chubb’s career to play out. Ford is fine. The problem was the backs behind him. Yes, I believe the Browns need to upgrade the backfield after Ford.

Hey Tony: While the focus is rightly on the first-round selection, what positions do you think the Browns should focus on in later rounds?

-- Arthur, Cleveland, OH

Hey Arthur: Defensive tackle, wide receiver, running back, tight end, defensive end, linebacker, safety, offensive tackle.

Hey Tony: I’m pretty sure Watson never plays again for the Browns, so would you take the best QB available at 2 or roll the dice and see if you can get one from next year’s class that looks to be loaded?

-- Tony, Nashville, TN

Hey Tony: I am split between taking the best QB available (whoever that is) or trading down in the first round, acquiring more assets, and using the No. 33 pick on a quarterback. If that QB doesn’t impress in his first year of partial duty, I would extend the search to 2026.

Hey Tony: Will the Steelers make a change at HC?  Should the Browns move heaven and earth to get him? I say yes.

-- Toby, Naples, FL

Hey Toby: I don’t think the Steelers make a change at coach. If they did, I’m a pass on Mike Tomlin. Personally, I’d rather have Mike Vrabel.

Hey Tony: Does the city’s claim of the Modell Law being applicable in the stadium dilemma hold any water or is this a last-ditch effort to keep the team in the city?

-- Neal, Chatham, Ontario

Hey Neal: It is a waste of taxpayer money to pursue applying the “Modell Law” as a means of binding the Browns to an undesirable lakefront location. The city should try to make the best of this situation and figure out a lakefront development plan in place of that awful, isolated stadium.