Dawgs By Nature
For the (seems like) 10 to 15th time, the Cleveland Browns offseason has been given a positive overall evaluation from a national outlet. The big stories for the Browns were the trade of DE Myles Garrett, the departure of a number of long-tenured veterans, and another very good NFL draft process.
Cleveland has been seen as making a number of “smart” moves, including remaking the offensive line with LT Spencer Fano as the new foundational piece. The start of the offseason moves included hiring Todd Monken as the team’s 23rd head coach and the departure of DC Jim Schwartz.
Trades, free agency, and the NFL draft led to the roster dominoes that have greatly changed things since last year, making the Browns a very young group of players.
According to The Athletic’s Mike Jones, that makes Cleveland’s offseason a “winner” as others have said:
The Browns had to settle for a backup option (Todd Monken) as coach, and they remain handcuffed to quarterback Deshaun Watson and his awful contract. But the Browns did get a lot done this offseason, and those efforts give the franchise a chance to take a step forward over the next couple of offseasons. The Browns hated to trade Garrett, one of the best and most beloved players in franchise history, but they did receive salary-cap relief, a talented pass rusher in Jared Verse and additional building blocks in the form of draft picks. That move, coupled with a much-needed offensive line overhaul and a promising draft, should land the Browns in a better place.
Jones also noted that Monken’s ability to turn Deshaun Watson and/or Shedeur Sanders into a quality starting quarterback could define the season overall.
The Athletic listed four winners and four losers, with the Baltimore Ravens joining their AFC North on the positive side and no AFC North team listed as a loser.
Do you agree with the “winner” label, at least for the offseason, for the Browns? Does it encourage you at all to see all the national love Cleveland’s offseason is getting?
