ClutchPoints
For the eighth time in the past ten seasons, the Cleveland Browns missed out on the playoffs once again in 2024. Despite the franchise resurgence Kevin Stefanski led over the past five years, Cleveland’s 3-14 record was their worst since the infamous 0-16 campaign in 2017. The disappointing outing forces the Browns into a difficult position in the 2025 NFL offseason.
To make the situation worse, the Browns enter the offseason with the second-worst cap situation in the league. General manager Andrew Berry is already $30 million over the limit, with only the New Orleans Saints in a worse state of affairs. Even with the projected salary cap increase, Berry is feeling the effects of his previous roster decisions.
Most of the Browns’ payroll is eaten up by DeShaun Watson’s notorious $230 million contract that is valid through 2026. Despite constant injury issues and poor performances, Watson remains one of the highest-paid players in the league for the next two seasons. While many fans would love to see the front office buy out his contract, doing so would cost the team over $100 million in dead cap, making the move highly unlikely.
Due to their current salary cap position, Cleveland is one of the top teams to monitor in free agency. The Browns are expected to release a handful of veterans in the 2025 NFL offseason to give themselves even the smallest bit of wiggle room. Beyond Watson, the Browns have several other viable cut candidates who should be released sooner rather than later.
The Browns are handcuffed to Watson for the next two years, but that does not mean they are sold on him as their permanent starter. Coming off a ruptured Achilles tendon, Watson’s recovery timeline is unclear, causing reports that Cleveland is exploring all quarterback options in the offseason.
While Watson will likely remain on the roster through the summer, none of the team’s other signal-callers should. The Browns found themselves in a familiar position in 2024, dealing with arguably the worst quarterback situation in the league. Watson’s hefty deal prevents them from fully cleaning house, but longtime backup Dorian Thompson-Robinson should receive his walking papers before March.
In his two years, various injuries have given Thompson-Robinson five desperation starts. He has never done anything with them, going 1-4 in those opportunities and averaging 3.8 yards per attempt in his career. Thompson-Robinson has never thrown for more than 170 yards in a single game and has just one career touchdown to 10 interceptions.
It may not be a priority, but the team has at least a few reasons to re-sign social media sensation Jameis Winston. He is far from consistent, but when he is on the field, he at least gives the offense a fighting chance and provides fans with a reason to be interested. Thompson-Robinson, however, has been given every possible chance to prove his value and consistently fails to impress.
In his two seasons with the Browns,...
