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[Cleveland Browns]

What if the Browns try something different at QB?

Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images

Nothing Cleveland has done over the years has solved the quarterback problem. Maybe it is time to look to the past for the answer?

The Dallas Cowboys found themselves in need of a quarterback in the late 1980s and took an interesting approach to solving the problem.

Deciding that a pair of young quarterbacks would increase their odds of finding a starter, Dallas first selected Troy Aikman with the No. 1 overall pick in the 1989 NFL Draft and followed that up a few months later by selecting Steve Walsh in the Supplemental Draft.

It wasn’t always easy, at one point Aikman wanted to be traded, but the Cowboys ultimately decided to keep Aikman, sent Walsh to the New Orleans Saints for three draft picks, and went on to win three Super Bowls with Aikman running the offense.

Fast-forward 35 years and the Cleveland Browns are again looking to solve the quarterback conundrum that has plagued the franchise for decades.

The Browns have tried everything over the years, from high draft picks to veteran stopgaps and throwing the most guaranteed money in NFL history at the position in an attempt to find an answer, all to no avail.

Cleveland swung a minor deal last week to acquire quarterback Kenny Pickett from the Philadelphia Eagles. As he is currently the only healthy quarterback on the roster the prevailing wisdom is that the Browns will still pick up a veteran “bridge quarterback” and then fill out the quarterback room by selecting someone in the 2025 NFL Draft.

The problem is that the list of veteran quarterbacks who are still available is anything but desirable, with little to inspire confidence that there is anyone worth spending time on.

Cleveland continues to be linked to Kirk Cousins, but there are still enough hurdles that would need to be cleared, along with questions about whether or not Cousins has anything left, to give general manager Andrew Berry pause about swinging a deal with the Atlanta Falcons.

Perhaps it is time for the Browns to look to the past for the answer.

What if the Browns decide to stay away from Cousins and the uninspiring free-agent crop and instead focus on selecting two quarterbacks in the draft?

Cleveland holds the No. 2 overall selection and enough additional draft capital to make some moves back into the first round if they want to. Select a quarterback at No. 2, presumably Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, move back into the first round (or sit tight depending on how things shake out) to select a second quarterback, possibly Mississippi’s Jaxson Dart or Alabama’s Jalen Milroe, and then have them battle it out this summer to see who starts.

It would be unconventional, certainly, and not without risk, but nothing else the Browns have tried over the years has worked. If neither of the rookies are ready you are stuck starting Pickett when the season opens in the fall, which is not ideal. But while Pickett is not good, he is no worse than what the Browns rolled out in 2024, which was some of the worst quarterback play in league history, so they could live with a few more weeks of that if they have to.

There is also the possibility that there are not two quarterbacks worth selecting, as most draft pundits and social media general managers have declared that Miami’s Cam Ward is the only quarterback worth anything, or at least worth using a high draft pick on.

Of course, people are wrong all the time, especially when it comes to quarterbacks, or else Patrick Mahomes would not have been sitting there in 2017 for the Kansas City Chiefs to select with the No. 10 pick.

The potential upside is you increase your chances of finally finding a starting quarterback, and if both look good you have a valuable trade chip to use down the road.

This is not an endorsement of the plan, or advocating that Berry give it a shot. Rather it is a thought exercise about how the Browns could take a different path to address the game’s most important position.

If nothing else, it would give fans and media something new to argue about when it comes to the team’s quest to finally find a long-term answer at quarterback.

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What do you think Browns fans? Would taking two QBs in the draft be madness or the answer to the problem at the position?

Source: https://www.dawgsbynature.com/2025/...back-shedeur-sanders-jaxson-dart-jalen-milroe

 

[Cleveland Browns]

Browns, NFL free agency: 5 best available for Browns roster

Photo by Timothy Nwachukwu/Getty Images

NFL free agency period is just one week old but there remain holes

Hard to believe, but the 2025 free agency period is just a week old. For the Cleveland Browns, where are the splash players?

Every year, GM Andrew Berry has wowed all of us Browns fans with a huge signing or three of name-brand guys in positions of great need.

But this year? LB Devin Bush re-signed, a backup QB in Kenny Pickett, the replacement for Dalvin Tomlinson with DT Maliek Collins who was cut from his former team, and 33-year-old swing tackle Cornelius Lucas who is now on his sixth NFL club.

RELATED: BROWNS STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO

After a solid week, all of the marquee players are pretty much gone and have signed shiny new contracts with their new employers. But hold on, there still remains some good athletes available - and in positions of need for the Browns.

Currently, there are 23 Browns free agents that remain unsigned.

Let’s take a look at five free agents Cleveland should be interested in.

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Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images

QB Joe Flacco​

6’-6”, 230 pounds​

Age: 40​

What is the issue? The Browns do not have a starting quarterback. We know Joe. He can come in and light up the scoreboard - and has.

In 2023, Flacco had five starts for Cleveland during the regular season. His stats were: 123 completions on 204 attempts, 1,616 yards, 60.3% completion ratio, 13 touchdowns, 8 interceptions, 60 first down pass completions, 90.2 passer rating, 323.2 yards per game average, 9 pass drops, 3 batted passes, 19 hurries, just 14 hits, 8 sacks, plus he was named “NFL Comeback Player of the Year” for playing just five games.

In those five games, the Browns won four and qualified for the playoffs with the highest Wild Card seed. He passed for 309, 368, 374, 311, and 254 yards. Cleveland scored 37, 36, 20, 31, and 19 points in those contests.

That is an average of 28.6 points per game, and Flacco tossing an average of 323.2 yards with a 4-1 record.

Yes, it all blew up in the lone playoff loss to the Houston Texans, a team they beat handily in Week 15 to the tune of 36-22. But look at Flacco’s production in just five games down the stretch when the Browns were needing wins to secure a playoff spot.

How is this for a plan? Sign Flacco to a two-year deal (his final years as a active player before retirement), draft a young guy like Jaxson Dart of Ole Miss in Round 2, Will Howard of Ohio State or Notre Dame’s Riley Leonard or Dillon Gabriel from Oregon in Round 3, or perhaps Indiana’s Kurtis Rourke or Tyler Shough of Louisville in Round 4, and install Pickett who has 25 NFL starts as the backup. Then bring in a developmental guy for training camp fodder who will end up on the practice squad.

See how easy that was?

Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

S Justin Simmons​

6’-2”, 202 pounds​

Age: 31​

The Atlanta Falcons had inked Simmons to a one-year deal before last season, and he responded with 62 total tackles, 7 batted passes, 2 interceptions, 2 tackles for loss, with 7 missed tackles.

The Browns desperately need a veteran player like Simmons to come in for a couple of seasons. Rodney McLeod retired, Jog Thornhill was released, and D’Anthony Bell remains a free agent.

Simmons is a two-time Pro Bowler, named Second Team All-Pro four seasons, and was the NFL interceptions leader in 2022 with six picks. He offers veteran leadership and has been one of the top ball-hawks of the past decade. An instinctual and sound defender.

Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images

RB Nick Chubb​

5’-11”, 227 pounds​

Age: 29​

Chubb remains unsigned. He is available. Do not insult him with a one-year prove-it contract, but sign him to a two-year deal that firmly states the franchise believes in his ability to have a storied comeback just like Saquan Barkley and Derrick Henry.

Does Berry need a ride down to Chubb’s home in Cedartown, Georgia?

Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images

TE Tyler Conklin​

6’-3”, 248 pounds​

Age: 29​

There were slim pickings at the tight end position in free agency this offseason, but Conklin offers a large catch radius and good hands over the middle, critical on third down and in the red zone. He is not going to wow anyone, but he is a steady presence and a good blocker.

Conklin has gained or teetered around the 600 receiving yard mark for the past four seasons. He has just 11 touchdowns in his seven-year career and has mainly been used in the run support game. Has 118 first down conversions in his career and would be a great compliment to starter David Njoku.

Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images

OG Will Hernandez ​

6’-3”, 330 pounds​

Age: 29​

The Browns don’t need a starting offensive guard, just someone who is experienced to be at the ready. Hernandez has 91 NFL starts over his seven-year career and would pair nicely with second-year player Zak Zinter as Michael Dunn remains unsigned. Cleveland needs to make sure there is enough quality at depth this year because every season, the offensive line is plagued with a ton of injuries.

Hernandez did suffer a season-ending knee injury in Week 5 with the Arizona Cardinals last season as the club’s starting right guard. However, he was hurt early enough in 2024 that he can be finished with his recovery before training camp.

His pass blocking grade is 71.8, whereas his positive run blocking grade percentage is 11.2%.

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Who do you think are the best options remaining in NFL free agency for the Browns roster? Share them in the comment section below

Source: https://www.dawgsbynature.com/2025/3/16/24387116/browns-nfl-free-agency-best-available

 

[Cleveland Browns]

Is there a logical QB choice in the draft for the Browns?

Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images

Draft experts believe the QB class begins and ends with Cam Ward. But does that mean the Browns have to play along?

It is still 38 days until the Cleveland Browns will be on the clock in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, which means there will be approximately 20 times as many articles about who the Browns should select.

Related: NFL draft: Do the Browns now have an urgent need to make a big trade?

Almost everyone involved realizes that the Browns will not accomplish anything on the field until they get the quarterback situation taken care of. And, usually, having the No. 2 overall selection in the draft is a great path for finding a quarterback, but this being the Browns this is a draft where the consensus is that there is not anyone worth considering if Miami’s Cam Ward goes off the board at No. 1 overall.

The Logic Behind Shedeur to the Browns at pick No. 2. Plus, scouting reports on top RB prospects. Get it all here https://t.co/BSeOMmDRIf @ringer

— Todd McShay (@McShay13) March 17, 2025​

But could there still be a logical choice for the Browns even if Ward is not available?

Anything is possible, and NFL Draft expert Todd McShay lays out the case as to why it would only be logical for the Browns to select Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders.

McShay’s points include:

• The Browns are on Sanders’ list of “acceptable” teams to play for.
• While some teams were not impressed by Sanders at the NFL Scouting Combine, the Browns were not one of them.
• Cleveland can use a quarterback on a rookie contract to help offset the money they still owe to Deshaun Watson.
• Head coach Kevin Stefanski has a track record of successfully working with quarterbacks with a skillset like what Sanders brings to the field.
• What does that mean, exactly? According to McShay, that would be “pocket-passing quarterbacks that lack elite arm strength and mobility.”
• Think Case Keenum with the Minnesota Vikings in 2017, Kirk Cousins with the Vikings in 2019, and Joe Flacco’s immortal run with the Browns in 2023.

McShay does connect a lot of dots here, but it could also be argued that he is reading into this to come up with a predetermined conclusion. But no one knows and draft experts are wrong every year about players. So other than the fact that the Browns are involved, who can guarantee that Sanders won’t work out?

The draft is still more than a month away, which gives the Browns plenty of time to continue to research the available players and determine the best course of action come draft night.

Until then, everyone will just need to wait to see if Sanders is the “logical choice” or just the latest in the comedy of errors when it comes to the Browns and drafting quarterbacks.

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What do you think Browns fans? Is Sanders the logical choice for the Browns? Or is McShay simply finding reasons to support a predetermined narrative?

Source: https://www.dawgsbynature.com/2025/...logical-quarterback-nfl-draft-shedeur-sanders

 

[Cleveland Browns]

Daily Dawg Chow 3/18: Browns news and draft speculation, what should be done at quarterback?

Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

More of the latest Browns news and notes from around the web in today’s dose of the Daily Dawg Chow.

Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The latest Cleveland Browns coverage from Dawgs By Nature:

• NFL free agency: Former Browns TE signs with the Eagles (Barry Shuck) Mackey Award winner going in reverse after down year with Raiders, back on free agent market
• NFL free agency: Former Browns big addition Juan Thornhill stays in the AFC North (Jared Mueller) Juan Thornhill was thought to bring championship pedigree to the Browns in free agency
• Is there a logical QB choice in the draft for the Browns? (Thomas Moore) Draft experts believe the QB class begins and ends with Cam Ward. But does that mean the Browns have to play along?
• NFL free agency: Browns QB Jameis Winston takes his first visit looking for his next job (Jared Mueller) As Browns QB rumors swirl, multiple other teams are still looking for answers including the Steelers and Giants

More Cleveland Browns news:

• Week two: 2025 NFL Free Agency | Cleveland Browns Daily | 03 - 17 - 25 (Cleveland Browns) “It’s officially the second week of NFL Free Agency! Joe Reedy of the Associated Press joins the guys to recap the Browns’ moves in free agency,...”
• Former Cleveland Browns Star Brutally Ripped By NFL Coach (Sports Illustrated) “Last offseason, the Cleveland Browns were entangled in a contract standoff with wide receiver Amari Cooper.”
• Browns Reportedly Cross One Potential QB Option Off the List (Newsweek) “The Cleveland Browns have reportedly crossed the option of trading for New England Patriots quarterback Joe Milton III off of their list.”
• Shedeur Sanders the ‘most likely scenario’ for the Cleveland Browns at No. 2 overall (Buffaloes Wire) “Could Shedeur Sanders be headed to Cleveland at No. 2 overall? One Browns writer thinks it is close to a done deal.”
• An objective, scientific review of Andew Berry (Youtube) Quincy Carrier deep dives

Source: https://www.dawgsbynature.com/2025/...peculation-what-should-be-done-at-quarterback

 

[Cleveland Browns]

NFL mock draft: 2 big name experts have Browns taking same player

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Cam Ward seems locked the top pick, will the Browns NFL draft pick be Abdul Carter, Travis Hunter, Shedeur Sanders?

Nothing is certain in the NFL until the ink is dry, or, more accurately email is sent or the announcement is made or the phone call is finished (we know it is no longer fax machines after Sashi Brown stopped the AJ McCarron trade). The NFL draft is even more wild as speculation has run rampant since before the 2024 NFL season ended.

Early in the process, QB Cam Ward was assumed to be the top overall pick with the Cleveland Browns likely selecting DE Abdul Carter or QB Shedeur Sanders. QB Jalen Milroe and veteran Kirk Cousins were believed to be Cleveland-bound.

NFL mock drafts have been all over the place as we wonder if the Browns should be aggressive and try to move up to get Ward with the first pick. Tuesday of the second week of NFL free agency, the same day The Haslam Sports Group released another stadium update, two national mock draft experts had Cleveland selecting the same player: Carter.

First, it was ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. (subscriber, $):

This is close. Really close. Travis Hunter would be outstanding here, regardless of whether the Browns use him on offense or defense. But I ultimately settled on Carter because he gives Jim Schwartz the second top-tier edge rusher that he has coveted since becoming Cleveland’s defensive coordinator in 2023. The Browns would suddenly have two great wide-9 pass rushers in Carter and Myles Garrett, who was extended earlier this month after initially requesting a trade. Carter uses his outstanding instincts and burst to get into the backfield and make plays. He had 12 sacks, 61 pressures and 23.5 tackles for loss last season.

Drafting a quarterback wouldn’t be out of the question, either. But Cleveland did trade for Kenny Pickett, and it is still in the mix for Russell Wilson. Going with one of the two elite prospects in this class just makes more sense right now.

Not sure Pickett or Wilson are reasons not to select a quarterback but noting that Carter and Hunter are “the two elite prospects in this class” does explain the decision a bit better.

Then, NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah joined the Carter to Cleveland party:

The Browns could be weighing taking Carter second and a quarterback in Round 2 versus picking Shedeur Sanders at No. 2 and waiting on an edge rusher until the second round. I think you can make a strong argument that taking Carter and waiting for a second-tier QB in Round 2 is the better option.

An interesting assumption from Jeremiah that Cleveland is locked into quarterback and edge rusher with their first two picks. While none have Carter’s upside, the Browns do have some quality pieces across from Garrett.

In both of the expert’s mock drafts, Sanders is next off the board with the third pick. Jaxson Dart is also selected in the first round of each mock draft, ninth in Kiper’s and 21st in Jeremiah’s, while some believe he is a Day 3 quarterback.

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Do you read into both Kiper and Jeremiah have the same three players off the board to start their mock drafts on the same day? How would you feel about Carter with the second pick with Sanders being selected right behind him?

Share your thoughts in the comment section below and see what other Browns fans are thinking

Source: https://www.dawgsbynature.com/2025/...-cam-ward-shedeur-sanders-abdul-carter-hunter

 

[Cleveland Browns]

Daily Dawg Chow 3/19: Browns news, team writes letter to fans about the progress of the stadium

Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images

More of the latest Browns news and notes from around the web in today’s dose of the Daily Dawg Chow.

Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images

The latest Cleveland Browns coverage from Dawgs By Nature:

• NFL mock draft: 2 big name experts have Browns taking same player (Jared Mueller) Cam Ward seems locked the top pick, will the Browns NFL draft pick be Abdul Carter, Travis Hunter, Shedeur Sanders?
• There’s something unique about this year’s NFL Draft...for now (Chris Pokorny) This hasn’t happened in the common era.
• Browns new stadium update, Haslam’s financial commitment; new stadium, area video (Jared Mueller) While the Browns roster needs to establish their future, it seems the team is moving forward with their new stadium
• Browns roster: Predicting how the Browns QB room will turn out (Curtiss Brown) Rumors about Russell Wilson, Cam Ward, Kirk Cousins, Shedeur Sanders, Jalen Milroe for the Browns have swirled

More Cleveland Browns news:

• A letter to Cleveland Browns fans in Northeast Ohio and beyond on our stadium process (Cleveland Browns) “Cleveland Browns Home: The official source of the latest Browns headlines, news, videos, photos, tickets, rosters, stats, schedule, and gameday information.”
• Cleveland Browns ramp up case against the Modell Law - and for a new Brook Park stadium - in federal court (WEWS) “The Cleveland Browns are doubling down on their case that their future is in Brook Park - and ramping up their fight against a state law designed to make it harder for pro sports teams to pull up stakes.”
• Gov. Mike DeWine says he’s concerned about the Cleveland Browns’ $600M stadium state-backed bond plan (WOUB Public Media) “DeWine told reporters he has concerns with the plan the owners of the Cleveland Browns are requesting for a $3.4 billion domed stadium.”
• Cleveland Browns Fans Won’t Like This New QB Update (Sports Illustrated) “Cleveland Browns fans won’t be happy about this new update concerning their quarterback situation.”
• What if the Browns draft Shedeur and Travis Hunter? (Youtube) Quincy Carrier supposes

Source: https://www.dawgsbynature.com/2025/...ter-to-fans-about-the-progress-of-the-stadium

 

[Cleveland Browns]

Nearly a decade later, the Browns may finally get the quarterback they missed out on

Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images

A blast from the past (sort of) is on the Browns’ radar for quarterback.

Back in 2016, the Cleveland Browns held the No. 2 overall pick of the draft, with a chance to select QB Carson Wentz. Instead, they traded the pick to the Philadelphia Eagles, and Cleveland’s first-round pick ended up being WR Corey Coleman (and the quarterback they drafted in the third round was Cody Kessler). Nearly a decade later, they may get a chance to get Wentz after all.

At the beginning of March, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler listed Wentz as one of the quarterbacks the Browns could have interest in this offseason.

According to Mary Kay Cabot of the Plain Dealer, there is “definitely mutual interest” between the Browns and Wentz, to make him the team’s bridge quarterback, if they don’t sign veteran QB Russell Wilson:

Breaking: #Browns and Carson Wentz 'definitely have mutual interest' in him as their bridge QB if they don't sign Russell Wilson, source tells clevelanddotcom ---> https://t.co/y9rgJ1mHNc

— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) March 19, 2025​

Wentz spent five years with the Eagles before they gave up on him. Since then, Wentz has bounced between the Colts, Commanders, Rams, and Chiefs, sometimes as a backup quarterback. Wentz may not be the most appealing quarterback to excite fans, but he has had some efficient years under his belt — most recently when he threw for 27 touchdowns and 7 interceptions with the Colts in 2021. You have to imagine that head coach Kevin Stefanski believes he can work wonders with just about any quarterback not named Deshaun Watson.

That Kenny Pickett / Carson Wentz QB room would be magical pic.twitter.com/ykai29tzpW

— McNeil (@Reflog_18) March 19, 2025​

Browns fans, what would you think if Carson Wentz was the Browns’ top quarterback option in 2025?

Source: https://www.dawgsbynature.com/2025/3/19/24389570/carson-wentz-browns-free-agent-interest

 

[Cleveland Browns]

Can you guess this Browns quarterback in today’s in-5 trivia game?

Think you can figure out which Browns player we’re talking about? You’ll get five clues to figure him out in our new guessing game!

Hey, Browns fans! We’re back for another day of the Dawgs By Nature in-5 daily trivia game. Game instructions are at the bottom if you’re new to the game! Feel free to share your results in the comments and feedback in this Google Form.

Today’s Dawgs By Nature in-5 game​

If you can’t see the embedded game and you’re using Apple News, click this link.

Previous Games​

Wednesday, March 19, 2025
Tuesday, March 18, 2025
Monday, March 17, 2025

Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games​

NFL in-5
MLB in-5
MMA in-5

Dawgs By Nature in-5 instructions​

The goal of the game is to guess the correct Browns player with the help of up to five clues. We’ll mix in BOTH ACTIVE AND RETIRED PLAYERS this week. It won’t be easy to figure it out in one or two guesses, but some of you might be able to nail it. The game appears in slot #3 of the DBN layout each day this week and as noted above, will appear in this article exclusively. Additionally, there is a more general version of this at SBNation.com, which features a variety of random players that do not necessarily have Eagles history.

After you correctly guess the player, you can click “Share Results” to share how you did down in the comments and on social media. We won’t go into other details about the game as we’d like your feedback on it. How it plays, what you think of it, the difficulty level, and anything else you can think of that will help us improve this game. You can provide feedback in the comments of this article, or you can fill out this Google Form.

Enjoy!

Source: https://www.dawgsbynature.com/2025/3/20/24390077/sb-nation-browns-daily-trivia-in-5

 

[Cleveland Browns]

An 18th regular season game? The Browns are bracing for it with Myles Garrett’s contract

Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images

What note from Myles Garrett’s extension accounts for a possible 18th game?

Earlier today, we did a full breakdown of Cleveland Browns DE Myles Garrett’s contract extension that he recently received. Among his contract details is that from 2025 to 2030, Garrett is due a $1 million roster bonus per season, which is based on how many games he plays. That breaks down to $58,823 per game.

We’ve also heard speculation that it’s a matter of when, not if, the league will add an 18th regular season game to the schedule. If that happens, how would the per-game calculation be done? Would you add an additional $58,823 per year to account for the 18th game? According to contract details obtained by Pro Football Talk, the answer is “no.”

Garrett’s contract specifically explains what would happen if an 18th game is introduced:

“If there is a change in the number of regular season games, the per game bonus will change by dividing the maximum total bonus amount by the number of regular season games in that specific season. By way of example, if there is an eighteen (18) game season then Player would earn $55,555.55 on a per game basis.”

That means that the roster bonus allocation for Garrett’s contract is capped at $1 million for the year, so he won’t earn extra money in that category for an additional game. His per-game roster bonus would actually shrink to $55,555.55 per game ($1 million divided by 18 games).

PFT also relays that Garrett’s contract makes reference to a possible increase in the number of active players on gameday.

“If the active list number is changed, that active list number will be used to determine if the bonus is earned on a per game basis.”

The implication is that if you add another regular season game, then you may have more injuries or need more depth to give players a rest. It’s understandable that, let’s say the gameday rosters increase to 55 players, you might see some corresponding financial ties to it. In the case of Garrett, though, I can’t wrap my head around what exactly this part of the contract language means.

Source: https://www.dawgsbynature.com/2025/...lar-season-game-browns-myles-garrett-contract

 

[Cleveland Browns]

Former Browns coaches & players in the UFL as spring league kicks off next week

WR Austin Watkins Jr. #80 now with Birmingham | Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images

Keeping the dream alive as the UFL debuts in late March

The United Football League (UFL) is set to begin its second season after last year’s merger of the USFL and the XFL.

The 2025 season begins on March 28th and concludes the regular season on June 1, followed by a two-week postseason consisting of XFL and USFL conference title games and the 2025 UFL Championship Game on June 14. All games will be aired on FOX, ABC, and ESPN.

Photo by Alex Slitz/UFL/Getty Images

FOX Sports half-owns the league, with the remaining shares divided by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Dany Garcia, and RedBird Capital Partners. The eight-team league is a professional football entity in which the league owns all of the teams, but each club has its own head coach and assistant coaches, plus their own GM. Each team plays 10 games without any bye weeks.

RELATED: 2025 UFL SEASON SCHEDULE

While each team plays in their own stadium located in their respective city, all players reside and practice in Arlington, Texas, during the week, and then are flown to their “home” city the day before the game and then fly back after the contest has concluded. Basically, every match except for the ones played in Arlington feels like a road game for every team and every player.

More Action.
More Memories.
More Celebrations.
More Football.
More of What You Love.

The UFL kicks off March 28
https://t.co/5VTnlyl7Hm pic.twitter.com/8YWzlDDP38

— United Football League (@TheUFL) February 11, 2025​

There are three rule changes for this year. Having invented the XFL kickoff and implemented by the NFL this past season, the UFL is adopting this style of play to align with the NFL’s version. Another rule change allows a coach a second challenge if the first challenge is successful. Lastly, the onside kick has been eliminated. They are now using the old XFL version in which the kickoff team will be able to retain possession of the ball with a fourth down and a 12-yard scrimmage play from its own 28-yard line.

After the 2024 season, 77 players signed with the NFL, of whom 21 were on NFL rosters on opening week.

The roster size for each club is 50 players, with 45 active on game days. During the off-season, the UFL players ratified an agreement establishing the UFPA as their player’s union. The pay scale is $65,000 to $122,000 per season, with most players earning $73,000. Playoff money is extra. In 2024, UFL players on the active roster earned $5,500 per week.

This league has closed the gap with the Canadian Football League whose minimum contract is $70,000, with the highest-paid player making $600,000 a season. Arena Football League athletes make between $20,600 and $64,000 per year. The NFL minimum is $795,000, which advances to $870,000 and $940,000 by the third year.

After the maiden UFL season, there was some chatter about expansion, but it was decided to focus on the core group of teams and build each club’s fanbase instead. However, the league has stated they are interested in adding new teams in 2026 and 2027. It is not certain if they will simply bring back some former XFL or USFL cities, such as the Jersey Generals, Tampa Bay Vipers, Seattle Sea Dragons, or the New Orleans Breakers.

Other cities could be Oakland, which had the Invaders in the USFL, Salt Lake City, which had the Stallions in the AAF, and Norfolk, Virginia, which has been the home of the Virginia Destroyers in the second version of the UFL.

It should be noted the UFL is not an NFL-rival league that is in competition for rookie and veteran players, coaches, and front-office executives. It is strictly a developmental entity in which players can still be paid to play the game with the hopes that they will be invited to NFL training camps and hopefully make a roster in the established league.

The UFL is not a farm system. It is not tied to the NFL or the CFL other than it is a vehicle for both of these major leagues to be able to test innovations related to rules and technology. The UFL is also a training ground for referees, assistant coaches, and front office personnel who can cut their teeth at a job that could get them employed with an NFL or CFL club one day.

The Cleveland Browns are well-represented in this year’s UFL schedule. Many former players and coaches are keeping their dream alive of being paid to play football, hoping that someone will notice their efforts and believe in their talents once again.

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Arlington Renegades​

Head Coach: Bob Stoops

GM: Rick Mueller

Stadium: Choctaw Stadium (formerly The Ballpark in Arlington)

Seating capacity: 25,000

Home of: North Texas FC (MLS)

Record last season: 3-7-0

Accolades: 2023 XFL Champions

The Renegades have stacked the deck for the season ahead pic.twitter.com/hmaIEo1CFW

— United Football League (@TheUFL) February 19, 2025​

Former Browns:​

S Brady Breeze

WR Damon Sheehy-Guiseppi

K Lucas Havrisik

LB Storey Jackson

DE Chris Odom

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Birmingham Stallions​

Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images
DT Perrion Winfrey

Head Coach: Skip Holtz

GM: Paul Roell

Stadium: Protective Stadium

Seating capacity: 47,100

Home of: Birmingham Legion FC (MLS), UAB Blazers football

Record last season: 9-1-0

Accolades: 2022 USFL Champions, 2023 USFL Champions, 2024 UFL Champions

Former Browns:​

DT Perrion Winfrey

WR Davion Davis

WR Austin Watkins

DT Marvin Wilson

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DC Defenders​

Photo by Lee Coleman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
K Matt McCrane

Head Coach: Reggie Barlow

GM: Von Hutchins

Stadium: Audi Field

Seating capacity: 20,000

Home of: D.C. United (MLS), Washington Spirit (NWSL)

Record last season: 4-6-0

Accolades:

Former Browns:​

Gregg Williams – Defensive Coordinator

K Matt McCrane

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Houston Roughnecks​

Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images
DT Glen Logan #63

Head Coach: C.J. Johnson

GM: Will Lewis

Stadium: Space City Financial Stadium (formerly TDECU Stadium)

Seating capacity: 40,000

Home of: University of Houston Cougars football

Record last season: 1-9-0

Accolades:

Former Browns:​

DT Glen Logan

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Memphis Showboats​

Photo by Alex Slitz/UFL/Getty Images
DT Josiah Bronson #91

Head Coach: Ken Whisenhunt

GM: Dave Razzano

Stadium: Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium (formerly Liberty Bowl)

Seating capacity: 50,000

Home of: University of Memphis Tigers football

Record last season: 2-8-0

Accolades:

Former Browns:​

DT Josiah Bronson

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Michigan Panthers​

Photo by Matthew Stockman/UFL/Getty Images
RB Nate McCrary #28

Head Coach: Mike Nolan

GM: Steve Kazor

Stadium: Ford Field

Seating capacity: 65,000

Home of: Detroit Lions

Record last season: 7-3-0

Accolades:

Former Browns:​

RB Nate McCrary

S Kai Nacua

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San Antonio Brahmas​

Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images
QB Kellen Mond #7

Head Coach: Wade Phillips

GM: Marc Lillibridge

Stadium: Alamodome

Seating capacity: 64,000

Home of: University of Texas-San Antonio Roadrunners football

Record last season: 7-3-0

Accolades:

Former Browns:​

WR Marquez Stevenson

QB Kellen Mond

QB Kevin Hogan

CB Greedy Williams

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St. Louis Battlehawks​

Photo by Rick Ulreich/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
LB Willie Harvey (51)

Head Coach: Anthony Becht

GM: Dave Boller

Stadium: The Dome at America’s Center (formerly Trans World Dome)

Seating capacity: 67,277

Home of: Battlehawks

Record last season: 7-3-0

Accolades:

Former Browns:​

Bruce Gradkowski - Offensive Coordinator

LB Willie Harvey

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UFL​

LINK: GET TO KNOW THE LEAGUE

LINK: FULL ROSTERS

LINK: FULL COACHING STAFFS

LINK: BROADCAST INFORMATION

LINK: TICKET INFO FOR EVERY TEAM

LINK: RULE CHANGES FOR 2025

LINK: UFL EXPANSION PROCESS

Source: https://www.dawgsbynature.com/2025/3/21/24374428/ufl-debut-2025-browns-history

 

[Cleveland Browns]

NFL free agency: Browns signing Cleveland native, former Buckeye, reportedly

Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images

Questions continue to linger about JOK as Jerome Baker joins Devin Bush with Browns roster

The Cleveland Browns have all of a sudden gotten a little busy in NFL free agency after a very slow start to the process. In the last 24-48 hours, the Browns have signed a wide receiver/returner, a former second-round offensive lineman and brought back a key special teams player.

They also lost D’Anthony Bell in free agency along the way.

With QB Jameis Winston finding his new home (and likely shaping the veteran quarterback market), the team still has some work to do. After having LB Jerome Baker, a Cleveland native who attended The Ohio State University, in for a visit, the Browns are reportedly signing the linebacker:

#Browns have agreed to terms with linebacker Jerome Baker, a Cleveland native and former #Buckeye, source says.

— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) March 22, 2025​

Baker seemed interested in a homecoming last offseason but, instead, signed with the Seattle Seahawks. He was traded to the Tennessee Titans during the season and played five games for each team.

In seven seasons, six with the Miami Dolphins, Baker accumulated 648 tackles, 49 QB hits, 33 tackles for loss, 25 passes defended, 24.5 sacks, 7 forced rumbles, 5 interceptions, 2 touchdowns and 1 fumble recovery. As his box score shows, Baker has had a quality all-around game.

With Cleveland bringing back LB Devin Bush, the signing of Baker led to more concerns about LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. Last year, JOK was knocked out for the season with a neck injury and the Browns have not provided any updates including at the NFL combine.

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How do you feel about the Baker signing, especially as a hometown Buckeye? Does it significantly raise your JOK concerns?

Share your thoughts below

Source: https://www.dawgsbynature.com/2025/3/21/24391351/nfl-free-agency-browns-rumors-jerome-baker-buckeyes

 

[Cleveland Browns]

NFL draft: Third 30-visit quarterback prospect for Browns

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

GM Andrew Berry turning over every stone and rock

The Cleveland Browns do not have a starting quarterback, but they do have his backup in place and are in line to draft a young buck to groom.

RELATED: OLDER, HIGHER TRAITS QB COULD BE SURPRISE RISER

In order to get to know players a bit better, the league allows each club to bring in 30 players for a formal visit and tour of the training facility and later a meal. The Browns are bringing in Louisville QB Tyler Shough (6’-5”, 225 pounds) for their next visit, according to Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com.

Shough’s visit to Berea marks the sixth player Cleveland has brought in so far. The others are WR/CB Travis Hunter of Colorado, Penn State DE Abdul Carter, OT Will Campbell out of LSU, and a tandem of quarterbacks with Cam Ward of Miami and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders.

The #Browns are hosting Louisville QB Tyler Shough for top 30 pre #NFLDraft visit, a league source tells clevelanddotcom. Will they take him at No. 2 overall? -> https://t.co/x5eOegoGqh

— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) March 21, 2025​

The QB room is assured of the Browns selecting a college guy to come in and learn the ropes for at least one season if not a couple. There have been plenty of names dropped of who Cleveland should be interested in, but Shough is rarely mentioned.

The most likely names have been Jaxson Dart of Ole Miss, Ohio State’s Will Howard, Riley Leonard of Notre Dame, Kurtis Rourke from Indiana, Jalen Milroe of Alabama, and Oregon’s Dillion Gabriel.

All of these players are not ranked as first-round picks.

Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Shough’s rankings on various NFL draft sites: Pro Football Focus #10 QB (#182 overall); The Draft Network #5 QB (#56 overall); CBS Sports #7 QB (#124 overall); Draft Countdown #8 QB (#174 overall); ESPN #4 QB (#46 overall): and NFL Draft Buzz #11 QB (#102 overall).

The Browns need a quarterback they can develop and eventually become the starter.

Teams can host up to 30 players for interviews and medical evaluations at their own facilities, with players who live or go to college in the local area not counting toward those 30.

(Editor’s Note: These have been mislabeled for years as “top 30 visits” but are just 30 approved visits that teams use on a variety of players all over their draft board.)

Shough, already age 25, was the underdog QB at this year’s Senior Bowl which had a ton of marquee names at the quarterback spot. He shined all week and in all likelihood has elevated his draft stock. He has an exceptionally strong arm and showcased it well all week. Coming into Senior Bowl week he was projected as a fifth-round pick. He may now be viewed more so in Round 3, which Cleveland has two draft choices in that round.

It has been predicted that if the Browns don’t take Jaxson Dart with their pick in Round 2 the franchise will select a QB in the third round. But if you noticed, ESPN has Shough their fourth-ranked QB in this year’s draft behind Ward, Sanders (#14), and Dart (#32) with an overall ranking of #46. That lines up with Cleveland drafting him in Round 2 with pick #33.

For his career, Shough qualified to play seven college seasons because of the pandemic. He began 2018 through the 2020 seasons with Oregon, then three seasons at Texas Tech, and finally one year at Louisville.

Shough played in 42 games with 599 completions on 951 attempts, 7,820 yards, 59 touchdowns against 23 interceptions, a 147.7 QB rating, with 246 rushing attempts for 733 yards with an additional 11 scores. He has proven to be an effective runner on planned plays as well as scrambles when flushed from the pocket. With his size, he is not easy to bring down.

None of those seasons was Shough named all-conference although he was the MVP of the 2022 Texas Bowl. He will turn 26 years old shortly after training camp this year.

The previous visits by Ward and Sanders were expected and part of the Browns’ due diligence to analyze which player to draft with the second overall pick in the first round.

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Should Browns fans analyze why Shough was brought in for a visit before Dart, Milroe, Howard, Gabriel, Rourke, or Leonard?

Source: https://www.dawgsbynature.com/2025/3/22/24391361/nfl-draft-30-visit-tyler-shough-browns

 

[Cleveland Browns]

NFL Draft Profile: QB Tyler Shough, Louisville

Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images

There is a lot to like about Shough, but can the Browns afford to select a soon-to-be 26-year-old QB?

The 2025 NFL Draft is just a bit more than a month away, and at this point, it is simply silly to believe the Cleveland Browns will not be selecting a quarterback at some point.

There is still an ongoing debate, however, over just when general manager Andrew Berry will make the call. It could be with the No. 2 overall selection, it could come later in the first round after a trade, or Berry could live dangerously and wait until the second round to make a move.

Related: NFL Draft Profile: RB Cam Skattebo, Arizona State

With that knowledge widely known, just about every draft-eligible quarterback has been or will be linked to the Browns. This week was no exception after the news came out that Cleveland was hosting Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough for one of their 30 pre-draft visits.

Would Berry be so bold as to draft a quarterback who was in college so long that he backed up current Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, who just finished his fifth season in the NFL, for two years at Oregon?

Be that as it may, Shough is a quarterback and he is in the upcoming draft, so let’s see what he brings to the field.

Name: Tyler Shough

Position: Quarterback

Height/Weight: 6-foot-5, 219 pounds

College: Louisville Cardinals

2024 Stats: 12 games, 62.7 completion percentage, 3,195 passing yards, 23 touchdowns, 6 interceptions, 148.1 quarterback rating

Career Stats: 42 games, 63 completion percentage, 7,820 passing yards, 59 touchdowns, 23 interceptions, 147.7 quarterback rating

Relative Athletic Score: 9.3 out of 10. Ranks 70th out of 989 quarterbacks from 1987 to 2025.

Tyler Shough is a QB prospect in the 2025 draft class. He scored an unofficial 9.30 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 70 out of 989 QB from 1987 to 2025.

Splits projected, times unofficial.https://t.co/BBkFfHRJ13 pic.twitter.com/fxu7bE1c87

— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) March 1, 2025​

Average “Big Board” Position As of Publishing Date from Mock Draft Database: 96th overall, projected third round

The Draft Network’s Grade/Round Value: Day 2 - Adequate Starter

What an Expert is Saying

Lance Zierlein at NFL.com:

Pocket passer with a seven-year college career prompted by three consecutive years of injuries while at Texas Tech. Shough will turn 26 in September, was in the same recruiting class as Trevor Lawrence and backed up Justin Herbert at Oregon. He’s a talented passer with a live arm who is capable of making pro throws both intermediate and deep but battles inconsistency. He plays with good field vision, using his eyes to hold defenders and set up his throwing windows. Shough is confident and accurate when protected, but will flinch when pressure mounts, leading to spotty decision-making and big sacks. His size and passing talent will be enticing, but durability and mobility concerns are impediments he will need to overcome.

For being a boomer Tyler Shough moves pretty damn well. Has some fun arm angles in his toolkit, too. pic.twitter.com/2BxSlLNP2b

— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) March 6, 2025​

What an Expert is Saying (Bonus Round):

Ryan Fowler at The Draft Network:

With experience in three different offensive architectures, Shough is a primary pocket passer who has seen it all at the college level. He has experience working primarily out of shotgun but also does a nice job feeding different levels when asked to work under center either in straight dropback scenarios or in play-action. Smooth mechanics with a quick delivery and good zip to all levels. Shough does have more juice stored in his frame should he begin to drive through his lower half and work consistently downhill with his throws. He has nice touch up the seam and has shown the ability to make throws under duress. Quick to ID and target one-on-one opportunities with a deep ball that will play at the next level—the ball has nice carry with multiple instances of Shough placing in a spot only his guy can get it. Standing tall with a solid base allows him to consistently make throws in small windows.

Away from concerns about his age, where Shough’s player development phase is completed, he has traits that many teams look for in a potential contributor at the NFL level, should the surroundings correlate to what he does best.

Fit with the Browns

There is a lot to like about Shough, from his size to his experience and his ability to make a decision and give his receivers a chance to make a catch. But can the Browns really take a chance on a quarterback who will turn 26 a few weeks into the 2025 season?

#Louisville QB Tyler Shough might be the most interesting non-1st round QB prospect in this class.

Will be a 26-yr old rookie, but he has a pro skill-set. Prototypical size (6045v, 225v), passing twitch and drive velocity. Late on this read, but that's a 30-yd frozen rope. pic.twitter.com/YmqEvJZCdx

— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) December 19, 2024​

Browns Player Drafting Could Impact

The only quarterback currently on Cleveland’s roster is Kenny Pickett, so there is plenty of room for the team to add another quarterback (or two) in the draft without upsetting the roster.

Priority: High. As in “turn it up to 11” levels of need at the position.

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What are your thoughts on Tyler Shough? Join fellow Browns fans in the comment section below.

Source: https://www.dawgsbynature.com/2025/...wns-nfl-draft-profile-tyler-shough-louisville

 

[Cleveland Browns]

Will the NFL’s playoff format be changed? If so, to what?

Photo Illustration by Thomas Fuller/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

There is a proposal later this month to change the playoffs as we know it

A long time ago, professional baseball was the king of sports. Everyone loved it, went to games, and followed it. With this in mind, every sports league did what baseball did. When baseball added numbers to their jerseys, other leagues started to add digits. When baseball required a different color uniform for the visiting team, all of the other leagues changed their bylaws and made that mandatory as well.

At some point, baseball added a second association called “The American League.” Teams were then listed and competed in the National League and American League. At the season’s end, the team with the best record would be declared to win “the pennant” of their respective league. Next, the pennant winners would meet in a best-of-run called “The World Series.” The winner of the series between pennant winners was then labeled World Champions.

The World Series was the only playoff format. Second-place teams stayed home while the pennant winners competed for the championship. The same occurred for third and fourth-place teams.

Manny Rubio-Imagn Images

Within the NFL, originally, the team with the best win percentage was declared the league winner. However, it took a vote by the owners at the winter meeting before that was certain and the champion was named.

Cleveland Browns connection: NFL Playoffs not determined by a bracket format

Some underhanded situations happened which manipulated the process.

In 1929, the Green Bay Packers won the NFL title. In 1930, they were four percentage points ahead of the second-place club which had just won their final game. The Packers had one game left on their schedule. Green Bay simply canceled the final game, thus giving them their second consecutive championship. The 1921 Decatur Staleys (later renamed the Chicago Bears) quickly scheduled two more games at the conclusion of their season against ragtag teams to gain more percentage points and after winning both contests were voted league champs at the winter meeting.

The NFL began its playoff system by accident. After the 1932 season, both the Chicago Bears and Portsmouth Spartans ended the season with different records but had the same percentage points. It was decided instead of sharing the league title with co-champions, that a one-game playoff would decide the championship.

Photo by Paul J. Maguire/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

The game was set to play at Wrigley Field, home of the baseball Cubs and also the NFL Bears. But days before the game, a huge blizzard blanketed the entire area. Instead of canceling the game, it was moved indoors to Chicago Arena, home of the hockey Blackhawks. Rules were changed and the field was miniaturized.

But what came out of this game was the fact that the league decided they liked a game that pitted the league’s best two teams against each other. For one, it became a packed house full of paying customers which provided another payday.

The league then decided to split into two divisions. In 1933, the NFL had 10 teams, so two divisions were formed with five clubs in each division labeled Eastern Division and Western Division. It was decided that the division winners each year would compete in a single title game. And the first “NFL Championship Game” was born.

This did not guarantee that the two best teams would compete for the league title. In just the second year of enacting the championship game, the 13-0-0 Bears met the 8-5-0 New York Football Giants in the title game while the 10-3-0 Detroit Lions remained home. The 1936 Bears went 9-3-0 and ended up in second place in the Western Division behind the 10-1-1 Packers and were idle while the 7-6-0 Boston Redskins competed for the championship.

Over the decades, teams were added to the playoff format. Clubs were grouped into conferences and divisions within each conference. In every scenario, the division winners advanced to the post-season. Later, second-place teams were added labeled as “Wild Card” entrants. Then a second “Wild Card” entry was approved.

The last time the playoffs were changed was in 2020 when a third “Wild Card” team was added which implemented a 14-team playoff format.

That is the format the league goes by today: Two conferences, four divisions within each conference which results in four playoff seeds for the division winners. Then the top three remaining teams earn a “Wild Card” spot.

Division winners have always been a part of the NFL’s playoff system since the first year it was implemented in 1933.

But now, one NFL club wants to change that.

After the league begins in early March, teams have the opportunity to suggest new rules and changes for discussion. Then at the late March owner’s meeting usually held in Florida, those ideas are brought up and discussed. Some items advance and eventually are voted on, like the league’s use of the XFL kickoff system a year ago. Other items are tabled for future discussion while some concepts just die an early death.

Owners are scheduled to meet on March 30 - April 2 in West Palm Beach, Florida.

An attempt to change the playoff format​

The Detroit Lions have made a proposal to alter how the current playoff arrangement operates.

Detroit is suggesting that the league abandon the process that teams that win their division receive an automatic playoff bid. Division winners are also guaranteed a home playoff game regardless of win-loss record.

Detroit Lions propose 3 rule changes, including major playoff-seeding fix https://t.co/eCF2m4h3xM

— Pride of Detroit (@PrideOfDetroit) March 19, 2025​

With the current format, all four division winners in each conference receive a seed number 1 through 4. This is based on win-loss records and if needed, any tiebreakers. Next, three “Wild Card” clubs are slotted by win-loss records 5th through 7th seeds.

Because there are 14 playoff teams in each conference, it provides an odd number of playoff teams. So, the team in each conference with the best win-loss record receives a first-round bye plus is guaranteed all games played at their home stadium as long as they win. The remainder clubs are seeded by best records to the lowest win-loss record. Then as teams lose, the post-season format always allows the highest seed to compete against the lowest seed.

Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images

Just like when the playoff system was put into place back in the 1930s, there have been situations where one team will win the division without a good win-loss record while another team sits home with double-digit wins.

An example occurred in 2010. The Seattle Seahawks won the NFC Western Division with a 7-9-0 record and limped into the post-season. They hosted a home playoff game while the 10-6-0 Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the 10-6-0 Giants watched the playoffs from the comfort of their homes. The 2020 Washington Football Team won the NFC East with a 7-9-0 record in spite of the Arizona Cardinals’ 8-8-0 record which did not advance.

Under the Lions’ proposal, the team with the best record in each conference would still receive the #1 seed and be awarded a first-round bye. But now it would prioritize regular season records over division winners. The idea apparently stemmed from Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown prior to the Lions versus Minnesota Vikings game late last season.

But after that, teams would be grouped by win-loss records and tie-breakers from the second-best record to the seventh-best record, regardless of division. In essence, clubs would be stacked by records and not categorized by division winners.

In college football, the ACC always had two divisions but disbanded that format because the conference’s best three teams annually all came from the same division. This set up a conference championship game that was always a boring lopsided affair. Now, the ACC has every team stacked so that the top two teams play in the title game.

That is exactly what the Lions are suggesting in both the AFC and NFC. Not do away with divisions, just do away with division winners with their attached automatic playoff berth.

If passed, this could mean one team could actually win their division and not advance to the postseason. It would also take away automatic home games for the first round for each division winner.

Back in 2023, the Los Angeles Chargers had a similar proposal so the idea is not new.

Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images

The Browns had a better record than their playoff opponent two seasons ago but were forced to go on the road and lost to the Houston Texans.

Last year the Chargers went 11-6-0 but traveled to their first playoff game against the Texans because they fell short of winning the AFC West Division behind the 15-2-0 Kansas City Chiefs. Los Angeles became the #5 seed. With this new format, the Chargers would have been the #4 seed which meant playing at home in their first game instead of traveling.

Back in 2023, the Chargers’ proposal did not get past the discussion stage.

It is not clear why Detroit is unhappy with the current playoff tiering. Last year they had the NFC’s best record and received a first-round bye, so if this new format was in place in 2024 it would not have altered the Lions’ playoff perspective at all.

Supporters of the current system point out that winning a division is the first goal for every NFL club every season. It is preached on the first day of training camp. The fact that every team plays every other club in their division twice each season is testimony to how important the division structure remains.

Stadiums are full of banners hanging that identify how many divisions they have conquered. Not a single team has yet to erect a banner stating “We were the #3 seed.” But beating all of the other clubs that hate you and you hate them for the division crown? That’s a start. And a sense of pride.

Changing the NFL's playoff format as suggested by the Lions would make division games meaningless. That and more in today's Steelers 5 for Friday.

5 for Friday: Proposal to mess with playoff format lacking https://t.co/iJZVISYOQ3

— Dale Lolley (@dlolley_pgh) March 21, 2025​

By taking away division winners and the advantages that follows, it would make division games pretty much meaningless during the regular season. The 1966 season was the last one for two conferences without divisions.

The Lions will need to state what the advantage would become, and what changes will happen. Yes, occasionally a team will win more games than one of the division winners and get shut out of the post-season. But with 14 playoff teams, that is extremely rare. Are they suggesting ditching all divisions altogether? Stack all 16 AFC teams into one row and all 16 NFC teams into another pile?

Right now, the league is in this tidy formation of two conferences with four divisions shaped with four clubs in each division. The only reason to muck it up is to add expansion franchises.

What other motive does Detroit offer in altering the current playoff arrangement? A seeding up or down?

Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images

As a comparison, the NBA has divisions but for the playoffs, they stack all teams in each conference, seed them accordingly, and away they go.

All rule and bylaw proposals will be voted on later this month. It takes two-thirds votes (24) to change any by-law.

However, if a suggested rule change goes through the competition committee first and is approved, the owners are more likely to pass it than when an individual club makes the proposal at the “NFL Annual League Meeting” in Florida.

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Do you support the Lions suggested playoff change? Do you think a home game could have changed the outcome of the Browns 2023 playoff loss to the Texans?

Share your thoughts in the comment section below

Source: https://www.dawgsbynature.com/2025/3/23/24392025/nfl-playoff-rule-change-browns-lions

 

[Cleveland Browns]

NFL Draft: Post NFL free agency mock draft for Browns

Rich Barnes-Imagn Images

This Browns mock draft has them making a big move to get the top QB prospect

As Andrew Berry continues to put the finishing touches on free agency, the Cleveland Browns are simultaneously focusing on their plan at the top of this year’s draft. The public pressure to get a quarterback has intensified over the last few weeks for drafting Shedeur Sanders with the second overall pick.

I’ve recently advocated for attempting a trade-up to the first pick to select Cam Ward, and that’s exactly what we are going to do in this mock draft utilizing the Mock Draft Database simulator.

The trade-up to number one with the Tennessee Titans ended up costing the following:

Tennessee Titans receive:​

2025 1st-rd pick - 2nd overall

2025 3rd-rd pick - 94th overall

(2) 2025 6th-rd picks - 192 and 200th overall

2026 3rd-rd pick

Cleveland Browns receive:​

2025 1st-rd pick - 1st overall

Now, let’s get to it.

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1st Round- (1) QB Cam Ward ​

The Browns were too close to pass up the best QB in the entire draft and paid the price to get their guy. He has the arm to play in the elements of the AFC North and should excel in the RPO and quick passing game that new Browns offensive coordinator Tommy Rees will deploy.

Is Cam Ward the best QB prospect in 2025? (via @MoveTheSticks)

: #NFLCombine on @NFLNetwork
: Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/NfiTnjwWUr

— NFL (@NFL) March 1, 2025​

2nd Round- (33) OT Josh Conerly Jr.​

The Browns would be pleased if Conerly makes it out of the first round. Berry has shored up the offensive line enough during free agency to allow Conerly time to add strength and improve his hand usage. He is a tremendous athlete with tons of potential.

Josh Conerly Jr is one of the best pass protectors in this draft.

Held Abdul Carter to zero pressures during their matchup. Sound athlete with coordinated hands. pic.twitter.com/QRt01EENhe

— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) March 14, 2025​

3rd Round- (67) RB Kaleb Johnson​

Johnson is one of the top backs in an absolutely loaded class. Fortunately for Cleveland, both Treyveon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins went ahead of him in the mock causing him to be there in the third round. Johnson has tremendous feet and vision and will excel in the wide zone run scheme.

Kaleb Johnson will feed families in Berea if he gets to the #Browns
pic.twitter.com/0Ies4FKSU9

— Damon Wolfe (@NFLinMotion) March 23, 2025​

4th Round- (104) TE Terrance Ferguson​

Ferguson impressed at the combine with his athleticism and is versatile enough to be a solid blocker inline and in space. He could have a role early as a receiving threat on misdirection pass plays.

Terrance Ferguson is a Top-5 TE in this class for me, with a Day 2 grade.

Great frame with very nice athleticism, he can play in multiple alignments, a very willing and talented blocker, and has very nice production within the passing game.pic.twitter.com/czGXtp8IUT

— Andy (@CUandyy) March 4, 2025​

6th Round- (179) CB Bilhal Kone​

Kone could go way earlier than this on day three but I also may have him rated higher than most. He ran a 4.43 40-yard dash at the combine and already has an NFL build to be an effective and willing tackler in the run game. He doesn’t overreact to double moves and jukes by shifty receivers and does a good job of closing in with the ball in the air.

6th Round- (216) WR Dont’e Thornton​

Thornton ran a 4.3 40-yard dash and stands at 6’5” tall. He is a deep-threat speed merchant who played on the outside at Tennessee. He has a limited route tree but the upside would be worth a late-day three pick.

7th Round- (255) LB Nick Martin​

Martin was a very productive player who has athleticism but is a little undersized. He was recently linked to the Browns with a scheduled ‘30’ visit. He could help provide youth to a linebacker room that was fortified with veteran depth among the uncertainty surrounding Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah’s availability for next season.

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Overall, in this scenario, the Browns prioritized filling holes on the offensive side of the ball with their first four picks. The draft capital lost to move up one spot isn’t ideal but the opportunity to add a true franchise quarterback to build around was one that the Browns couldn’t pass up.

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How would you feel about this mock draft for the Browns? Is moving up to the first pick worth it? Let us know in the comments below.

Source: https://www.dawgsbynature.com/2025/...l-draft-mock-cam-ward-rumors-trade-first-pick

 

[Cleveland Browns]

NFL Draft Profile: DT Yahya Black, Iowa

Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images

Analyzing Iowa DT Yahya Black as a potential draft pick for Cleveland

The Cleveland Browns need to continue adding youth, size, and playmaking ability to the defensive tackle room in 2025 and this year’s NFL Draft class is loaded with options for the front office to choose from.

The team decided to designate DT Dalvin Tomlinson as a post-June 1st cut in 2025, allowing them to create some extra cap space this offseason. Though he was pretty effective for the Browns over the past two seasons, his contract wasn’t conducive to the team’s plans going forward.

Iowa DT Yahya Black could be on the Browns’ radar heading into draft weekend due to his elite length, power, and surprising motor.

Iowa's Yahya Black is such an underrated player in this year's defensive tackle class.

He's obviously not the best athlete but at 6'6", 336 Lbs. with 35" arms and a 7-foot wingspan, nobody should expect him to be.

Black's powerful punch/extension made it almost impossible for… pic.twitter.com/JrLdtZCIuf

— Matt Wilson (@CoachWilson66) March 23, 2025​

Name

Yahya Black

Position

Defensive Tackle

Height/Weight

6’5.5”, 336 lbs.

College

University of Iowa

2024 Stats: 13 games: 34 tackles, 7 TFL, 1 sack, 2 pass deflections, 1 FF

Career: 53 games: 117 tackles, 15 TFL, 5.5 sacks, 11 pass deflections, 3 FF

Relative Athletic Score

Yahya Black is a DT prospect in the 2025 draft class. He scored a 3.57 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 1183 out of 1838 DT from 1987 to 2025.

Pro day pending for remaining tests.https://t.co/SeVBjzdeAT pic.twitter.com/pl6Ren6Sm5

— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) March 12, 2025​

Average “Big Board” Position As of Publishing Date from Mock Draft Database

180th Overall

The Draft Network’s Grade/Round Value

Day 3 — Scheme Specific Contributor

What an Expert is Saying

“Black is a hulking presence who offers a few essential physical tools that could afford him a role-specific opportunity in the heart of an NFL defense. You don’t find players like this just growing on trees — an inherent advantage to Black’s resume.

As a run defender, he’s an active player with good hand power and obvious extension advantages that show the ability to stack up the point of attack. Black can be difficult to uproot and push out of gaps against centers and guards if they’re charged with taking him on themselves. He has a dense frame, and although he doesn’t play with the lowest pad level on the field, his functional strength is stout. This is especially true on a static base when runs hit downhill, and he can simply square up and stack the block.” - Kyle Crabbs, The 33rd team

Fit with the Browns

Since Maliek Collins is more of a gap-shooting pass rusher, Cleveland could now be looking for a space-eating nose tackle in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Yahya Black is a late-round prospect who could develop into a solid rotational 1-technique for the Browns on short-yardage and goal-line packages.

Browns Player Drafting Could Impact

Aside from maybe Jowon Briggs, Cleveland doesn’t have anyone on the interior that could occupy more than one gap now that Dalvin Tomlinson is on the way out.

Black could have an immediate role as a rookie on running downs depending on his development and performance throughout the summer.

Priority

Medium-High.

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What are your thoughts on Yahya Black? Join fellow Browns fans in the comment section below.

Source: https://www.dawgsbynature.com/2025/...-maliek-collins-jowon-briggs-dalvin-tomlinson

 

[Cleveland Browns]

NFL Draft Profile: RB Kaleb Johnson, Iowa

Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images

He is limited in the passing game, but Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson has a running style that could play in Cleveland.

The Cleveland Browns had a successful philosophy when it came to running the ball from 2018 to 2022.

Hand it to Nick Chubb and get out of the way.

That came to an end in 2023 when Chubb suffered a major knee injury. Chubb is now a free agent, and Cleveland’s running back room of Jerome Ford, Pierre Strong Jr. and exclusive rights free agent John Kelly Jr. is not exactly a powerhouse.

The running back group is considered to be a deep one in the 2025 NFL Draft, and if the Browns are interested in diving in, they may take a look at Kaleb Johnson of Iowa.

KALEB JOHNSON SHEDDING TACKLERS FOR 72 YARD TD pic.twitter.com/1ZWpzsgaFd

— Heavens! (@HeavensFX) November 30, 2024​

Name: Kaleb Johnson

Position: Running back

Height/Weight: 6-foot-1, 224 pounds

College: Iowa Hawkeyes

2024 stats: 12 games, 240 rushes, 1,537 rushing yards, 6.4 yards per carry, 21 rushing touchdowns, 22 receptions, 188 receiving yards, 8.5 yards per catch, 2 receiving touchdowns

Career stats: 35 games, 508 rushes, 2,779 rushing yards, 5.5 yards per carry, 30 rushing touchdowns, 29 receptions, 240 receiving yards, 8.3 yards per catch, 2 receiving touchdowns

Relative Athletic Score: Did not qualify due to a lack of measurements.

Kaleb Johnson is a RB prospect in the 2025 draft class. He does not qualify for a #RAS due to a lack of measurements.

Splits projected, times unofficial.https://t.co/cE8xuRciLY pic.twitter.com/8y8baCbldD

— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) March 1, 2025​

Average “Big Board” Position as of Publishing Date from Mock Draft Database: 67th overall, projected third round.

The Draft Network’s Grade/Round Value (from October): Day 2 - Adequate Starter

Kaleb Johnson will feed families in Berea if he gets to the #Browns
pic.twitter.com/0Ies4FKSU9

— Damon Wolfe (@NFLinMotion) March 23, 2025​

What an Expert is Saying

Lance Zierlein at NFL.com:

Johnson is built like a bruiser, but his style is more finesse, preferring to win with tempo and decisiveness. He keeps his runs on time and on track while allowing blockers to do their job. He’s not overly aggressive, but he has the size and strength to break tackles and grab extra yards at the finish. He runs with below-average creativity and cut quickness but has consistent linear play speed to pop chunk runs. He can catch, but his three-down value takes a hit because of his struggles in pass pro. Johnson’s traits and running style make him a projectable fit in a two-back system with the upside to take on a bigger chunk down the road.

What an Expert is Saying (Bonus Round)

Pro Football Focus:

At 6 feet and 225 pounds, Johnson is an NFL back. His speed-to-power conversion is very impactful for broken tackles and yards after contact. But he has surprisingly light and quick feet to read line play and find open space rather than battering through the line of scrimmage. On outside-zone plays, his build-up speed makes him look like he’s shot out of a cannon. He recorded a very impressive 97.9 PFF Game Athleticism Score in 2024.

While Johnson is an incredibly impressive runner and playmaker with the ball in his hands, he lacks polish and reliability as a third-down back. He had some bad misses and displayed poor technique in pass protection at Iowa, leading to a low PFF grade in that department. He also didn’t do much as a receiver outside of 2024.

#Iowa RB Kaleb Johnson

Straight line speed/acceleration. pic.twitter.com/58araivVcX

— Matt Bowen (@MattBowen41) February 16, 2025​

Fit with the Browns

Johnson played in an offense at Iowa that utilized a zone-running scheme, which the Browns have successfully used under head coach Kevin Stefanski, outside of last season’s misguided work with offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey. That would seem to suggest the Johnson would be an easy fit into Cleveland’s running game, even though his pass-blocking skills are not up to par. But his ability to break tackles should catch the eye of pro teams.

Browns Player Drafting Could Impact

Cleveland’s current running back room is almost as bare as the quarterback room. Even if the Browns decide to bring back Nick Chubb, they will likely still draft a running back, which puts Pierre Strong or John Kelly Jr. on the bubble.

Priority: Upper-medium. A reliable running game can be a rookie quarterback’s best friend, and that is also true for whatever “bridge quarterback” the Browns roll with this fall. Expect general manager Andrew Berry to address the position at some point in the draft.

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What are your thoughts on Kaleb Johnson? Join fellow Browns fans in the comment section below.

Source: https://www.dawgsbynature.com/2025/...d-browns-nfl-draft-profile-kaleb-johnson-iowa

 

[Cleveland Browns]

2025 DBN Community Mock Draft Sign-Ups

Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

We are close to kicking off our 15th annual DBN Community Mock Draft!

It’s time for the 15th annual Dawgs By Nature Community Mock Draft, where we will collectively do a full-blown mock draft for the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, and also the Browns’ picks through the fourth round. 32 picks will be open for you to become their “general manager” in the first round. There are some special stipulations as to who can sign up, so be sure to read how things will work below.

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How to Sign Up​

• You must be a Browns fan to sign up.
• Do not sign up unless you know you will be able to reply via email whenever you are “on the clock” within 12 hours of receiving the email, and preferably ASAP.
• To sign up, leave a comment below with the teams (and pick #s) you are claiming. You may select one, two, or three picks, but they can’t be for the same team.
• After leaving a comment, you must immediately fill out the form below, checking the boxes for each pick you claimed.
• Here is a list of the 2025 NFL Draft order for your reference.
• NOTE: After pick #32 in the first round, we will “jump” to the Browns’ second, and third, and fourth-round picks, which include #33, #67, #94, and #104.

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On the Clock Requirements​

• When you are “on the clock,” I will send you an email. Note: you might be “on the clock” via email much sooner than the mock draft results you see on DBN. For example, if I just posted the result of the 5th overall pick to DBN, I might already be on the 10th pick via email.
• In your email response when you are “on the clock,” you will send the following:
• Position, Player, School
• A 1-2 paragraph write-up explaining the pick. This can include: why they are the right choice for that team, them being the best player available, how they fit the team’s scheme, how much of an impact you think he will have next season, etc. This is not intended to be a draft profile, so you do not need to worry about the nitty gritty details of all the strengths and weaknesses of a player.

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Let the sign-ups begin!

Source: https://www.dawgsbynature.com/2025/...raft-sign-up-for-the-dbn-community-mock-draft

 

[Cleveland Browns]

Russell Wilson finds a new team: Browns options limited, NFL draft impact

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images

NFL free agency continues to spin with Russell Wilson choosing between Giants, Browns, Steelers

The Cleveland Browns might be stuck between a rock and a Kenny Pickett when it comes to who their starting quarterback is in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season. The Browns started the offseason with a few options that seemed to make sense, but most are now off the board or currently stuck in trade limbo.

The only veteran QB to visit Berea was Russell Wilson, who then flew off to visit the New York Giants. When former Browns QB Jameis Winston signed with the Giants, it seemed there was one less suitor for Wilson’s service.

Depending on which of our writers you read, Wilson was either a potential savior for Cleveland or not worth signing. Both are moot points now as New York is reportedly bringing in their second veteran quarterback of the offseason with Wilson:

ESPN Sources: The Giants and Super Bowl-winning QB Russell Wilson reached agreement today on a one-year deal worth up to $21 million, including $10.5 million guaranteed. The 10-time Pro-Bowl selection had been in discussions with the Giants, Browns and Steelers, but is opting for… pic.twitter.com/ZjjOz0U7bl

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 25, 2025​

The contract is likely one that the Browns could have matched but, given Wilson’s struggles the last couple of seasons, they were unlikely to.

With Winston and Wilson now with the Giants, it will be interesting to see if Shedeur Sanders is still a target with the third overall pick. Cleveland is rumored to like Sanders but have a higher grade on Cam Ward. Most believe that DE Abdul Carter or WR/CB Travis Hunter could be of higher interest than Sanders for the Browns as well.

For now, Cleveland’s front office could revisit Kirk Cousins trade talks or look to sign Carson Wentz to fill their veteran need at quarterback. Joe Flacco, Case Keenum, Teddy Bridgewater and Trey Lance are among the other veteran free agent quarterback options.

Source: https://www.dawgsbynature.com/2025/...ract-browns-options-nfl-draft-shedeur-sanders

 

[Cleveland Browns]

When you hear Browns rumors, always start by looking at contracts to check if possible

Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images

Dak Prescott is not getting traded to the Browns despite a “rumor”

With such a long time between the NFL combine and the NFL draft, with NFL free agency squeezed in closer to the combine, rumors are a big part of what keeps the NFL in the news. In many ways, there are rumors and there are “rumors.”

With the second overall pick, a need a quarterback and a HC/GM combo likely on the hot seat, the Cleveland Browns have been the center of a lot of real rumors. There are also a lot of random things that are shared by fans and media as “rumors.”

The Browns trading for QB Dak Prescott in exchange for CB Greg Newsome II and “draft picks” is a great example of why it is vital to look at contracts to get an idea of the validity of a rumor. (If you want to see Bruce Drennan share the rumor, you can click the previous link.)

Prescott’s contract eliminates the possibility of the Cowboys trading him:

The Cowboys currently have about $29 million in cap space and would need to create over $70 million more in order to deal Prescott and be able to sign their own draft picks. If they were to receive Cleveland’s second overall pick, that number would grow even higher.

Drennan has been a part of sports media in Cleveland since the 1980s and currently has a show on BIGPLAY where he announced his sourced rumor that “the Browns are negotiating as we speak” to trade for Prescott and that is one of the reasons DE Myles Garrett was willing to return to the team.

Cleveland might be interested in trading for Prescott, but all rumors first must go through the “is the math matching?” process with the contracts. This one does not.

Source: https://www.dawgsbynature.com/2025/3/26/24394573/browns-dak-prescott-rumor-trade-cowboys