Jimmy Haslam’s Browns: A Season of Uncertainty and Hope
LAS COLINAS, Texas — Picture this: Jimmy Haslam, the 70-year-old owner of the Cleveland Browns, strolling through the opulent halls of the Ritz-Carlton Las Colinas near Dallas. It’s a Wednesday in December, and the NFL owners’ meetings have just wrapped up. Haslam, dressed in orangish-brown slacks and an off-white blazer, carries a folder in his right hand, its contents a mystery to all but the league’s elite. As he navigates the hotel hallways, exchanging pleasantries with reporters and league officials, he’s asked about the state of his team.
With a chuckle that acknowledges the daunting task ahead, Haslam admits, “Yeah, I mean, I think we have a lot of needs as a team. We have to prioritize those. We went from 11-6 and making the playoffs to 3-10. So, it’s a little perplexing exactly what happened.”
Meanwhile, back in Berea, Ohio, at the Browns’ training facility, coach Kevin Stefanski and general manager Andrew Berry are preparing for a daunting matchup against the NFL-leading Kansas City Chiefs. They’re searching for a glimmer of hope in a season that seems lost, pondering the same questions Haslam has raised. With the Browns sitting at 3-13, they face a Saturday contest against the Ravens, a game that could set the tone for the future.
In Miami, injured quarterback Deshaun Watson is rehabbing a surgically repaired torn right Achilles. Watson’s presence looms large over the Browns’ struggles. Haslam’s decision to sign Watson to a fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract in 2022 has been a focal point. Watson’s tenure in Cleveland has been marred by suspension, injury, and inconsistent play. He’s missed 32 out of 51 possible regular-season games with the Browns and 49 of a possible 68 games overall since 2021.
As Haslam, Stefanski, and Berry chart a course for the Browns’ future, they must confront the past. The work Haslam alluded to in the Ritz-Carlton hallway is just beginning, and critical decisions lie ahead.
The Browns’ 2024: A Fall from Grace
The Browns’ 2024 season was a precipitous fall from grace, and hindsight suggests it was preventable. Just a year ago, Cleveland was one of the NFL’s feel-good stories. Joe Flacco, the unlikely 38-year-old face of a resurgence, led the Browns to a 4-1 finish and a playoff berth. The Browns boasted the NFL’s No. 1 defense, led by Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett. They lost in the playoffs to the Texans but seemed poised for a strong 2024 if they could solve their quarterback conundrum.
But they couldn’t. With Watson set to return, the team opted not to bring Flacco back in free agency. Instead, they signed free agents Jameis Winston and Tyler Huntley (Huntley was cut in August) and brought back Dorian Thompson-Robinson, a promising fifth-round draft choice. In Winston, the Browns got nine years younger and about $500,000 cheaper at the backup quarterback spot.
Amid the quarterback shuffle, another critical change went largely unnoticed: the switch from offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt to Ken Dorsey. The Browns were a respectable 10th in points and 16th in yards in 2023, and Van Pelt’s offense had been effective despite inconsistent quarterback play and injuries to Watson and running back Nick Chubb.
Multiple Browns players expressed surprise at the decision to part ways with Van Pelt, who had been in lockstep with Stefanski’s principles. The Cleveland offense was known for its run-efficient, play-action attack, which had allowed the Browns to succeed even with an unstable quarterback situation.
But the move to Dorsey was made to maximize Watson, who thrived in a spread-it-out attack in Houston. The changes, however, did not bring out the best in Watson or the Cleveland offense. Watson struggled mightily, missing open targets and looking uncomfortable in the pocket. The Browns never reached 20 points in Watson’s seven 2024 starts, and he was last in QBR (23.5) by a wide margin.
As guard Joel Bitonio observed, the Browns were caught between two worlds, struggling with their identity. “The players weren’t executing what was called. We hadn’t really figured it out,” Bitonio said.
When Winston took over as QB1 with Watson sidelined, Stefanski relinquished playcalling to Dorsey. Winston had signed with the Browns eager to run Stefanski’s offense, but the change prompted questions. Despite initial reservations, the Winston-Dorsey partnership brought some improvement. Dorsey’s offense showed less reliance on two-TE sets and play-action gap schemes, and a Winston-authored upset of the first-place Steelers was a highlight.
However, Winston was benched in December after throwing eight interceptions over a three-game stretch, leading to a change to Thompson-Robinson. The struggles on offense affected the defense, which was on the field for 1,004 snaps through 16 games, matching the 2023 total over 17 games. Team sources felt the defense tried to overcompensate for the offense’s failings.
The season has raised more questions than answers, particularly regarding the quarterback situation. Should Stefanski revert to his preferred scheme in 2025, even if it’s not the best fit for Watson? Should Dorsey have an opportunity to call plays for Watson? How do Winston and Thompson-Robinson fit in?
These are the football questions, but they’re not the only ones. Can Watson regain his confidence? Is it possible for him to do so in Cleveland?
Watson, who has visited Cleveland for rehab checkups, still wants to make it work with the Browns, according to a source close to the player. But what must happen to ensure he delivers?
Turning Points and Future Prospects
On Nov. 12, 2023, the Browns thought they had turned a corner. Watson led Cleveland to a 33-31 comeback victory over Baltimore, completing all 14 of his second-half attempts. The Browns flashed their potential, but optimism was short-lived. Watson injured his shoulder during the comeback, and an MRI revealed a displaced fracture. He would miss the remainder of the season.
As Watson rehabs in Miami, the NFL world wonders where he will be in eight months. Despite the challenges of recovering from an Achilles tear, the physical is not the chief concern for most league observers. “If he’s right mentally, then he should be able to win a quarterback competition in two days with his athleticism and arm,” an NFL coordinator said.
But the mental aspect is a variable that can’t be quantified. Watson has been available for just 19 regular-season games since 2021, and his raw ability is still recognized. However, his off-field issues and the perception of his $230 million contract as an albatross complicate matters.
Cutting Watson now would cost the Browns $92 million in cash and $119 million in dead salary cap if designated as a post-June 1 release. The team reworked Watson’s contract, adding two void years to push out his dead salary cap figure. This move signals Watson will likely be on the Browns roster in 2025 and possibly 2026.
League sources believe no team would take on Watson’s contract in a trade, even if heavily discounted. “Holding on just because of the money will only prolong the inevitable,” an NFL national scout said. The Browns are expected to keep Watson for one more year and foster competition with another veteran and/or draft pick.
The Browns have a 93.2% chance of having a top-5 pick in April’s draft. “What do you say to your team if you bring [Watson] back [to start]?” a veteran NFL player agent said. “My guess is they take someone very high in the draft.”
The team won’t rule out a Winston return, and Thompson-Robinson could return as a backup. The free agent quarterback class includes Flacco, Wilson, Justin Fields, Jarrett Stidham, Carson Wentz, Andy Dalton, and Jacoby Brissett.
Some around the league have noted that Cousins, benched by the Falcons, could be available on the cheap. Cousins had one of his best NFL seasons under Stefanski’s playcalling in 2019. Getting him for the league minimum and potentially drafting a young quarterback could be a winning strategy for Cleveland.
“[The Browns] need to go get their guy,” an AFC executive said. “If it’s safe to assume that Deshaun is not that, then there’s really no other choice.”
Stefanski’s Future and the Browns’ Direction
As rumors swirled about Stefanski’s job security, multiple players expressed support for him. Stefanski’s willingness to relinquish playcalling duties was seen as an example of his flexibility. Despite the team’s struggles, Stefanski’s messaging has not grown stale.
One light criticism of Stefanski has been that players might not get to know him on a personal level. However, this season, Stefanski has shown a more vulnerable side, participating in team bonding exercises and spending more time in the offensive line meeting rooms.
The relationship between Stefanski and Berry is strong, with the two meeting each Thursday to discuss various topics. The franchise’s worst season since 2017 has prompted questions about Stefanski’s future. Industry sources generally lean toward no, that the interest wouldn’t be strong enough coming off a three- or four-win season.
Despite the Browns’ lack of sustained winning, Garrett expressed confidence in the Stefanski-Berry decision-making duo. Garrett, who has two years remaining on his contract, stated his desire to remain in Cleveland but emphasized the need for a clear plan of action.
Browns sources insist a tear-down rebuild is not coming. Berry is known for being a measured yet aggressive general manager, and the Browns will be “opportunistic” in improving the roster this offseason.
Internally, the Browns consider this offseason a pivot year, with several big-money contracts reaching the non-guaranteed stage in 2025. The Browns are set to make 11 selections in the 2025 draft, including their first first-round pick since 2021.
Despite Watson’s contract, the Browns have flexibility. Another restructure could give Cleveland more breathing room. The Browns anticipate the salary cap will land between $277 million and $280 million.
Haslam is expected to stay the course with Stefanski and Berry, valuing the continuity they’ve brought to the team. Haslam has made apparent attempts at patience, stating he has learned “not to get too emotional during the season.”
In the face of another season with double-digit losses, Haslam must consider what needs to happen next.
Originally Written by: Jeremy Fowler,Daniel Oyefusi
