RSS Browns Team Notes

[Cleveland Browns]

Cleveland Browns vs. Pittsburgh Steelers Week 17 Predictions – Going for the sack record

This Sunday, the Cleveland Browns take on the Pittsburgh Steelers. Below, we analyze a few advantages, disadvantages, or general thoughts about the two teams before getting to our predictions for the game.

Myles Garrett Has to Get it​

The final home game of the season is this week for the Browns, and there are a lot of variables at play heading into the game:

1. Will the game matter for Pittsburgh? On Saturday, the Ravens play the Green Bay Packers, and will be without Lamar Jackson. If the Ravens lose, they are eliminated from playoff contention, which means Pittsburgh clinches the AFC North. So, we will know Saturday night whether the Steelers will have motivation to win this game.

2. Mike Tomlin previously said that the outcome of that game might impact whether players rest for these final two weeks. If Baltimore wins, what incentive is there for Aaron Rodgers to play meaningless reps, especially when much of their success this season should be attributed to him? If the Steelers rest players, that figures to shift the advantage to Cleveland.

3. The Giants and Raiders are currently the No. 1 and No. 2 teams for the 2026 NFL Draft, and they play each other this week. Assuming they don’t tie each other, that means Cleveland would move up to No. 2 in the draft for a loss. So, are we rooting for Baltimore to win, so that Pittsburgh doesn’t give the Browns a pity win that impacts their draft position? I know some may see that as a loser’s mentality, but I don’t: the season has already been long lost, and I think you can have a game like last week where you see a few nice things, but ultimately still see an addition to the loss column.

4. Cleveland is getting at least one reinforcement back defensively this week in CB Denzel Ward, and that also coincides with WR DK Metcalf being suspended. Pittsburgh doesn’t have any other go-to wide receivers really, but Rodgers still loves throwing to his running backs and tight ends.

5. The forecast is currently calling for rain during the game, which impacts things as well. That might assist Myles Garrett in getting a sack on a type of play that is aborted due to someone slipping. On top of that, other factors — like it Pittsburgh rests players — figures to increase his odds. Either way, this is the Browns’ final home game of the season, and it feels like the most important thing we need to see this week is Garrett making history.

Quick Hitters​

Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz was asked about the tale of two halves against Buffalo, and he talked at length about it:

“Yeah, I don’t think it was limited to the run game. I mean, those first three series were just awful, awful football. We sucked in about every facet, not just run game. Missed tackles, dropped coverage, lost contain on the quarterback. And I think originally, particularly the first drive, we had a difficult time adjusting to the speed of the game, particularly James Cook and then also Josh Allen with the scrambles. And when we made that adjustment, guys started getting a little bit more comfortable. We started making some of those plays. No excuse for the way we started the game, though. But I look at it more in that regard after that first series, and I’ll give you an example. The play they scored the touchdown on 44 yards, Mohamoud (Diabate) misses a tackle on that, and then we don’t get him down after that, but he’s unblocked in the hole. Tough angle, Cook cuts back and makes that play. Later in the game, the exact same play, almost the exact same defense, same thing – Mohamoud comes across and just lays a big hit on him and makes the tackle in the hole. So, we did adjust, but it was just too late. I don’t think I’ve ever been around a turnaround as drastic as that. Like, we gave up 200 yards on three drives. The only third down we got him to was the third and two quarterback run, we just couldn’t get anything right and had to make some adjustments and things. And the last drive of the first half and then the second half, I think it was like 50 yards total, and they couldn’t get a first down. Guys were covering, guys were playing the run and things like that. But reminded me a little bit, early in the season, (New England) Patriots were playing the Bills, and somebody asked Vrabes (Mike Vrabel), ‘hey, who do you have giving a look for James Cook on the scout team?’ And he sort of deadpans like, ‘hey look, I can assure you, if we had somebody that was capable of giving a look for James Cook, he’d be playing’. And that was sort of what happened. I mean, the guy’s a great back, Josh Allen’s a great quarterback. And I think another thing, I’m on the soapbox here, but if that game flips around and you say…I mean, we gave up three touchdowns, and then the other field goal we gave up, it was two yards on the drive to give up the field goal. But if you said we had given up 90 yards rushing and 160 passing, that might have been all, ‘oh wow, great job.’ But rushing yards are different. I talked about this the other week, where rushing yards have a psychological effect on your defense, and I was proud of the guys, the way they turned it around. They kept fighting, coaches were battling on the sideline, make some adjustments, things that were taken advantage of, took those away – and it was a little bit too little, too late. But we made some stops late, couple of fourth down stops, played good on third down, not enough. We got to come out faster this week. Just like I said, the opening drive, it wasn’t just run defense. We dropped coverage on man, lost containment on the quarterback – things that you can’t do in a game like that, particularly with a player like Josh Allen. And we paid the price for it.”

Offensive coordinator Tommy Rees was asked about why they didn’t push the ball more downfield last week against Buffalo:

“Buffalo was, I think, first or second in the league in early down passing, like for a second down pass defense. They were first or second in the league and they put a lot of emphasis on their pass defense. They play a lot of two high coverage. They keep things top down by design. So, you’re going to have to pick your spots to get the ball down the field. And you know, you call plays that the intent is to go down the field and they play coverage like we about talked about a week ago, where they dictate where the ball goes. And I thought his decision making in those moments was really good and what you want. You know, we had the one at Q that got us down to the four-yard line, I think it was a gain of 16, we check it down. We had another one on second and eight that got us nine and got us first down. Like, those are plays that keep you on schedule. You know, we’ve talked about that all year, getting out of third and long. Those are plays that keep you on schedule and allow us to have success on third down. So, you know, then there’s times throughout the game there might be a couple reps here or there where, ‘hey, they’re giving us a coverage where we can’t attack it. Now let’s go attack it.’ So pleased with how he made his decisions. Pleased with kind of the way they were defending and finding ways to continue to move the sticks that way.”

Special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone talked about the aborted field goal at the end of the first half against Buffalo:

“Yeah. Kind of short on the ball, but I do think that obviously both of those guys own it. We need to be able to execute that. I think Corey (Bojorquez) can still get the ball down. He would tell you the same thing. So just gotta eliminate bad football like that.”

Some other notes to look forward to:

• Dillon Gabriel had the first crack at the Steelers earlier this season, and now it’s Shedeur Sanders’ turn. T.J. Watt remains out, but Pittsburgh’s defense is a tough team to crack. They don’t rank too well defensively, but the defense has been solid the last three weeks in wins over the Ravens, Dolphins, and Lions.
• Harold Fannin landed on the injury report on Friday, and is listed as questionable.
• We might get to see Wyatt Teller back in action, but if he plays, he’s supposed to rotate series with Teven Jenkins.

Predictions​

Here are predictions from multiple staff members at DBN:

Chris Pokorny: “With all the variables mentioned, if a few of them align the way I mentioned, then Cleveland should be the ones favored in the game. My prediction is being made prior to the Ravens/Packers result. I don’t see Baltimore winning, but I just can’t bank on that at this precise point when predicting this game. The rain could also impact scoring, though. I’ll go with a lower-scoring affair, but let’s still give Pittsburgh the edge because of all of the Browns’ special teams woes.” Steelers 17, Browns 10

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Barry Shuck: “Funny thing about Browns vs. Steelers. No matter how many losses Cleveland has, they have the ability to split with the Steelers. Hard to explain. So, the Browns got taken to the woodshed in their first matchup. Can Cleveland take this one? Browns have the second-fewest passing yards in the league and instability at QB. Steelers are ranked #30 in pass defense, so that’s a match for either team. Cleveland is second in passing defense while Pittsburgh are bottom third in their passing attack. Huge advantage for the Browns. Neither club can run the ball and both are middle of the pack in run defense. Let’s pick the Browns to combat the pass because Pittsburgh can’t throw it.” Browns 27, Steelers 20

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Thomas Moore: “This is going to be a weird one on Sunday. The Browns have the cars packed up and ready to head into the offseason, while the Steelers are about to clinch the AFC North Division, much to everyone’s annoyance. Normally, that would equate to one of those late-December 31-0 losses for the Browns. But Cleveland has won five of the last six meetings at home against Pittsburgh, and there is a small chance the Steelers may sit some of their key players if they have the division wrapped up thanks to a loss by the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday night. That may still not be enough, however, as Cleveland’s offense is still woefully limited, even with Shedeur Sanders running things at quarterback after what is now six weeks of reps with the first-team offense.” Steelers 17, Browns 10

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Who do you think will win, Browns fans? Let us know in the comments section below.

Source: https://www.dawgsbynature.com/cleve...edictions-myles-garrett-going-for-sack-record

 

[Cleveland Browns]

Cleveland Browns vs. Pittsburgh Steelers – 1st Quarter discussion

Today, the Cleveland Browns take on the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 17 of the 2025 NFL season. The Browns (3-12) are chasing the NFL sack record for Myles Garrett, and Shedeur Sanders starts his first game against a division rival. The Steelers (9-6) have won three straight games, and have incentive to win now after the Ravens took care of business last night against the Green Bay Packers.

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Here are some features we’ve had this week to help preview the game:

• Cleveland Browns vs. Pittsburgh Steelers Week 17 Predictions – Going for the sack record
• Browns vs. Steelers: Week 17 Need to Know
• Browns vs. Steelers Week 17 predictions: Does Saturday night change things?
• Aaron Rodgers gets the ball out for the Steelers, but is it quick enough to stop Myles Garrett?
• Browns 2026 NFL draft order: CLE’s floor set, will draft inside Top 10 if they win out
• Browns history: Memorable Christmas Eve and Day games
• Cleveland Browns vs. Pittsburgh Steelers: Week 17 TV Map

This is your game thread to discuss the first quarter of the game, so be sure to participate in the comments section below. As always, GO BROWNS!

VS.

Game: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cleveland Browns
Date/Time: Sunday, December 28, 2025 at 1:00 PM ET
Local Television: CBS – Jim Nantz (play-by-play) & Tony Romo (analyst)
Local Radio: ESPN 850 WKNR, 92.3 The Fan, 98.5 FM WNCX

Source: https://www.dawgsbynature.com/cleve...61/pittsburgh-steelers-1st-quarter-discussion

 

[Cleveland Browns]

Steelers, Aaron Rodgers get rid of ball quick to avoid Myles Garrett sack record, put playoffs at risk

The Cleveland Browns knocked off the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 17 of the 2025 NFL season despite not playing well themselves for three quarters of the game. Losing TE Harold Fannin Jr. after his touchdown in the 1st quarter hindered an already limited offense, while LB Carson Schwesinger was limited as he gutted out what seemed to be a couple of injuries this week.

QB Shedeur Sanders struggled for much of the game, including his biggest flaw rearing its head again, but the Browns beat their rival, something some fans are celebrating despite the loss of position in the 2026 NFL draft order.

In reality, the Steelers seemed so focused on DE Myles Garrett not getting the single-season sack record against them that they chose to lose the game instead of trying to run their full offense. At least that is what many, including former Cleveland players Joe Thomas and Andrew Hawkins, believe:

Sure seemed like the @steelers were happy to lose the game if it meant keeping @Flash_Garrett from setting the NFL single season sack record. SMH


— Joe Thomas (@joethomas73) December 28, 2025

His former ThomaHawk co-host agreed:

Myles Garrett has 0 sacks…. But absolutely had the biggest effect on the game because the Steelers decided that stopping him from getting the sack record was more important than playing offense.

— Andrew Hawkins (@Hawk) December 28, 2025

The data also backs up that Pittsburgh played scared on Sunday:

There is coaching scared and there's whatever Mike Tomlin was doing today in Cleveland. pic.twitter.com/IWIBEVc4RO

— Derrick (@Steelers_DB) December 28, 2025

On film, you can see QB Aaron Rodgers being mostly unwilling to go through his progressions, including late in the game when the Steelers could have tied it up with a chance to wrap up the AFC North in the process:

so scared to give up the sack record that working back to his check to score was not a option lol https://t.co/t1xdH7juZ2

— Quincy Carrier (@Kwen_C) December 28, 2025

The Browns barely blitzed (current count is four), but Rodgers still didn’t even give the team a chance to get many pressures and wasn’t successful when pressure came either:

Rodgers was pressured on 8 of his 44 dropbacks today vs. the Browns.

He went 2-5 for 11 yards, took 2 sacks and had one scramble short of the sticks.

— Derrick (@Steelers_DB) December 28, 2025

At the end of the game, Pro Football Focus had Rodgers’ Time To Throw metric at 2.02 seconds. How fast is that compared to other QBs?

Aaron Rodgers currently has a 2.21 time to throw today per PFF

His average for the season is 2.59

The lowest for any quarterback is 2.55

Triple blocked
Ball out quick

The Myles Garrett impact today is massive, even if he doesn’t have a sack to show for it yet https://t.co/HdN7oHA4N4

— Jack Duffin (@JackDuffin) December 28, 2025

(The first stat was from earlier in the game)

According to Sumer Sports, Rodgers had the fastest TTT metric of any regular starting quarterback this season at 2.50. He cut that already small number down by a fifth in Week 17 versus Cleveland and Pittsburgh’s offense paid for it.

To be fair, the Steelers were without WRs DK Metcalf and Calvin Austin III before losing TE Darnell Washington to a broken arm during the game. While those losses would impact any offense, it should have actually led Rodgers to spend more time going through his progressions instead of just locking into his top weapons and getting rid of the ball quickly.

In the end, Garrett and his chase for the record controlled the game and cost Pittsburgh a chance to lock up the AFC North. NFL draft guru Dane Brugler agreed with Hawkins and others that Rodgers and the Steelers had the wrong priority this week:

100%. Was the case from the first snap until the last. https://t.co/drwsmIzZQ9

— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) December 28, 2025

Garrett also agreed with the assessment of how the game played out:

Browns’ standout Myles Garrett said the Steelers were more worried more about him than getting a win.

Story via @DanielOyefusi:https://t.co/LRvkdavH9R

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 29, 2025

The Browns continued their recent dominance over Pittsburgh at home in Week 17, but the Steelers deserve a ton of blame for losing the way they did.

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Do you agree that the Steelers cared more about Garrett’s sack record than winning the game and the division in Week 17? How else would you explain the data and film from their loss to the Browns?

Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below

Source: https://www.dawgsbynature.com/cleve...les-garrett-sack-record-week-17-time-to-throw

 

[Cleveland Browns]

Cleveland Browns open as underdogs against Cincinnati Bengals to finish off season

The Cleveland Browns opened as 7.5-point underdogs on the road against the Cincinnati Bengals ahead of their Week 18 match-up, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. The over/under on the game is 44.5.

The Browns (4-12) are coming off of a 13-6 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. It was a game that the Steelers desperately needed to clinch the AFC North, but the Browns’ defense played tough, not allowing a touchdown to Aaron Rodgers and company, even in the final moments as CB Denzel Ward came up big. QB Shedeur Sanders is 1-0 against the Steelers, although DE Myles Garrett just missed breaking the sack record.

The Bengals (6-10) blew out the Arizona Cardinals 37-14, their second strong offensive showing in as many weeks. The game doesn’t mean anything for either team, but they’re both still ready to fight to finish the season strong.

The over/under for the game is 44.5. All eyes from a national standpoint will be on whether Myles Garrett will break the sack record — he’s had big games against the Bengals before, so we’ll see.

What odds would you take if you were placing a bet?

Source: https://www.dawgsbynature.com/cleve...ainst-cincinnati-bengals-to-finish-off-season

 

[Cleveland Browns]

Browns: Future QB plans continue to be problematic

Winning in the NFL, especially against a division rival, can cover up a lot of issues for a team.

Take the Cleveland Browns, for example, who pulled off a somewhat surprising (but not really) victory on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The win was Cleveland’s sixth in the past seven home games against Pittsburgh, and had the bonus of denying the Steelers, who seemed more interested in stopping Myles Garrett than actually winning, a chance at clinching the division title.

Victory Mondays are always fun, of course, especially for a fanbase that has experienced so few of them these past two seasons. But it also came with a cost, one that the Browns will not have to pay for a few months, but that will define the trajectory of the franchise.

With the win, the Browns have eliminated themselves from the possibility of having the No. 1 overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft. Cleveland is currently sitting at No. 6 and saw their chances of selecting in the Top 5 fall from 88 percent to 55 percent with the victory, depending on how the final weekend of the season plays out.

No one in the locker room is going to be upset about the team’s draft position, but the front office needs to have a big-picture view, and that view reveals that the quarterback position is far from settled.

After putting up 10 points in the first quarter against the Steelers, the Browns could only manage three points over the final three quarters. They had all of two first downs and 42 yards of offense in the second half.

That continues the season-long stretch of poor offensive play by the Browns, where starting quarterbacks Joe Flacco, Dillon Gabriel, and Shedeur Sanders have combined to post the lowest QBR in the league at 24.7, according to ESPN.

Despite some post-game proclamations that Sanders has “taken another step toward the 2026 quarterback job,” it is difficult to look at the numbers and think the Browns see it the same way.

Sanders has now made six starts and has a Total EPA of minus-52.02 (ranking No. 70), an EPA/Play of minus-0.23 (No. 58), and a Pass/EPA of minus-60.54 (No. 71), according to Sumer Sports. Those numbers are all worse than what Gabriel put up in his six starts.

Meet 'em up @KingDugg_3

: #PITvsCLE on @paramountplus pic.twitter.com/qqydPNOy4j

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 28, 2025

That also points back to what we wrote a month ago about how simply being slightly better, or in reality just as bad, as the previous guy is not a ringing endorsement to name someone the answer at the quarterback position.

There is also still no tangible evidence that Sanders can take over the role in 2026, even after a full training camp of precious first-team practice reps. But that is where the Browns find themselves at the moment, with what appear to be two paths to take in the offseason:

• Pour all their resources into Sanders as the starter and hope he shows actual improvement. Not “he’s not Gabriel, so anything he does is acceptable,” but real improvement. Maybe Cleveland actually found gold in the fifth round of the draft, and things finally start to turn around. If not, get ready for another long year and stories about Jimmy Haslam’s longing for Arch Manning in the 2027 NFL Draft.
• Use as much draft capital as needed to move up to select either Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza or Oregon’s Dante Moore (if they both declare for the draft), and then trade Sanders for what they can get, because having him as the backup is not going to work. That is going to be costly, and after three years without a first-round draft pick, thanks to the Deshaun Watson trade, it could be tough to swallow. But if Cleveland wants one of those two players, there is no other way to get them.

We obviously won’t know which way the Browns will go until the draft rolls around next spring, but that is the situation they currently find themselves in after Sunday’s win against the Steelers.

And while that victory feels good now, there may be some buyer’s regret in a few months when the bill comes due.

Source: https://www.dawgsbynature.com/cleve...e-to-be-problematic-even-with-shedeur-sanders

 

[Cleveland Browns]

Browns defense doesn’t allow a touchdown in Week 17 vs Steelers

The Cleveland Browns’ defense had one of its best games of the season against the Steelers in a 13-6 win, not allowing a touchdown. They allowed 291 yards of offense, but the key stats were these: Pittsburgh was 3-of-15 (20%) on third down and 0-of-3 (0%) on fourth down.

Below, we analyze the snap counts and stats on defense for the Cleveland Browns’ Week 17 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Defensive Line​

Pos	Player	Plays	% Snaps	Stats
DL	Myles Garrett	62	94%	1 tackle (1 combined). 1 QH.
DL	Mason Graham	52	79%	4 tackles, 2 assists (6 combined). 1 TFL.
DL	Alex Wright	48	73%	2 tackles, 1 assist (3 combined). 1 sack, 2 TFL, 2 QH.
DL	Shelby Harris	47	71%	1 QH, 1 pass defended.
DL	Mike Hall	19	29%	1 tackle (1 combined).
DL	Adin Huntington	15	23%	1 tackle (1 combined).
DL	Cameron Thomas	11	17%	1 tackle, 3 assists (4 combined).
DL	Isaiah McGuire	11	17%	No stats registered.

• Myles Garrett didn’t break the sack record, and now has one more week to do so. Some headlines made the point that Pittsburgh seemed more concerned about stopping Garrett from beating them, than actually winning the game. I think that’s a fun way to get under the skin of Steelers fans, but it’s basically the same approach that Pittsburgh took during the first game between these two teams. Garrett was the Browns’ eighth-highest graded player on defense, per PFF, grading out to a 67.3.
• Alex Wright did notch a sack on Aaron Rodgers, although CBS announcer Jim Nantz embarrassingly got excited as he thought it might have been Garrett.
• Shelby Harris had a tipped pass on a fourth down play to help set up the Browns’ last field goal.

Linebacker​

Pos	Player	Plays	% Snaps	Stats
LB	Carson Schwesinger	66	100%	3 tackles, 6 assists (9 combined).
LB	Devin Bush	50	76%	5 tackles, 4 assists (9 combined). 1 TFL, 1 FF.
LB	Mohamoud Diabate	14	21%	1 tackle, 2 assists (3 combined).
LB	Jerome Baker	12	18%	1 tackle, 4 assists (5 combined). 1 TFL.

• Despite his injury, Carson Schwesinger played 100% of the snaps. I don’t know how wise that is, really — it’s one thing to be a warrior, but there were stretches where he was literally hopping on one foot, and that’s when Rodgers had some of his best passes. That likely impacted Schwesinger’s PFF grade, as he was the team’s third-lowest graded player with a 52.2 grade. He also finished with 9 tackles, ending his streak with 10+ tackles.
• Devin Bush was giving it to Aaron Rodgers after the final stop against Pittsburgh. The former Steeler had another strong game and was the Browns’ fourth-highest graded player, per PFF, grading out to an 81.0.
• Jerome Baker often seems to have a knack for logging a high tackle to snaps ratio. He was the Browns’ second-highest graded player on defense, grading out to an 86.0.

Cornerback​

Pos	Player	Plays	% Snaps	Stats
CB	Denzel Ward	66	100%	1 assist (1 combined). 1 pass defended.
CB	Tyson Campbell	56	85%	3 tackles, 1 assist (4 combined). 1 TFL, 2 passes defended.
CB	Tre Avery	29	44%	2 tackles, 1 assist (3 combined).

• The Browns’ cornerbacks shut down the Steelers, who were without DK Metcalf. Tyson Campbell was the Browns’ top-graded player by PFF, grading out to a 90.1. Denzel Ward was the third-highest with a grade of 82.9.
• In general, I disagreed with the Steelers approach for much of the game, especially in fourth down situations. They were treating it like they had Metcalf in there, and it led to drive killers instead. Additionally, Pittsburgh gave up on the running game way too much, after having a lot of success with it a week ago.
• Tre Avery filled in for Myles Harden due to injury.

Safety​

Pos	Player	Plays	% Snaps	Stats
S	Ronnie Hickman	66	100%	2 tackles (2 combined).
S	Grant Delpit	66	100%	7 tackles, 1 assist (8 combined). 1 sack, 1 TFL, 1 QH, 1 FF.
S	Rayshawn Jenkins	36	55%	2 tackles (2 combined). 1 FF.

• Grant Delpit notched a sack on Aaron Rodgers, forcing a fumble that Pittsburgh recovered.
• Ronnie Hickman was the Browns’ worst-graded defense per PFF, grading out to a 48.5, with his run defense and tackling struggling.
• Rayshawn Jenkins had a forced fumble that Pittsburgh recovered. His big blunder was a taunting penalty after a third down stop that extended a Pittsburgh drive.

Source: https://www.dawgsbynature.com/cleve...esnt-allow-a-touchdown-in-week-17-vs-steelers

 

[Cleveland Browns]

Beware when the winds of change blow through Browns Town

The Cleveland Browns will close out the 2025 regular season this weekend and then will enter another offseason dominated by change.

Change is inevitable in the NFL, of course, as players retire, free agents leave and arrive, coaches move on, sometimes by their own choice, sometimes not, and a new crop of rookies come to town full of promise.

The mob is now once again screaming for change once the curtain falls on the season – change at head coach, change at general manager, change at the quarterback position. (Actually, that last one may not be happening, no matter how much it should.) And, why, oh why, won’t they change the owner?

But, as it relates to the Browns, like just about everything the franchise touches, change has not always worked out the way that team officials and fans believed it would.

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Change the Owner​

Almost from the moment Randy Lerner took over as owner from his late father, fans were demanding that he sell the team. Lerner had the audacity to have a strong philanthropic side, was “distracted” by his ownership of Aston Villa in the Premier League, and “did not care” about winning.

In the fall of 2012, salvation was found when Jimmy and Dee Haslam closed on the purchase of the Browns from Lerner. A savvy businessman who knew what it took to win after spending time as a minority owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Haslam was everything that Lerner was not, and on-field glory would soon follow.

The signs that things were not going to improve anytime soon came quickly, with the announcement that Joe Banner was coming in as CEO and, for reasons no one to this day understands, Michael Lombardi was back for a second tour of duty as general manager.

It has been mostly downhill from there:

• An overall record of 77-150-1.
• Nine seasons with double-digit losses.
• The second 0-16 season in NFL history.
• The worst coaching hire in NFL history.

Ownership has been the one constant in 2012, but with the Browns among the world’s most valuable franchises and a new stadium on the way in 2029, ownership is the one thing that will not change for a long time.

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Change the GM​

Fans were ready to throw a parade when the Browns replaced Sashi Brown with John Dorsey near the end of the 2017 season. Out was Brown and his “voodoo” analytics, never mind that NFL teams have run on analytics for decades; in was “football guy” Dorsey to restore an old-school grit to the modern NFL.

Not everything went as expected, however, as Dorsey:

• Hired Freddie Kitchens as head coach
• Made the unnecessary trade for wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.
• Ignored off-field concerns about players like Antonio Callaway, Jermaine Whitehead, Desmond Harrison, and Damarious Randall
• Burned through $100 million in cap space with nothing to show for it.

Even though he was celebrated for his football acumen, Dorsey had as many misses – Chad Thomas, Callaway, Damion Ratley, Simeon Thomas, Greedy Williams, Sheldrick Redwine, Drew Forbes – as hits when it came to acquiring players.

Or, to put it another way, he was just like every other general manager, even if he was a noted “fooball guy.”

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Change the Head Coach​

This is Cleveland, so the thought of a new quarterback is always top of mind for fans. But coming in a close second is the promise of a new head coach.

There have certainly been plenty of opportunities over the years, as the Browns have gone through nine full-time head coaches – from Chris Palmer to Freddie Kitchens – and a pair of interim coaches – Terry Robiskie and Gregg Williams – before landing on current head coach Kevin Stefanski in 2020.

Stefanski hit the 100-game mark this past weekend, which makes him just the third head coach in franchise history to make it that far with the team. A two-time NFL Coach of the Year, Stefanski is fourth all-time in wins for the franchise and has led the Browns to the playoffs twice in his six seasons.

Has everything been perfect? Of course not. The past two seasons have pulled down Stefanski’s winning percentage as the Browns have dealt with the aftermath of the trade for quarterback Deshaun Watson. And familiarity can breed contempt, even if people focus on things that don’t matter, like how a head coach responds to the same tired questions during a weekly press conference.

But even if it may be a low bar, Stefanski has been the franchise’s best head coach since Marty Schottenheimer, and despite everything that has gone on in the past two seasons, the team still plays hard for him, which has not always been the case for the head coaches that preceded him.

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Change the QB​

No team in the NFL loves changing quarterbacks more than the Browns, as the franchise has gone through 42 starters starting with Ty Detmer in 1999 through the current starter in Shedeur Sanders.

First-round draft picks, low-round draft picks, veteran bridge quarterbacks, retreads, quarterbacks signed because there are literally no healthy options on the roster, the Browns have gone through every possible scenario over the years.

But in an ironic twist, this offseason is the one time the Browns should make a change at the position, but may not be in a position to do so as they no longer have a chance at the No. 1 overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft.

The team could conceivably still make a move to land one of the presumptive top two options, Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza and Oregon’s Dante Moore, but the cost might be too prohibitive for a team still digging out from the loss of three first-round picks thanks to the Watson trade.

That may force the Browns to roll for another season with the duo of Sanders and Dillon Gabriel, statistically two of the worst rookie quarterbacks since 2000. And if there is one universal truth about the NFL, which the Browns have confirmed more times than seems possible, it is that no team is winning without a top quarterback running the offense.

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Is Change Really the Answer?​

Almost from the moment rookie kicker Andre Szmyt’s missed field goal contributed to the Browns losing in Week 1, people have been screaming for change within the organization.

Six years have been enough of the Andrew Berry/Kevin Stefanski pairing. The quarterback situation is a complete mess, one made worse by the trade for Watson and the decisions made in the 2025 NFL Draft. And do not get anyone started about ownership!

The Browns will enter the offseason next week facing numerous questions about key parts of the roster, coaching staff, and front office. And no matter what they do, there will be people angry about the direction of the team.

A franchise can’t be paralyzed by a fear of not acting to improve, but given what this franchise has done for the past 25 years, can anyone say that changing things will result in a better tomorrow?

Source: https://www.dawgsbynature.com/cleve...-the-winds-of-change-blow-through-browns-town

 

[Cleveland Browns]

Browns: 2025 as told by our most-read stories

The Cleveland Browns had another long, and ultimately disappointing, calendar year in 2025.

The year began with a loss to the Baltimore Ravens on January 4 to close out a 3-14 season. It ended this past Sunday with the latest defeat of the Pittsburgh Steelers in Cleveland.

In between, there was continued speculation about the fate of quarterback Deshaun Watson, free agency, draft day trades that resulted in a group of productive rookies, a pair of not-so-productive rookie quarterbacks, training camp, and a regular season filled with more losses, more outside noise, and more cries for change in 2026.

Dawgs By Nature was there for every part of it, bringing the news to our dedicated and growing community of readers. To close out the year, here is a retrospective of what happened with the Browns as told by the most-clicked on stories for each month of 2025.

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January: 2025 NFL Draft comes into focus​

General manager Andrew Berry moved on from a couple of veteran players during the 2024 season, including a trade that sent wide receiver Amari Cooper to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for a draft pick. Once the Bills lost in the AFC Championship Game, the Browns knew the trade had netted them their fourth selection in the Top 100 picks in the 2025 NFL Draft. (Read the full story here.)

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February: Does Myles Garrett want out?​

As the NFL closed out the season with the Philadelphia Eagles defeating the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl, eyes were on Cleveland as Myles Garrett, the league’s best defensive player, was telling anyone with a microphone that he wanted to be traded. As speculation swirled about whether or not the Browns would actually trade their best player, a hypothetical trade with the Chicago Bears involving a pair of first-round draft picks caught everyone’s attention. (Read the full story here.)

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March: Free agency arrives​

The start of free agency brought the news that the Browns and Myles Garrett had worked out a contract extension. The club had a list of its own free agents to consider, including running back Nick Chubb and offensive tackle Jedrick Wills, and was linked to the annual list of available quarterbacks. While the Browns did not make a “splash signing,” we still had all the rumors and signings in our live blog of the opening days of free agency. (Read the full story here.)

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April: How about those UDFAs!​

General manager Andrew Berry was busy as always during the 2025 NFL Draft, making a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars to pocket a second first-round pick in 2026, selecting a rookie class of Mason Graham, Quinshon Judkins, Carson Schwesinger, and Harold Fannin Jr. that has quickly paid dividends, and, of course, setting off a season-long firestorm with the drafting of quarterbacks Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. But it was Berry’s work immediately following the draft, when the Browns brought in a fresh batch of undrafted free agents, that caught the attention of fans. (Read the full story here.)

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May: Another milestone in the Kenny Pickett era​

The Browns made a minor deal in March when they traded quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson to the Philadelphia Eagles for former first-round quarterback Kenny Pickett. Despite a narrative that the Browns actually wanted Pickett to be the starter, they ended up trading him to the Las Vegas Raiders at the end of August for a fifth-round selection in the 2026 NFL Draft. The signs that they didn’t really love Pickett were there when the reports started that they were declining to pick up his fifth-year option. (Read the full story here.)

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June: Farewell, Andre Szmyt. For now.​

The month of June is the only real slow time on the NFL calendar. The draft and free agency are complete. Teams are finishing up OTAs and preparing for a few weeks off before the start of training camps in July. So the news that the Browns were making a minor transaction by waiving kicker Andre Szmyt so they could sign wide receiver Jaelen Gill was more popular than expected. And while Szmyt had left the building, his name would soon become one that Browns fans know very well. (Read the full story here.)

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July: The Deshaun Watson era drags along​

With training camp set to open, the Browns made a few roster moves, including placing quarterback Deshaun Watson on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform list. Watson was still recovering from the Achilles injury he suffered against the Baltimore Ravens in 2024, which he re-injured in January. The move would not be the last involving Watson this year, as there was season-long speculation that he would see the field before the final game, which ultimately did not happen. But the clock continued to tick down on Watson’s time in Cleveland on this day in late July. (Read the full story here.)

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August: A tale of two quarterbacks​

The month of August brings with it training camp battles and the start of the preseason. The Browns entered training camp with a bevy of quarterbacks after signing Joe Flacco in free agency to join Pickett, Gabriel, and Sanders in a four-way competition that shook Browns Town to its core. That may be a slight exaggeration, but fans and media were losing their minds about how the team was going to work it all out. These things have a way of working themselves out, as Pickett dealt with a hamstring injury through most of the summer, and one of the rookies was the center of attention on one particular practice day while dealing with a sore arm. Bet you can’t guess which one! (Read the full story here.)

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September: Where in the world is Quinshon Judkins?​

As the Browns began preparation for the season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals, everyone was wondering about the status of rookie running back Quinshon Judkins. The second-round selection had missed all of training camp and the preseason while dealing with an off-field legal issue, and remained unsigned just days before the first game. But a report that a deal was on the horizon provided Browns fans with some hope. (Read the full story here.)

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October: The coaching rumors swirl​

It only took until the midway point of the season for the torches and pitchforks to come out as the mob called for the Browns to fire head coach Kevin Stefanski. Cleveland was coming off a bad loss to the New England Patriots, and heading into the bye week, many decided the time was right to make a move. With that in mind, readers were keen to look over a list of potential candidates to lead the Browns back to glory. (Read the full story here.)

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November: The best laid plans …​

After a disappointing loss to the New York Jets that was fueled by a pair of special teams miscues and the defense’s inability to stop a Justin Fields-led offense when it mattered the most, the cries intensified for the Browns to bench quarterback Dillon Gabriel for Shedeur Sanders. The Browns had a plan, and they were sticking to it, at least for another week, as head coach Kevin Stefanski explained as Cleveland prepared to face the Baltimore Ravens. (Read the full story here.)

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December: Still more coaching rumors​

It is the final month of another disappointing season for the Cleveland Browns, which means it is time for visions of a new coach to dance in the minds of fans and media members alike. Usually, when those visions become true, they end with the head coach being fired. But what if the head coach actually has an exit strategy of his own in mind? (Read the full story here.)

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That brings our retrospective to a close. Thank you to everyone for your support of Dawgs By Nature. We would not exist without our loyal readers, and we appreciate every one of you! Have a happy and safe New Year’s Eve!

Source: https://www.dawgsbynature.com/cleve...-browns-2025-as-told-by-our-most-read-stories

 

[Cleveland Browns]

Browns were never tanking

As someone who has played a sport, there is no such thing as “tanking” or losing on purpose, at least on the field. The term “tanking” which isn’t necessarily defined, is described as “intentionally losing games or fielding a deliberately non-competitive team to get a higher draft pick.” Fans will joke about their teams tanking, but it’s something that is used throughout the professional sports leagues, such as the NBA and NFL.

Teams will not publicly say that they are tanking, but their actions, specifically in the front office, tell a different story. Teams tank, players do not.

After the Cleveland Browns stunned the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 17, the Browns have played themselves out of a top 2 pick, which could ruin their chance of getting a top quarterback in this upcoming draft. Some fans are happy about the win (mainly due to them beating a division rival), others? Not so much:

I don't think that anyone would be happier to find a franchise QB in the fifth round than Browns fans. Nothing about these six starts has done anything to instill that confidence.

— Cory (@fakecorykinnan) December 28, 2025

Shedeur played awful today and the Browns won. Yeah it’s over man

— Curt (@curtiss_brown21) December 28, 2025

man i know we didn’t really want to win that game for draft reasons, but it always feels good to beat the steelers

— Abby Mueller (@abby_mueller_) December 28, 2025

The Steelers losing this game felt predictable; Pittsburgh came out flat and the Browns took advantage of it. Teams that are eliminated from playoff contention have reasons to play for: Pride and job security come to mind. With a win, it might feel like a loss to some people. Why? Opportunity.

Opportunity to build. The right way. The opportunity to start with a new slate with the hope of contending for a Super Bowl in the future. Six games are a big enough sample size to know that rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders hasn’t shown enough to be the face of the franchise. Is it unfair, considering how the Browns offensive personnel is right now? Yes. However, Tennessee Titans QB Cam Ward has a far worse offensive system around him, but he’s gradually improving week after week. Sanders? It’s more inconsistent than consistent.

The reason why Cleveland has been stuck for a while is due to the fact that the team has yet to get a game-changer at the quarterback position. Having a top-two pick would’ve helped tremendously and kick-started this rebuild. Relying on Sanders to take a leap is riskier than people want to admit.

The team was never going to lose on purpose (nor should they). Not trading Myles Garrett, signing Joe Flacco, trading for Kenny Pickett, talking Joel Bitonio into returning, etc, all proved that the team was never tanking. There were a few games that Cleveland should have won but didn’t, more proof they were tanking. Despite that, a lot of losses have come and the Week 17 win has a potential consequence that can alter their future.

Source: https://www.dawgsbynature.com/cleve...rowns-were-never-tanking-2025-shedeur-sanders

 

[Cleveland Browns]

Browns, Bengals dealing with injuries heading into pointless Week 18 AFC North matchup

In professional sports, expectations are a heck of a thing. Most Cleveland Browns fans, and betting apps, had very low hopes for the team’s performance in 2025. The opposite was true for the Cincinnati Bengals, which led to a very disappointing season in Southern Ohio/Northern Kentucky.

A win in Week 17 versus AFC North rivals in the Pittsburgh Steelers have removed the Browns from any hope of the top pick in the 2026 NFL draft, but Week 18 puts them in a position to end the year with back-to-back wins within the division. Underdogs on the road, Cleveland has the same thing to play for that Cincinnati does: Nothing and pride.

The Browns are already set to pick in the top seven of next year’s draft, no matter the outcome of Week 18, but injuries on both sides could impact the AFC North Battle of Ohio to end the season. Even OL Kingsley Eguakun, signed from the Detroit Lions this week, is dealing with an injury for Cleveland.

In the first injury report of the week, 11 players did not practice, six from the Bengals side of the ledger:

• RB Chase Brown – Illness
• TE Cam Grandy – Chest
• DE BJ Hill – Ankle
• WR Charlie Jones – Ankle
• CB Josh Newton – Hamstring
• DE Joseph Ossai – Ankle

The five Browns players who sat out Wednesday’s practice:

• TE Harold Fannin – Groin
• OL Teven Jenkins – Concussion
• OL Kingsley Eguakun – Knee, Shoulder
• TE David Njoku – Personal
• LB Carson Schwesinger – Quad, Ankle

As always, Cleveland’s list of injured players who are limited or full participants was long and extensive. We will have an update as practices continue this week, in the New Year.

Source: https://www.dawgsbynature.com/cleve...-injuries-pointless-week-18-afc-north-matchup

 

[Cleveland Browns]

Daily Dawg Chow 1/2; will Myles break the sack record vs Bengals?

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – AUGUST 08: Quarterback Shedeur Sanders #12 of the Cleveland Browns reacts at the line of scrimmage in the first half during the NFL Preseason 2025 game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on August 08, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Jeff Lange / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The latest Cleveland Browns coverage from Dawgs By Nature:

• Browns, Bengals dealing with injuries heading into pointless Week 18 AFC North matchup (Jared Mueller) Cleveland Browns vs Cincinnati Bengals started the 2025 NFL season and will end it as injuries linger
• Browns WR Jerry Jeudy continues his winding road career (Barry Shuck) The Cleveland Browns roster has a lot of issues including WR Jerry Jeudy who has continued his up and down career in 2025
• Shedeur Sanders, 2026 NFL draft: Browns lack certainty at QB spot (Curtiss Brown) Cleveland Browns have little certainty at the QB position with Shedeur Sanders, lower 2026 NFL draft pick
• Race to the Bottom 6.0: A Browns win gets further away from the first overall pick (Barry Shuck) No, sir, no tanking here but the Cleveland Browns still have a chance for a high pick in the 2026 NFL draft order
• Time for a change at head coach for the Browns or not? (Abby Mueller) As the 2025 season comes to a close, changes may be made to Cleveland Browns’ leadership, Kevin Stefanski particularly
• Tiers of HC candidates if Browns fire Kevin Stefanski (Curtiss Brown) If the Cleveland Browns fire Kevin Stefanski, a look at who should and should not be involved in the head coaching search

More Cleveland Browns news:

• Browns’ defense prepared to limit Joe Burrow in Week 18 (clevelandbrowns.com) “Cleveland held Burrow to 113 passing yards in Week 1.”
• Browns’ draft class poised to accomplish rare milestone despite 4-12 record (News-Times) “Shedeur Sanders has captured the spotlight in the Cleveland Browns rookie class. All seven rookies have seen significant playing time this season.”
• What’s happening next week in lawsuits over Browns move? (FOX 8 News) “The FOX 8 I-Team has found the first full week of the new year is expected to bring new developments in two fights over plans for the Cleveland Browns to…”
• Cleveland Browns without handful of rookies ahead of 2025 season finale (Sports Illustrated) “The Cleveland Browns are set to potentially be without rookies Carson Schwesinger and Harold Fannin Jr. due to injury.”
• Tyson Campbell overcomes ‘tough situation’ in adjustment with Browns (Akron Beacon Journal) “Tyson Campbell dealt with a whirlwind of activities when he was first traded to the Browns in October. He’s settled in now, and playing good football.”
• Browns Announce Bad Myles Garrett News Ahead of Finale (Heavy Sports) “The Cleveland Browns provided a worrisome update on Myles Garrett ahead of the final game of the NFL season.”
• Shedeur Sanders’ surprising defense of Kevin Stefanski despite their strained relationship (Marca) “Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders is set to start the final game of the season against the Cincinnati Bengals, a matchup that carries…”
• Five worst things about 2025 (Youtube) Quincy Carrier looks back

Source: https://www.dawgsbynature.com/cleve...reak-the-sack-record-vs-bengals-shedeur-myles

 

[Cleveland Browns]

Browns final practice of 2025: 3 starters sit out on a muddy Friday

The end is near for the 2025 Cleveland Browns season, and it looks like it will go out with a whimper. Who knows which players will play on either side of the Battle of Ohio or how motivated two teams that will select in the Top 10 of the 2026 NFL draft will be, but injuries are likely to impact the quality of play in Week 18.

The Cincinnati Bengals will host the Browns, with the weather expected to warm up to the mid-30s for the game, with mostly sun in the forecast. For the final practice of the 2025 season, the weather was a little worse in Berea on Friday:

#Browns Myles Garrett returns to practice after missing Thursday with a hip injury pic.twitter.com/vHpR5GRAEE

— Fred Greetham (@FredGreetham9) January 2, 2026

Cleveland ruled out TE Harold Fannin Jr., TE David Njoku, and LB Carson Schwesinger after they missed practice on Friday. The end of great rookie years for two players and, potentially, the end of Njoku’s Browns career.

OL Tevin Jenkins will start at right guard if he clears concussion protocol in time for the game on Friday. We will have the full injury report later today.

Also, be thankful Cleveland is taking things a bit more seriously than another team with a losing record:

It's jersey switch day at Giants. Center Austin Schlottmann is Jaxson Dart and guard Jon Runyan Jr. is Jameis Winston. pic.twitter.com/rhlP1CgLq0

— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) January 2, 2026

Russell Wilson (51) as Abdul Carter. https://t.co/RguKdwjohR pic.twitter.com/TCyd9XFDkw

— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) January 2, 2026

Source: https://www.dawgsbynature.com/cleve...-of-2025-3-starters-sit-out-on-a-muddy-friday

 

[Cleveland Browns]

Browns trades: Revisiting the Greg Newsome, Tyson Campbell deal with Jaguars

Three days after the Cleveland Browns lost their fourth game of the season, 21-17, against the Minnesota Vikings, on October 8, Browns GM Andrew Berry made yet another trade. This one wasn’t expected or predicted.

For two seasons, there had been speculation that CB Greg Newsome would be traded. Most media outlets had Newsome being shipped off in a draft-day trade. But those years came and went. In training camp this summer, CB M.J. Emerson tore his Achilles and was subsequently placed on IR after surgery, which placed him out for the entire year.

RELATED: TYSON CAMPBELL HAS BEEN A DIFFERENCE-MAKER

It was then that any Newsome trade talks ceased. For better or worse, the Browns’ defense needed Newsome more than ever. You don’t just shop around and grab a capable cornerback at ProFootball R Us any time there is a pressing need, much less as the season opener was fast approaching.

Newsome had been the starting outside corner opposite Denzel Ward when Emerson was taken in the third round of the 2022 NFL draft. By mid-season, Emerson had pushed Newsome off his starting spot and sent him to the slot position instead. Still playing, just not at his accustomed spot.

Newsome was a first-round draft pick in 2021. First-rounders are supposed to be the rock and soul of your team. After all, the franchise is paying them to be quality help. So, for a third-round guy to come in and, within half a season, devalue Newsome was quite a feat.

But when DC Jim Schartz was hired, he never quite took a shine to Newsome. In Schwartz’s scheme, the cornerbacks are required to play man and blanket, with a safety over the top sometimes. This means the coverage has to be top-shelf. And Newsome was never a shadow cornerback. He had quickness and flashed being physical with good hand punches and good instincts. But he has always played too high and couldn’t handle the truly explosive speed receivers in the league.

And now with Emerson unavailable for the entire season, Schwartz was stuck with Newsome.

It just so happens that the Jacksonville Jaguars were regretting the contract situation of one of their starting cornerbacks, Tyson Campbell. He was getting paid more than they thought he should be, and wanted to get out of the contract and move on to something different. On July 23, 2024, Jacksonville under head coach Doug Pederson inked Campbell to a four-year, $76.50 million contract that included $53.40 million guaranteed with a signing bonus of $16 million.

That something different was Newsome, who was playing for Cleveland in his fifth-year option campaign. The advantage to a team is that if the player is playing lights out, they will, in all likelihood, sign him to a bigger contract. However, if he has been playing in the mediocre category, the new contract won’t be substantial and will likely be for two or three years, providing financial flexibility to the franchise rather than being locked in.

To Jacksonville, this was a fiscal advantage. For the Browns, Schwartz wasn’t happy with Newsome, yet he was stuck with him. He showed body stiffness and had issues sticking to his receivers, then became too handsy after getting beaten.

Cleveland and Jacksonville had pulled off a trade on draft day since the Jags coveted the versatile Travis Hunter out of Colorado, so Berry and Jags GM James Gladstone were very familiar with each other. All it took was a phone call, and suddenly, the Jaguars had shipped off Campbell and his lofty contract and gotten a cornerback to take his place in Newsome.

Both teams were happy with the player-for-player swap, along with two Day 3 draft picks thrown into the deal.

And now?​

Both Campbell and Newsome were picked in the same NFL draft, although Campbell was taken in Round 2, seven picks later.

The trade was not received well at first by Browns fans and their media, and was highly questioned because Newsome had a higher value and was under a much better financial contract in terms of paying him.

But initially, the move saved Cleveland significant cap space. And Newsome played well in a zone defense, such as the kind that the Jaguars used, whereas Campbell had success playing man coverage, which fit into Schwartz’s defensive scheme.

After arriving in Berea the day after he was traded, Campbell was on the practice field. Three days later, he started at cornerback against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Now, Campbell has been a great fit for Schwartz’s defense opposite Ward. He is great in man coverage and has been mentioned as a lock-down corner without using much safety help. This has allowed S Grant Delpit and CB Myles Harden to handle the slot guys.

Because of the change, the Browns are ranked as the #2 passing defense allowing the second fewest yards (2,984), third fewest attempts (448), third fewest completions (279), #10 in passing touchdowns (22), third fewest first down conversions via the pass (145), and fifth least passing plays of 40+ yards (6).

Campbell has allowed the safety group to roam the field. This means guys such as Ronnie Hickman, Rayshawn Jenkins, and the rookie Donovan McMillon have concentrated on stopping the run more and making plays instead of breaking off and having to be concerned with Campbell’s man.

Since arriving in Cleveland, Campbell has had six games with five or more tackles, including 10 against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 12, a 24-10 Cleveland victory. In just 11 games with the Browns, he has 50 total tackles, one tackle for loss, one QB hit, two forced fumbles, 12 batted passes, one pick six, one pressure, and one knockdown.

In a single word, the play of Campbell since coming to Cleveland: reinforce.

He has reinforced the defensive backfield for the Browns. And he has been a very busy man. Campbell has been the sixth most targeted player in the NFL this season, with over 88 targets against him, just 45 of those targets going for receptions.

Against the Steelers last weekend, Campbell was targeted eight times with just four receptions for 20 yards. Two passes were swatted away. Pretty good numbers.

And Campbell is not afraid to stick his head in there and tackle. In fact, he is a willing tackler who has three more years remaining on his contract. He has physicality that has earned him respect from his new teammates and opponents. And Ward and Campbell play well together.

The flip side​

Since arriving in Jacksonville, one thing stands out: Newsome is now playing for a winner. The Jaguars are one of the AFC’s best teams, currently sitting at 12-4-0. They are leading the AFC South Division and slotted as the #4 seed.

Newsome has gone from a man-to-man coverage scheme to a more zone-centric coverage scheme with the Jags.

As far as Newsome, he has had a rough go at it so far. He has allowed five touchdowns in just 10 starts. He has just 28 tackles, but has missed seven tackles. One interception and just six batted passes.

One word? Inconsistent.

He hasn’t started every game since arriving in Jacksonville, and all of his stats are mediocre.

In Cleveland, he played on 28.77% of the defensive plays with 284 snaps. With his new team, he has played on just 41.07% of defensive plays, or 428 snaps. That is less than half of the time the defensive unit is on the field.

However, Newsome will be playing on big screen TVs for every Browns fan and their entire roster, while Cleveland’s players will be cleaning out their lockers.

As far as the trade, Newsome says a big “thank you” for the extra game checks this year, while Campbell has been a clear upgrade as more of a pure, outside cover corner for the Browns.

Source: https://www.dawgsbynature.com/cleve...greg-newsome-tyson-campbell-deal-with-jaguars

 

[Cleveland Browns]

Browns make minor roster moves ahead of season finale

The Cleveland Browns are staggering to the finish line of the 2025 regular season, which mercifully comes to a conclusion on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals.

While there is not much to be gained for either team by playing the game, outside of defensive end Myles Garrett’s quest to set an NFL record for sacks in a single season, league rules stipulate that the game must go on!

To that end, the Browns announced a handful of small roster moves on Saturday afternoon to help them get through the game.

A day after ruling linebacker Carson Schwesinger out as he is dealing with injuries to his quad and ankle, Cleveland placed him on the injured reserve list. That officially ends an impressive season from Schwesinger, one that should earn him the Defensive Rookie of the Year honor, as he led all rookies in tackles (146), tackles for loss (11), and is tied for third with two interceptions.

To fill his place against the Bengals, the Browns signed linebacker Edefuan Ulofoshio to the active roster from their practice squad.

The 6-foot-1 and 240-pound Ulofoshio was originally selected in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills. He appeared in four games with the Bills as a rookie, splitting his time between defense and special teams. Ulofoshio has six tackles, one tackle for loss, and a pass defensed on his NFL account heading into Sunday’s game.

Cleveland will also be without their top two tight ends as rookie Harold Fannin Jr. (groin) and veteran David Njoku (knee) were ruled out on Friday. They do need someone for quarterback Shedeur Sanders to target, because the wide receivers are not necessarily getting it done, so they elevated tight end Sal Cannella from the practice squad.

Sal Cannella! #DawgPound #Browns pic.twitter.com/UV8JDNswff

— Dillon Burns (@DillonBurns_18) December 28, 2025

The 6-foot-5 and 242-pound Cannella made his NFL debut last week against the Pittsburgh Steelers and caught two passes for 11 yards. Prior to coming to Cleveland, Cannella had a nice tour of the country as he spent time with the Miami Dolphins (2021), Green Bay Packers (2022), Seattle Seahawks (2023), and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2024).

Finally, guard Teven Jenkins, who was listed as questionable for Sunday’s game, has cleared concussion protocol and looks good to go against the Bengals.

Source: https://www.dawgsbynature.com/cleve...d-of-season-finale-against-cincinnati-bengals

 

[Cleveland Browns]

Cleveland Browns fans hoping to finish the season witnessing history

At the start of the season, we expected to see this match-up again. How things have changed. | Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images

During the season, Cleveland Browns fans vote in SB Nation Reacts to express their confidence level in the team or their thoughts on other topics.

The Browns are coming off a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Although we have polled the fan confidence each week, the last time we reported it was two weeks ago, following the team’s loss to the Bears. In the week after that, when Cleveland lost a close game to the Bills, fan confidence increased by 17 percentage points up to 47%. And then after the win against Pittsburgh, it remained steady at 47%. Between Weeks 13-18, the team’s confidence has basically remained the same. It’s been elevated since Shedeur Sanders gave fans a reason to stay interested in another losing season. Our opponents this week, the Cincinnati Bengals, only have 25% confidence from their fanbase.

We asked one other question this week, which is whether DE Myles Garrett will get a sack this week (which would break the record if its a full sack). 81% of fans think it’ll happen, even though he was shut out last week.

If we go by history against the Bengals:

2025: 1/1 in games with a sack
2024: 1/2 in games with a sack
2023: 1/1 in games with a sack
2022: 2/2 in games with a sack

In his last 6 games against the Bengals, Garrett has a sack in 5 of them. The Bengals tend to throw the ball a lot, and that type of philosophy often comes with some sacks that are given up. Let’s hope it happens again this week.

Source: https://www.dawgsbynature.com/cleve...oping-to-finish-the-season-witnessing-history

 

[Cleveland Browns]

Browns updated 2026 NFL Draft order: Current 1st-round pick after Week 18

With two weeks remaining in the 2025 NFL season, the Cleveland Browns were “fighting” for the top spot in the 2026 NFL draft order. Two wins later, versus AFC North rivals, and the fight was actually on the field, not just for draft positioning. Week 18’s victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, after knocking off the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 17, kept the Browns from moving up in the draft order but secured a two-win improvement from last season at 5-12.

DE Myles Garrett set the single-season sack record (with DT Shelby Harris showing how hilarious he is) and K Andre Szmyt found redemption from his Week 1 miss.

Following the completion of the early slate of Sunday games in Week 18, Cleveland is currently slotted to select sixth overall, after a Washington Commanders win against the Philadelphia Eagles moved the pick one spot from seventh overall.

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Updated 2026 NFL Draft order​

1. Las Vegas Raiders
2. New York Jets
3. Arizona Cardinals
4. Tennessee Titans
5. New York Giants
6. Cleveland Browns
7. Washington Commanders
8. New Orleans Saints
9. Cincinnati Bengals
10. Kansas City Chiefs
11. Miami Dolphins
12. Dallas Cowboys
13. Los Angeles Rams (from the Atlanta Falcons)
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
15. New York Jets (from the Indianapolis Colts)
16. Baltimore Ravens
17. Detroit Lions
18. Minnesota Vikings (Final spot that is certain after Week 18, remainder will be decided by the NFL playoff results)
19. Carolina Panthers
20. Dallas Cowboys (from the Green Bay Packers)
21. Pittsburgh Steelers
22. Philadelphia Eagles
23. Los Angeles Chargers
24. Buffalo Bills
25. Chicago Bears
26. San Francisco 49ers
27. Houston Texans
28. Cleveland Browns (from the Jacksonville Jaguars)
29. Los Angeles Rams
30. Denver Broncos
31. New England Patriots
32. Seattle Seahawks

The playoff teams will not have their order locked in place until they are eliminated from the postseason, including where the Browns pick from the Jaguars will be slotted. The final game of Week 18, the Pittsburgh Steelers versus the Baltimore Ravens, will not impact Cleveland’s 2026 NFL draft order.

Source: https://www.dawgsbynature.com/cleve...ft-order-2026-updated-1st-round-picks-week-18

 

[Cleveland Browns]

Browns HC search: Top 3 options includes Robert Saleh if Kevin Stefanski is fired

With the Cleveland Browns likely to move on from head coach Kevin Stefanski, there are a variety of directions the organization could choose to go in to fill that vacancy.

Grant Udinski

Grant Udinski, current offensive coordinator of the Jacksonville Jaguars, has quickly risen as an impressive offensive mind in this league at such a young age. In 2024, he served as the assistant quarterbacks coach and assistant offensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings, giving him experience working with diverse quarterback rooms and maximizing their potential. This season in Jacksonville, he helped clinch a playoff berth while continuing to develop Trevor Lawrence in the offense. With his offensive success in this league, he would be a compelling candidate for the Browns.

Robert Saleh

Robert Saleh is regarded as one of the league’s top defensive minds and has enjoyed major success this season as the San Francisco 49ers’ defensive coordinator. His stint as the head coach of the New York Jets may have led some people to question his ability to lead a team; however, the organization was plagued by significant dysfunction at the time, which contributed to the team’s struggles. Saleh deserves a second chance at leading a team. Cleveland may want to change things up and bring a defensive-minded leader to the team, rather than an offensive-minded one like Stefanski. If that is the case, Saleh could be the right fit.

Joe Brady

Current Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady should be someone that the Browns have their eye on. Brady started with the Bills as their quarterbacks coach in 2022 and was then promoted to offensive coordinator in 2023. The Bills’ offense has thrived under his leadership, highlighted by an MVP season from Josh Allen. Brady is another young, energetic leader who would not come into this role with prior head coaching experience. A move like this could provide the Browns with the fresh perspective that they so desperately need.

Let me know what you think in the comments – Who should be the top options in the Browns Head Coach search?

Source: https://www.dawgsbynature.com/cleve...ch-options-robert-saleh-kevin-stefanski-fired

 

[Cleveland Browns]

Browns GM: Starting QB for 2026 is still an unknown

Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry acknowledged on Monday what everyone who watched the team play this season already knew full well.

No, it’s not how difficult it is to win with an ownership group that can’t get out of its own way, but rather that the Browns likely do not currently have a viable NFL-level starting quarterback at their disposal. (They don’t, but let’s give them the benefit of the doubt for just a moment.)

That won’t be Kevin Stefanski’s problem anymore after he was “relieved of his duties” earlier in the day. But the new guy who will occupy the head coach’s office will certainly be interested, especially since it is an accepted fact that you can’t win in the NFL if you don’t have a quarterback.

And make no mistake, the Browns do not currently have a quarterback on the roster who is deserving of being anywhere near the starter’s role this fall. (Time expired on the benefit of the doubt.)

The two most likely candidates, seeing as how veteran Deshaun Watson has certainly played his last down for the Browns, are Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, who both just wrapped up what was, even by the standards of the Browns, an interesting and bizarre season.

Gabriel made six starts from Week 5 through halftime of the Week 11 game before turning things over to Sanders for the final seven starts of the season. So that gives everyone involved an even data set to evaluate what the rookies were able to accomplish.

And, oh dear, do those numbers not look good.

Looking at the raw numbers projected over a 17-game schedule, Gabiel would have finished the year completing 59.5 percent of his passes for 1,593 yards, 12 touchdowns, three interceptions, and 32 sacks. Sanders, meanwhile, projected out to a 56.6 completion percentage, 2,975 yards, 15 touchdowns, 21 interceptions, and 49 sacks.

Going deeper into the more advanced numbers, according to Sumer Sports:

• Gabriel finished with a Total EPA of -43.52, an EPA/Play of -0.20, a Pass EPA of -43.95, and a QBR of 31.
• Sanders checked in with a Total EPA of -59.50, an EPA/Play of -0.23, a Pass EPA of -70.23, and a QBR of 19.

None of those numbers screams “they have cemented their place for 2026,” which Berry emphasized during his media appearance on Monday:

“We’re going to do our work on the quarterback market. It’s too important of a position, and it’s something that has to be solidified. I can’t sit here and tell you today, you know, whether the solution for or the starter in 2026 is internal or external. But it’s something that we’re going to work through over the next several weeks. And quite honestly, the new head coach will also have a lot of input into that as well.”

That dovetails with the statement from the team attributed to Berry earlier in the day, stating he expects to “develop what will be a young offense with heavy investment over the next six months.”

Fortunately, Berry should have the cap space (possibly around $69 million when all is said and done) and the draft picks (10 overall and two in the first round) to achieve that stated goal.

Whether or not that “heavy investment” results in wins remains to be seen, but it seems as clear as ever that the Browns are going to be back in the quarterback market come free agency and the draft.

Source: https://www.dawgsbynature.com/cleve...-still-unknown-shedeur-sanders-dillon-gabriel

 

[Cleveland Browns]

The Browns’ new head coach must be offensive-minded

With Kevin Stefanski’s departure, the Cleveland Browns will most certainly be bringing in a wide range of candidates to interview and find the next head coach of this team. They could pursue a coach with head coaching experience or take a chance on someone who brings a fresh perspective without prior head coaching baggage. Additionally, they will need to decide whether they want an offensive or defensive-minded head coach.

Given the weaknesses of the Browns’ current roster, it makes the most sense to hire an offense-minded head coach. Cleveland’s offense has been a limiting factor in recent seasons, making it essential to hire someone with a clear vision who can implement it quickly. This team has been lacking an offensive identity, and their new coach must bring this to the table.

The starting quarterback of the Browns in 2026 will most likely either be Shedeur Sanders or another young quarterback. Creating stability for this quarterback in a new system will be critical for their development. When a team doesn’t hire an offense-minded head coach, it needs to bring in an offensive coordinator to call plays. There is risk in this structure – the team could lose its play-caller after one good season. If the head coach is the one calling the plays, they can guarantee continuity from one season to the next on that side of the ball.

Cleveland already has significant defensive talent, and the coordinator role there is likely to attract strong interest from defensive coaches. It should be easier to plug a coordinator into the defensive system than it would be to do the same on the other side of the ball.

Let me know what you think in the comments – Should the Browns’ new head coach be offensive-minded?

Source: https://www.dawgsbynature.com/cleve...8/browns-new-head-coach-search-offensive-mind

 

[Cleveland Browns]

Browns add fast rising defensive coach to head coaching interview list

The NFL head coaching carousel got sped up, and everyone is even more excited with the inclusion of John Harbaugh and the Baltimore Ravens in the mix. The Cleveland Browns do not have the most valuable open position on the market, but they should leave no stone unturned, including Harbaugh, as they look for their next head coach, replacing Kevin Stefanski, who has a strong market for his services already.

Tuesday afternoon came news that the Browns had requested an interview with their former offensive coordinator, and the Ravens current offensive coordinator, Todd Monken. Tuesday night added a defensive-minded option to the list, one we noted on Monday, in Seattle Seahawks DC Aden Durde:

The Browns have requested permission to interview Seahawks DC Aden Durde for their vacant HC job, source said.The native of England came to the NFL as a Cowboys coaching intern and has risen quickly.

— Ian Rapoport (@rapsheet.bsky.social) 2026-01-06T23:28:18.338Z

Barry Shuck provided a great introduction for Durde for DBN:

Durde came to the NFL via the International Player Pathway program, as the British linebacker played in NFL Europe and ended up as the head of football development at NFLUK from 2015 to 2018. Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn hired him as their new defensive quality control coach, which made him the first-ever British full-time coach in NFL history.

He then had a coaching stint with the Dallas Cowboys before going to Seattle in 2024, where his defense in his first year ranked #14.

Where does the Seahawks defense sit this year?

• Passing: #12
• Rushing: #3
• NFL ranking overall: #6

Durde is a rising head coaching candidate whose defense emphasizes a strong defensive line that will collapse the pocket, a unit focused on consistent effort, stopping the run, and the use of versatile defensive backs.

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How would you feel about a young defensive coach as the next head coach in Cleveland?

Share your thoughts on Durde in the comment section below

Source: https://www.dawgsbynature.com/cleve...wns-head-coaching-search-interview-aden-durde