32Teams/32Days HUB

Team: Cleveland Browns

Division: AFC North

Record: 7-10 (3-3 Division), 4th place AFC North

Playoffs: We will not be the NFL Draft Bowl winners this year.

Hello seasoned vets of /r/NFL and those that are new to football! This was a tough season to be a Cleveland Browns fan starting with the biggest NFL off-season controversy that led our organization to go from the league’s lovable losers to one of the most hated teams. All I ask is before judging this post based on the team today, please give this summary a chance and read below. Understandably so, it was very difficult to receive support in writing a post that has the love and care it deserves.

Before talking about football, we have to address this event that has split the Dawg Pound with many having to decide if they would continue to support this poverty franchise. This is addressed in the section below.

The Elephant In The Room

Throughout my life as a Cleveland Browns fan, there have been multiple times I thought the franchise hit its lowest point. Whether it is on the field, off the field, or just some total embarrassment. We’ve had multiple events named after Browns failures, including “The Fumble”, “The Drive”, “Bottlegate”, and we’ve even had a perfect season parade. After the wild ride that was the Browns' 2020 season, we as a fanbase thought we were turning a new page and can finally perform to our wildest dreams. However, these hopes were changed during this past offseason after a disappointing 2021 season.

On March 20, 2022, the Cleveland Browns traded 3 first round picks, 1 third round pick, and 1 fourth round pick to the Houston Texans for Quarterback Deshaun Watson. The Browns would then sign Watson to a new contract for 5 years, $230 million guaranteed, the highest guaranteed contract in NFL history. At this time, Deshaun Watson had more than 20 civil cases alleging sexual assault and harassment (that number would grow). The Cleveland Browns doubled down on the decision to the public, including owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam revealing their two daughters were given veto power over the trade, Jimmy Haslam saying Deshaun Watson got a second chance because he’s a star QB, and the Haslams saying they, “empathize and understand that there have been many individuals triggered throughout this process.”

There were many Cleveland Browns fans devastated and enraged by this decision. There were also many fans focused on Watson's QB performance and excited by this news. I, like many others, fall into the former camp. While before I was proud to be a Clevelander and embraced the track record of this franchise for the chance of hope, I did not wear Cleveland Browns gear during this past offseason or regular season because I did not want to be associated with the decisions of this team. There have been many fans that have decided this was the final straw and switched loyalty to different teams or gave up on the NFL all together. It was at this point I picked up the Minnesota Vikings as a team to follow.

The decisions made by management and how they split the fanbase does not speak for all of us or show that we condone their actions. There were many fans that embarrassed us throughout this season by the comments they made, but that does not mean we all agree with them. Many Browns fans hate how every NFL fan has a justified reason to cheer against us and hope we fail. At this point, many of us are cheering for this team because it is our city, our family, and our pride.

From this point forward, I will be focused solely on the football aspects and consequences this trade caused. I have also personally donated to this Cleveland charity and I'd like to encourage others to also.

General Season Overview

Last season was a year full of disappointment, frustration, and heartbreak for the Dawg Pound. After Baker Mayfield had a disappointing 2021 season filled with injuries and interceptions, the Browns decided to cut him after the season and make a blockbuster trade with the Houston Texans to acquire Deshaun Watson, who had his own legal troubles and controversies. The Browns gave up many draft picks and signed a huge deal to get Watson, hoping he would be the answer to their quarterback woes. However, Watson did not live up to the hype, as he failed to connect with his receivers and often made costly mistakes. The Browns finished the 2022 season with a dismal record of 7-10, missing the playoffs for the second consecutive year. Their defense, which was supposed to be their strength, did not meet expectations either, as they allowed many points and big plays to their opponents. At this point, the 2020 season where the Browns made the playoffs feels far away, and there are many questions that need to be answered in the 2023 off-season.

New Player Additions:

2022 Draft:

Free Agency/Off-season Trades

• Deshaun Watson QB: As mentioned earlier, the Cleveland Browns traded 3 first round picks, 1 third round pick, and 1 fourth round pick to the Houston Texans to acquire Deshaun Watson. They then signed Watson to a five year, $230 million fully-guaranteed contract. Watson was with the Houston Texans from 2017-2021. He led the NFL in passing yards (4,823) and completion percentage (70.2%) in 2020. Before the professional level, he played college football at Clemson, where he won a national championship and was a two-time Heisman Trophy finalist. However, he sat out the entire 2021 season for the Texans and was suspended for 11 games in the 2022 season. With that much time sitting out, will he be able to perform like he could before?
• Amari Cooper WR: Acquired from the Dallas Cowboys for a 2022 fifth round pick and swapping 2022 sixth round picks, the Browns got Cooper for a steal before the explosion in the wide receiver market. His previous season had okay numbers in the 2021 season with 68 receptions for 865 yards, but that was not as good as previous years. It is clear the Browns traded for him for his veteran presence and to see if his value will turn to success on the field.
• Jacoby Brissett QB: Brissett was signed to a one-year contract with the Cleveland Browns after it was decided Baker Mayfield would not be the future of the organization. Brissett has previous starting experience with the Indianapolis Colts and the Miami Dolphins, where he showed his ability to make good decisions and lead his team. However, he also faced some challenges with injuries and inconsistent offensive support. The Browns believed in Brissett's skillset and hoped he could help them reach their goals in 2022 as the starter for the games Watson would be suspended.
• Chase Winovich DE: The Browns traded LB Mack Wilson to the Patriots for the DE. Chase played for the New England Patriots from 2019 to 2021. He had a promising start in his rookie season with 5.5 sacks and 26 tackles. However, his playing time and production declined in his second and third seasons.
• Ethan Pocic C: The five-year veteran signed with the Browns to replace J.C. Tretter at the starting center position. Pocic was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in 2017, where he played for 57 career games with 40 starts. Before this signing, the Browns only had one center remaining on the roster.

Re-Signings

• Jadeveon Clowney DE: After having a decent year on the opposite side of Myles Garrett, Jadeveon Clowney re-signed with the Cleveland Browns for a 1 year deal. It did not look likely before this signing that he would stay with the Browns, but he said he would go wherever Deshaun Watson went. The Browns were hoping he would perform to similar numbers in the 2022 season by relieving some pressure away from Myles Garrett.
• David Njoku TE: Just a few short years ago, Njoku requested a trade with the Cleveland Browns after not performing to expectations. Since then, he has proven to be a reliable TE and agreed to a 4-year deal with the Cleveland Browns. He has really improved and should be a reliable TE for years to come.
• ** D’Ernest Johnson RB:** After a successful season in 2021 being a reliable substitute for when CHUNT was injured, the Cleveland Browns re-signed Johnson to a one-year deal. Johnson is an underdog fan favorite for his hard work rising up the roster list on the team and being able to prove himself as a capable back on a couple occasions. He was dependable last season, so here’s to hoping he can be again.

Other Notable Re-Signings
- Chris Hubbard T - Anthony Walker Jr. LB

Stats:

Offensive Stats:

Defensive Stats:

Weekly Game Review:

Week 1, @ Carolina:
This opener ended up being a surprise revenge game once it was official Baker Mayfield was starting for the Carolina Panthers. Nick Chubb started off the season strong with 141 rushing yards and Jacoby Brissett was keeping expectations by not losing this game. There were some concerns on the defense with blown coverages that helped Baker Mayfield explode in the second half to make the game close. At the end of the day, this game was won from the performance of the rookie kicker, Cade York, who hit a 58-yard field goal in the final seconds to win the game! This is the first Browns opener win in 18 years. WIN, 26-24

Week 2, vs New York Jets:
I wish I could say the most dramatic part of this game was the NFL community freaking out over Brownie the Elf being the main logo on the 50 yard line, that however is not the case. This was a great example of the Cleveland Clowns snapping defeat from the jaws of victory. Seriously, the Jets had a better chance of winning the lottery than winning this game at the end. The Browns had a sizable lead with the score being 30-17 with less than 2 minutes on the clock. Everything that needed to go for the Jets went their way. Jets have the ball but need to score quickly? Deep pass for 66 yards resulting in a TD with 1:22 left on the clock. Jets need to recover an onside kick to get the ball back and score? Jets recover the onside kick and have the ball at their 47 yard line with 1:22 left on the clock. Jets need to get the ball downfield quickly? Jets QB Joe Flacco leads the offense to score a TD to take the lead with 22 seconds to spare. Certain players on the Browns were upset over Cleveland spectators booing the team after the loss, but can you blame them? LOSS, 30-31

Week 3, vs Pittsburgh:
This game easily could have gone the same way as the previous week. The Steelers were one TD away from taking the lead, and they were attempting an onside kick with 1:48 left in the game. This time however, the Browns recovered. IT’S NOT OVER YET! The Steelers forced the Browns to 3 and out so they punted to the Steelers’ 4 yard line with 15 seconds left on the clock. This time however, the Browns’ defense held and forced a fumble TD (this made the game look more dominant for the Browns than it really was). Jacoby Brissett is showing consistency behind center by not giving up turnovers and by making safe passes. He is turning into a fan favorite at this point (even if Richard Sherman is giving him a hard time in the post-game press). WIN 29-17

Week 4, @ Atlanta:
Wasn’t the Browns’ defense supposed to be what kept the team in games? That’s what many have been asking for the past few weeks, but it really shows this game. Yes, the score was relatively low and Myles Garret was out because of the life-threatening car accident, but another case of blown coverage and poor rushing defense is what gave the Falcons the opportunity to walk away with a win. Nick Chubb had his third 100 yard game this season, and the passing game was okay with Njoku and DPJ leading the way. Many fans were questioning the two times the Browns went for fourth down in the red zone resulting in two turnovers which could have been two field goals. Brissett and others were supporting going for it in these cases, but this game would have ended differently with the easy points. LOSS, 20-23

Week 5, vs Los Angeles Chargers:
The Browns chargered it. Near the end of the game, it really felt like neither team wanted to win and just had to pick a winner by coinflip. The Browns gave up a key interception in the red zone, Chargers had turnover on downs to give the Browns one last chance, and the Browns missed a field goal far wide. This game had a ton of rushing offense on it also with a total of 451 rushing yards between both teams. Maybe if the Browns spent a few minutes trying to get a real interior defensive lineman they would have won this game. LOSS, 28-30

Week 6, vs New England:
If you told me after this game that Belichick treats every contest with the Browns as a revenge game for firing him, I’d believe you. The Patriots looked like their former dynasty against Cleveland from all fronts. Not much else to say, really bad performance. Browns fans hope they can turn it around before Watson starts in 7 weeks. LOSS, 15-38

Week 7, @ Baltimore:
Not gonna lie, I thought the Ravens were going to choke it again. Instead, it was a choke off to see who wanted to lose more. At the end of the day, it was the Browns once again and missing a game-deciding field goal like against the Chargers. Jacoby Brissett had another solid game overall with 258 passing yards, but he was not able to secure a victory on a game winning drive. Many Browns were not counting on Brissett to win us games in clutch moments; that is supposed to be the job of Watson when he gets back in 6 weeks. LOSS, 20-23

Week 8, vs Cincinnati:
SPOOKY GAME! This MNF showdown on Halloween between the Browns and Bengals was scheduled most likely because they are both orange teams, but I like to think it is because they are both historically scarily bad franchises. Either way, the Browns kept their streak alive by beating the Bengals for the 5th time in a row. I really do not understand how the Browns seem to always look like a complete team when beating the Bengals, but every aspect of the game was in their favor. And now they’re going into the bye? Shoot, maybe the Browns do have a chance to recover and make the playoffs! Watson starts in 5 weeks.WIN, 32-13

Week 9, Bye Week

Week 10, @ Miami:
Remember the copium I had before the bye week? Yeah that’s pretty much gone. Defense was paper thin allowing the Dolphins to pass and rush all day. But hey, Deshaun Watson can enter the building to start practicing this week, so maybe there’s still a chance! LOSS, 17-39

Week 11, @ Buffalo (Detroit):
While it was very nice of Detroit to host this matchup, it would have been way more fun to see both teams play in 6 feet of snow. The Bills were expected to steamroll the Browns this game (especially once the elements were no longer a factor), but there was still disappointment. Defense couldn’t stop the run again, kicks were missed, and offense had flashes but couldn’t score. He starts in two more weeks. LOSS, 23-31

Week 12, vs Tampa Bay:
Before this game, the Browns only beat Tom Brady once among the 8 contests. That however changed today. This game had it all, the triumphs, the struggles, an awesome overtime, all while spectators will still be digesting their Thanksgiving feast. Seriously, what a rollercoaster of a way to end regular time with Njoku being clutch for the Browns’ catch of the year! Now that the defense wants to perform, maybe they can stay this hot for a new revival next week and Watson returning. WIN, 23-17

Week 13, vs Houston:
The NFL conveniently settled for having Watson’s first game back be against his former team. We spent all this time hyping up how great Watson would be when he returned and he would lead us to a playoff run. However, Watson was missing low and keeping the Texans in this game. And of course, now the Defense and Special Teams decide to keep the Browns in games by performing to their pre-season expectations. Well, maybe number 4 is just rusty and will continue to improve! He can still be our commander for the postseason! WIN 27-14

Week 14, @ Cincinnati:
Spoiler alert: The streak of the Browns looking like a legit team only against the Bengals has come to an end. The most controversial play from this game was when on 4th and 1, the Browns brought out Jacoby Brissett to look like a QB sneak, but instead he throws a TD pass and misses. The focus on this overlooks the massive flaws in Cleveland’s rushing defense, the turnstyle offensive line, and how defensive coaching believed it was a “tough adjustment vs. Bengals when WRs Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd left early”. The Browns are still technically in the playoff race and Watson looked better, so who knows what could happen! LOSS, 10-23

Week 15, @ Baltimore:
Now this is what I call football! No need for those frilly high scoring games! Just some grid-iron football filled with mostly field goals, hard defense, and turnovers! To be fair, the Browns did get one TD, but it was still a pretty low scoring game. Hell froze over also when Ravens Kicker Justin Tucker missed two field goals, one wide left and one blocked. It was a tough win, but Browns fans have slight optimism since they are still in the wild card hunt! WIN, 13-3

Week 16, vs New Orleans:
Yeah Browns fans were high on copium if they really thought there was a chance to get into the playoffs. They had a strong start by getting a turnover and scoring the first TD in the 2nd quarter, but that’s the most they’ll be able to do. There were so many dropped passes. Couldn’t seal the deal on a game-tying drive within the final minutes. Even with the weather being windy and bad, still disappointing. LOSS, 10-17

Week 17, vs Washington:
Even though the Browns were eliminated from the playoffs last week, they were able to return the favor by eliminating the Commanders also. Defense overall had a solid game with 3 interceptions and holding them to only 10 points. This concerned some fans that wanted to see DC Joe Woods fired since the defense always seems to come to life near the end of the season. Either way, the Browns eliminated one team from the playoffs, and they have a chance to eliminate another next week. WIN, 24-10

Week 18, @ Pittsburgh:
At least the Steelers were eliminated from the playoffs! That was not thanks to the Browns though; Steelers were eliminated because the Dolphins won their game. The theme appeared for one last time, where the rushing defense was nonexistent. Remember when fans were hoping QB play would have picked up after Watson was starting? I honestly think the Browns had a better chance of winning this game if Brissett played. Either way, disappointing way to end the season. LOSS 14-28

Overall Record: 7-10, 3-3 Division

High Points

• Joe Thomas was elected to the 2023 class of the NFL Hall of Fame first ballot.
• David Njoku having one of the most clutch and sickest catches of the season.

Low Points - See: “The Elephant in The Room”. - Clowney saying in a press conference he was leaving the team because they don’t believe in him and having multiple opportunities to walk it back. - Cleveland Browns defensive players being mad that fans were booing them after blowing it in impossible fashion to the Jets.

Overall Roster Review:

All-Pros:

• LG Joel Bitonio (1st Team)
• DE Myles Garrett (2nd Team)
• RB Nick Chubb (2nd Team)

Pro Bowl Selections:

• LG Joel Bitonio
• DE Myles Garrett
• RB Nick Chubb

Pro Bowl Alternates:

• TE David Njoku
• CB Denzel Ward
• RG Wyatt Teller
• WR Amari Cooper
• RT Jack Conklin

Team Strengths:

• Our rushing game with Nick Chubb at the lead was still one of the best in the league. However, just like the previous season, opponent defenses started expecting the run and would scheme for it knowing the passing game could not have the same level of production.
• The Browns still have a solid offensive line especially when healthy. They deserve plenty of the credit for the rushing production in the first half of the season.

Free Agency/Draft Needs (Credit to /u/burningburningburnin for their analysis):

• Defensive Line: The defensive line in 2022 was atrocious and I would argue is the main reason the rushing defense was poor. The Defensive Tackles were either injured or not up to the challenge, resulting in easy holes forming for rushing to run through. Besides Myles Garrett performing, the Defensive Edge on the other side of him did not perform well enough to take pressure off of him. This will be a big focus in the free agency and draft that has to be resolved if they want success next season.
• Safety: The two safeties Grant Delpit and John Johnson III left many holes open throughout the season. A major part may have been Joe Woods’ scheming, but Grant Delpit was a top pick for when Woods started as DC and he wanted to build the defense around him. The defense is going to be completely revamped under new leadership this off-season, so adjustments here will be critical.
• Other position needs: Tight End, Wide Receiver, Offensive Tackle.

2023 Draft Picks:

• Round 2, Pick 42
• Round 3, Pick 96
• Round 4, Pick 108
• Round 4, Pick 127
• Round 5, Pick 137
• Round 5, Pick 139
• Round 6, Pick 176
• Round 7, Pick 207

On Their Way Out:

• Jacoby Brissett, QB: He proved himself as a consistent QB this season that can be either a solid backup or a starter for a transitioning team. Now that Watson will be starting in 2023, I highly doubt brisket will make a return.
• Jadeveon Clowney, DE: After voicing publicly he is most likely not returning, it is the most likely scenario. Clowney did not repeat similar numbers as the 2021 season with only 2.0 sacks (compared to the 9.0 in 2021), so I would not be surprised if the FO decided to look in a new, younger direction.
• John Johnson III, FS: He signed a 3 year deal in the 2021 off-season after playing 4 seasons with the Los Angeles Rams. Overall Johnson performed okay these past two seasons, but I see him as a potential cut-candidate to help save cap space.
• Kareem Hunt, RB: After having some amazing seasons as the second running back in CHUNT, Kareem is probably not going to be re-signed. He showed interest in staying with the team a year ago on a friendly deal, but requested a trade in the 2022 off-season when no deal was reached. Kareem is 27 years old and will be 28 before the start of the season. In the running back world, that is getting up there in age with few exceptions. The Browns will probably move on and find a new second string RB.

Coaching Staff/Front Office Review

• GM Andrew Berry: Overall, Berry did an okay job in building a roster for his coaches to work with. Before the season started, the Cleveland Browns’ defense was predicted to be one of the best in the league after all the talent that was drafted/signed. Unfortunately, that did not pan out as expected especially with the massive holes in the interior defensive line. The major question is how well will Berry’s trade/signing for Deshaun Watson look a few years down the line? At the conclusion of this season, it looked like a poor trade, but there is still time for it to work. Like many of the coaches on this list, Berry’s position will be on the hot seat for next season. He has a lot of work to do this off-season and if his transactions do not pan out, the Browns will have to find a new GM to build the team.
• HC Kevin Stefanski: I want to begin with an anecdote I’ve heard while living in Minneapolis. When talking about football with other coworkers, they’d ask how the Browns were doing and I’d bring up how many fans/Cleveland sports journalists have not been happy about Stefanski’s performance as the head coach. Many of these Vikings fans are surprised by the news and still wish he would come back to their Minnesota franchise. The point is there are many mixed opinions on Stefanski regarding his offensive play calling or his personnel decisions. Just like Berry, Stefanski is going to be on the hot seat for the 2023 season.
• OC Alex Van Pelt: Overall, the offense improved this season compared to last season. The passing game performed better and Brissett exceeded expectations when he was the starting QB. The Browns’ receiving corps had 3 players with 1,000 yard seasons and saw consistent performance from Chubb. Kevin Stefanski is still responsible for play calling and has not given that responsibility to AVP. He’ll be the OC next season but the team’s performance will determine where he goes from there.
• DC Joe Woods: He should have been fired at the end of last season. For the three seasons Joe Woods has been the Defensive Coordinator, it never really felt like the defense gelled for an entire season. It would show flashes of what it could be, but was never consistent enough. While the DBs improved this year, there were too many games where it felt like the Browns lost because of the defense. At the conclusion of this season, Joe Woods was fired by the Browns and has been hired to be the DC for the Saints. With the Browns’ track record of firing coaches or letting them walk (like Belechick, Saben, and Mike McDaniel), Woods will probably excel for New Orleans.
• STC Mike Priefer: This is another coordinator that should have been fired at the conclusion of the 2021 season. The biggest mistake from this past season was how unprepared the Browns looked for the onside kick in the Jets game where they came back in the last minute. Unfortunately, that was not the only onside kick the opponent recovered. Also, the Browns’ rookie kicker Cade York made 24 of 32 field goals with most of the misses coming from within FirstEnergy Stadium. Priefer can probably find another position elsewhere in the NFL if he chooses to do so, but now the Browns are moving in a different direction.

Predictions for the 2023-2024 Season:

Why the Browns will succeed:

• Deshaun Watson performs like his previous self before he took a hiatus from football. He puts the team on his back a few games this season when needed to give some solid wins.
• With a new defensive coordinator, the Browns’ defense is rejuvenated and is able to keep the team in games.
• Myles Garrett has another great year especially with a reliable DE on his opposite side. The pass rush is able to get the opposing QBs and force teams to use the ground game.
• The Browns find another RB to keep the 1-2 punch alive with Nick Chubb at the lead.

Why the Browns will fail:

• Deshaun Watson continues his trend of this past season and looks like a disappointment or is injured early in the season.
• No real improvements are made on the defense so they continue to regress.
• Even though Myles Garrett and Nick Chubb continue to perform to their greatness, the rest of the team does not keep up, thus wasting another year of the likes of Garrett, Chubb, and Bitonio.
• Kevin Stefanski’s play calling does not adjust to Watson’s strengths which includes RPOs and being in the shotgun.

The next season really falls onto how Deshaun Watson performs as the QB and how Stefanski and the coaching staff are able to support the development. Even if Watson has a bad season, the Browns can’t really get rid of him with his massive contract and guaranteed money. They’ll probably clean house and start over with new coaching to see if they can find the formula to make Watson succeed. That will be an absolute disaster and lead to more drama if it happens.

Final Thoughts

I first want to say thanks to /u/ehhhhhhhhhhmacarena for the opportunity to write this post. I can’t imagine how much work it takes to coordinate this annual event and the trust that has to be given to writers. Wouldn’t be possible without you!

Also, I really want to give a big shout out to the Cleveland Browns Discord. Last offseason after the news of Watson joining the Browns, I had a heavy conversation with myself and my loved ones on if we wanted to continue showing support for this franchise. There were many healthy conversations happening in this community that I was able to participate in. The mods there helped keep conversation in good faith and constructive, so I’m really thankful for that. Go check them out even if you’re not a Browns fan.

Lastly, if you made it this far into the post, thank you so much for reading. This was a really touchy subject to write about and I appreciate your support. If there is anything you’d like to point out or anything you wish to correct, please write it in the comments below. I may not answer immediately as I will be on Miami beach enjoying my vacation when this post goes live, but know that I will eventually take a look. I’ll end it how every Browns fan ends almost every season, “This past season was a major disappointment, but there’s always next year!”