Browns like early returns of revamped quarterback room

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

Random takeaways as the Browns head into Phase 3 of their offseason program and OTAs …

1. The Browns’ quarterback room has changed in each of the six seasons with Kevin Stefanski as coach. In 2020, it was Baker Mayfield and Case Keenum. In 2021, Mayfield and Keenum returned, and Nick Mullens was added when COVID knocked out Keenum. In 2022, the room was made up of Deshaun Watson, Jacoby Brissett and Kellen Mond. In 2023, five quarterbacks played – Watson, P.J. Walker, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, Joe Flacco and Jeff Driskel. In 2024, it was Watson, Jameis Winston, Thompson-Robinson and Bailey Zappe. They head into this year with Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel, Shedeur Sanders, and, of course, Watson rehabbing from two Achilles tendon surgeries.

2. Externally, the room looks a bit awkward, with two veterans, two eager-to-play rookies, and Watson, who is not expected to play in 2025. But Stefanski doesn’t see it that way. “It’s been awesome,” Stefanski said in an appearance on The Really Big Show on 850 ESPN Cleveland on Friday. “We have five guys in there really supporting each other. This is high-level football. We’re covering a lot of ball, a lot of situational football, and Joe can tell stories about his practices back in Baltimore and give great example to these young guys, and the young guys are quiet and soaking it all up. It’s been a fun, fun, few weeks in that room covering a lot of ball. There’s a lot of ground to cover with the young guys and they get to sit in the room with some high-level players that see the game at an extremely high level. Kenny’s in there talking about what the Super Bowl champs [Philadelphia Eagles] did the year before, so it’s great perspective for the young players.”

3. What are the chances of Watson being activated in 2025? Watson had his first Achilles surgery in November. Then he re-tore it under still-unexplained circumstances and had a second surgery in January. Typical full recovery from one Achilles surgery in professional sports has been nine to 12 months. (Some have returned sooner.) If Watson had suffered just one Achilles surgery in November, the nine-to-12 month recovery period might have had him ready to return in the span of August to November. But the January surgery probably set back a full return to the period of October to January.

4. Watson is likely to begin the 2025 season on the reserve/PUP list. That means he would miss a minimum of four games. Once cleared to practice, there is a three-week window in which he would be cleared to play or remain on PUP the rest of the year. The speediest a decision could be made on Watson would be in late October. If Watson isn’t cleared to practice until, say, the sixth week of the season his three-week window would take him into November to decide his roster status. If Watson’s recovery proceeds ahead of schedule, it will be interesting to see what happens. The Browns reportedly have a $40 million insurance policy on Watson’s 2025 salary that would be recoverable if he doesn’t play. A $40 million+ credit to the salary cap would be applied to 2026 in that case, also.

5. Whenever asked if Watson could be available at all in 2025, GM Andrew Berry consistently has said, “He’s progressing, and that’s really our focus. But it’s just too early to say.” Stefanski said on 850 ESPN Cleveland that Watson is attending meetings and being engaged with all the other quarterbacks. “He’s in the building each day,” Stefanski said. “He’s attacking the rehab and being a guy that’s providing great perspective to these young players and is involved. The beauty of football is having five guys in the room from different walks of life, all from different points in their career, and then watch these young kids soak it all up.”