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DeAndre Carter DeAndre Carter Latches on with Cleveland
Thu, Mar 20, 2025, 9:25 AM
The Browns are slated to sign Carter (hamstring) to a one-year contract, Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports reports.
Analysis: Carter turns 32 years old in April and spent last season with the Bears, appearing in 13 regular-season contests. He accrued nine catches for 72 scoreless yards on limited offensive snaps but also handled kickoff and punt returns for Chicago. He missed the final four games with a hamstring injury. Special teams is Carter's calling card and figures to be where he'll mostly operate with the Browns. |
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Kenny Pickett Kenny Pickett Joining Cleveland QB corps
Mon, Mar 10, 2025, 4:48 PM
The Browns have acquired Pickett from the Eagles in exchange for Dorian Thompson-Robinson and a fifth-round draft pick, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Analysis: With Deshaun Watson still recovering from an Achilles injury that is expected to extend into the coming season and Jameis Winston a looming free agent, Pickett bolsters the Browns' QB room ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft. The team figures to address the position further in the coming weeks/months, but as things stand, Pickett -- a 2022 first-rounder -- should have a chance to compete for the starting job in Cleveland after working behind Jalen Hurts last season. |
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Deshaun Watson Deshaun Watson Agrees to contract restructure
Thu, Mar 6, 2025, 8:53 AM
Watson (Achilles) has agreed to a contract restructure that frees up $36 million in 2025 cap space for the Browns, Field Yates of ESPN reports.
Analysis: The agreement likely adds another void year to the contract while also converting base salary into a bonus. Watson still figures to get all the money from his disastrous, fully guaranteed contract, although he may eventually play out the end of the deal as a backup or even be released. His 2024 campaign ended in October after he ruptured his right Achilles' tendon -- an injury that was surgically repaired shortly thereafter, only for Watson to re-rupture the tendon later on. He had a second surgery Jan. 9, making him unlikely to be ready for Week 1 of 2025 (almost exactly eight months later). Watson has been rehabbing at the team facility but is expected to miss "significant time in the 2025 season," according to ESPN's Daniel Oyefusi. Once healthy, Watson may have to settle for a backup role, be it behind a rookie or another veteran quarterback. |
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Nick Chubb Nick Chubb To hit open market
Tue, Feb 25, 2025, 12:41 PM
Browns general manager Andrew Berry said Tuesday that he expects Chubb (foot) to test free agency this offseason, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Chubb is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent at the start of the new league year March 12, and it sounds as though Cleveland won't expend significant effort to re-sign the veteran running back. A four-time Pro Bowler, Chubb missed the first six games of the 2024 campaign while recovering from a serious knee injury, then managed only eight appearances before suffering a season-ending foot issue. In that span, he rushed 102 times for 332 yards and three scores, with a career-low 3.3 YPC. Chubb's foot injury won't require surgery to heal, but it's unclear whether the 29-year-old veteran will draw significant interest after playing just 10 combined games over the past two seasons. He may need to settle for a one-year prove-it deal to demonstrate he can still rediscover his old form. |
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Deshaun Watson Deshaun Watson Has setback with Achilles injury
Fri, Jan 10, 2025, 11:00 AM
After rupturing his Achilles again, Watson underwent another surgery Thursday to address the injury, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network and Adam Schefter of ESPN report.
Analysis: As a result of the setback, Watson's 2025 season could now be in jeopardy. Look for further details regarding Watson's estimated recovery timeline to emerge in the coming days and weeks, but the Browns figure to fortify their depth at the quarterback position this offseason, via free agency, trade or through the 2025 NFL Draft in which Cleveland holds the No. 2 overall selection. |
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David Bell David Bell Healing from season-ending surgery
Thu, Jan 9, 2025, 8:04 AM
Bell recorded three catches for 27 yards on three targets during his lone appearance of the season before dislocating his right hip in a Week 2 win over the Jaguars and undergoing surgery.
Analysis: The hip injury prevented Bell from staking a claim to a larger role in Cleveland's receiving corps late in the season, when other young wideouts like Cedric Tillman and Michael Woods were able to move into larger role. It's unclear where Bell stands with regards to the injury, but he enters the final season of his rookie deal in 2025 as one of the more experienced rostered receivers on an offense that will undergo change during the offseason. |
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Michael Woods Michael Woods Finishes season with seven catches
Thu, Jan 9, 2025, 7:53 AM
Woods (knee) recorded seven catches on 18 targets for 65 yards over five appearances during the 2024 season.
Analysis: All of Woods' playing time came during a five-week stretch between Weeks 12 and 17, before a knee injury prevented him from suiting up for the season finale. He often served as the third wideout in those contests, though he likely would have fallen further in the pecking order had Cedric Tillman (concussion) and/or David Bell (hip) been available. |
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Blake Whiteheart Blake Whiteheart Finishes 2024 with six catches
Thu, Jan 9, 2025, 7:24 AM
Whiteheart caught six of nine targets for 51 yards and a touchdown over 11 games for Cleveland in 2024.
Analysis: Whiteheart typically served as the Browns' No. 2 or 3 tight end when he was active this season, moving up a rung on the depth chart on the occasions starter David Njoku missed time due to injury. The 24-year-old is an exclusive rights free agent this offseason but is likely to be tendered a contract for 2025. |
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Jameis Winston Jameis Winston Commits 14 turnovers in 12 games
Thu, Jan 9, 2025, 7:02 AM
Winston (shoulder) finished the 2024 season having completed 181 of 296 pass attempts for 2,212 yards, 13 touchdowns and 12 interceptions while carrying 25 times for 83 yards and a touchdown in 12 appearances. He also lost two fumbles.
Analysis: Winston injected life into the Cleveland passing attack after Deshaun Watson suffered a season-ending Achilles injury Week 7, but the short-term boost eventually wore off. A three-game stretch in which he threw eight interceptions -- including multiple pick-sixes -- ended Winston's run as the starter by Week 16. He ended up being inactive as the emergency No. 3 quarterback for the final three games of the season due to a right shoulder injury, but the issue doesn't seem serious and enabled the Browns to turn the offense over to younger signal-callers in Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Bailey Zappe down the stretch. Winston will enter the offseason as a free agent and could draw interest as a backup quarterback, though he's unlikely to find a team willing to enter the 2025 season with him as its starter, even as a bridge to a rookie or second-year signal-caller. |
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Tre' McKitty Tre' McKitty Signs futures deal with Browns
Tue, Jan 7, 2025, 10:08 AM
Cleveland signed McKitty to a reserve/futures contract Tuesday.
Analysis: The Browns signed McKitty to their practice squad in December, and now he'll start the new league year with them. Key contributor Jordan Akins is not a sure thing to return in the offseason, meaning a restructuring of Cleveland's tight ends group may be forthcoming. |
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Deshaun Watson Deshaun Watson Hits snag in recovery
Mon, Jan 6, 2025, 9:22 AM
Browns general manager Andrew Berry said Monday that Watson has experienced a setback in his rehab from Achilles surgery that will extend the quarterback's recovery timeline, Kelsey Russo of the Browns' official site reports.
Analysis: Watson suffered the season-ending injury in an Oct. 20 loss to the Bengals and underwent surgery Oct. 25 to repair his torn right Achilles. According to Berry, the Browns weren't aware of Watson having suffered a setback until he was evaluated again Sunday during his end-of-season physical. As a result of the setback, Berry noted that Watson could require another surgery, though the quarterback presumably will receive multiple medical opinions over the next few weeks before deciding the next steps in his rehab program. Given the nature of Achilles injuries, Watson was already facing an uphill battle to be back to full health for the start of the 2025 campaign, and it's now even more likely that he opens next season on a reserve list. After agreeing to a restructured contract in late December, Watson remains on the Browns' books through the 2026 season, but his underwhelming play over his first three seasons in Cleveland in addition to the Achilles injury muddles his long-term outlook in the organization -- especially considering the team will be picking second in the 2025 Draft, putting them in prime position to select Watson's successor. |
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Jamari Thrash Jamari Thrash Operates as third wideout
Sun, Jan 5, 2025, 9:36 AM
Thrash did not catch his lone target and played a season-high 32 snaps on offense in Saturday's 35-10 loss to the Ravens in Week 18.
Analysis: Thrash was elevated to third on the depth chart at wide receiver with Michael Woods (knee) inactive for the regular-season finale. Thrash, whom the Browns drafted in the fifth round of the 2024 draft, never made an impact during his rookie season. He finished with three catches on seven targets for 22 yards. Cleveland's offense is expected to undergo a renovation during the offseason, which could result in Thrash having a more meaningful role. |
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James Proche James Proche Special-teams role in finale
Sun, Jan 5, 2025, 9:27 AM
Proche returned one kickoff for 19 yards and was not targeted in Saturday's 35-10 loss to the Ravens in Week 18.
Analysis: Proche filled the return role on punts, much like he's done whenever the Browns added him to the active roster this season, and had his first kickoff return. He finished the season with 19 punt returns for 172 yards and three receptions (three targets) for 21 yards. |
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Dorian Thompson-Robinson Dorian Thompson-Robinson Gets one drive in finale
Sun, Jan 5, 2025, 8:32 AM
Thompson-Robinson completed two of three passes for 13 yards and rushed twice for three yards in Saturday's 35-10 loss to the Ravens in Week 18.
Analysis: Thompson-Robinson entered for Cleveland's third drive of the game after starter Bailey Zappe threw a pick-six on the second possession. That was it for DTR, who had started and played fully in both of the Browns' two previous games. Cleveland's quarterback situation heading into the offseason is a mess, and it's safe to assume Thompson-Robinson will not be part of the solution in 2025. He completed 52 percent (61-of-118) of passes and threw six interceptions over seven games in 2024. |
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Elijah Moore Elijah Moore Limited production in finale
Sat, Jan 4, 2025, 8:00 PM
Moore recorded three receptions on five targets for 36 yards in Saturday's 35-10 loss to the Ravens.
Analysis: Moore served as Cleveland's third pass catcher, but with poor quarterback play, that didn't amount to much production. He ends the season in disappointing fashion, having failed to top 35 receiving yards in five consecutive games. Nevertheless, Moore did set a career-high with 61 catches on the season and he'll be set to enter free agency for the first time this offseason. |
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Jordan Akins Jordan Akins Fills in well again
Sat, Jan 4, 2025, 7:45 PM
Akins recorded six receptions on eight targets for 60 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's 35-10 loss to the Ravens.
Analysis: Akins served as the Browns' starting tight end with David Njoku (knee) sidelined for the second consecutive week. He was one of the few bright spots in the offense, finishing second on the team in both targets and yards. Akins also accounted for Cleveland's only touchdown of the game with a 16-yard reception early in the fourth quarter. Overall, he's settled into a reliable backup tight end role and is set to enter free agency after spending the last two seasons with Cleveland. |
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D'Onta Foreman D'Onta Foreman Held to 27 yards on ground
Sat, Jan 4, 2025, 7:31 PM
Foreman rushed the ball 10 times for 27 yards in Saturday's 35-10 loss to the Ravens. He added one reception on one target for eight yards.
Analysis: Foreman led the Cleveland backfield with both Jerome Ford (ankle) and Pierre Strong (concussion) sidelined. He wasn't able to rack up much yardage against a stout Baltimore defense, as four of his 10 attempts went for zero or one yards. Foreman is set to hit free agency this offseason, and he will likely be in line to compete for a backup job during training camp in 2025. |
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Bailey Zappe Bailey Zappe Struggles in spot start
Sat, Jan 4, 2025, 7:24 PM
Zappe completed 16 of 31 passes for 170 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in Saturday's 35-10 loss to the Ravens. He added two rushes for two yards.
Analysis: Zappe drew the start Saturday and ceded relatively limited work to Dorian Thompson-Robinson. His opportunity to start didn't go as planned, as he threw a pick-six on Cleveland's second possession and was unable to get the Browns into the end zone until early in the fourth quarter with the team down three scores. Zappe will become a free agent this offseason and will hope to compete for a backup job during training camp for the 2025 campaign. |
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Jerry Jeudy Jerry Jeudy Six catches to end solid campaign
Sat, Jan 4, 2025, 7:17 PM
Jeudy recorded six receptions on 13 targets for 63 yards in Saturday's 35-10 loss to the Ravens.
Analysis: As has been the case since Jameis Winston was benched, all of Cleveland's skill-position players have found it difficult to post strong stat lines. Positively, Jeudy commanded 13 targets on 34 total pass attempts by the Browns quarterbacks. However, that translated to a modest yardage total, particularly because he had a 30-yard reception with just over three minutes left in the fourth quarter with the game well out of reach. Jeudy wraps up his best season as a pro with 1,229 yards and 90 receptions and he figures to be a key figure in the Cleveland offense again in 2025. |
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John Kelly John Kelly Dealing with groin injury
Sat, Jan 4, 2025, 4:58 PM
Kelly (groin) is questionable to return to Saturday's game against the Ravens, Brad Stainbrook of 247Sports.com reports.
Analysis: Kelly was hurt in the first quarter of Saturday's regular-season finale. Jacob Kibodi will serve as the Browns' backup running back behind D'Onta Foreman for as long as Kelly is sidelined. |
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