The Super Bowl window is open and the time for excuses is over. The Cleveland Browns have gone all in this offseason to bolster their roster and coaching staff. Let’s break down the moves Browns, general manager, Andrew Berry, and head coach, Kevin Stefanski have made over the last few months.
Coaches
When you think of going “all in” it’s easy to overlook coaching hires, but Kevin Stefanski made a statement with the addition of two new coordinators: Jim Schwartz and Bubba Ventrone. The Browns fired defensive coordinator, Joe Woods in January after 3 seasons where he led a defense that ranked 19th in defensive efficiency last season. Stefanski turned to Jim Schwartz, who won a Super Bowl in 2018 as the defensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles defense finished fourth in the NFL that season in yards allowed per game (306.5) and points allowed per game (18.4). Schwartz brings a no-nonsense type of attitude back to a defense that desperately needs it, and he also gives the Browns an experienced head coach to replace Stefanski should the team get off to a poor start.
Bubba Ventrone replaces Cleveland native, Mike Prefer as the Browns’ special teams coordinator and he takes on the added title of assistant head coach. He returns to Cleveland after playing for the Browns from 2009-2012, where he was an important piece of the special teams unit logging 31 special teams tackles in 97 games. Ventrone previously spent the last five seasons as the special teams coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts. His units ranked in the top 10 in four of those seasons. Having a coordinator that was a special teams standout during his playing days here in Cleveland will provide a boost to a unit that was featured one of the Browns glaring weakness last season.
Free Agency
Signed: Dalvin Tomlinson DT, Ogbonnia Okoronkwo DE, Juan Thornhill S, Jordan Aikins TE, Joshua Dobbs QB, Marquise Goodwin WR, Rodney McLeod S, Maurice Hurst DT, Trysten Hill, DT, Mike Ford CB, Matthew Adams LB, Wes Martin G, Colby Gossett G, Joseph Charlton P.
Re-Signed: Sione Takitaki LB, Ethan Pocic C, AJ Green CB, Anthony Walker LB, Jordan Kunaszyk LB, Michael Dunn G, Thomas Graham Jr. CB.
The Browns entered the free agency period needing to add to their offensive depth and address the holes in their defense especially on the line and in the secondary. Cleveland struggled with stopping the run last season as they ranked 25th in the NFL giving up 2,295 total rushing yards. New veteran defensive tackle, Dalvin Tomlinson, is an elite run defender, however it was his improved pass rushing that stood out the most from his 2022 campaign with the Minnesota Vikings. Tomlinson registered just 2.5 sacks last year due to battling injuries, but he still managed to post a 9.90% pressure rate and a 79.1% pass rush grade from Pro Football Focus. Andrew Berry added to the defensive end rotation with Ogobonnia Okoronkwo, a young pass rusher with a ton of upside. Okoronkwo is coming off his best season as pro with 44 tackles, 5 sacks and 1 forced fumble in 2022 for the Houston Texans. Ogbo can start for the Browns, but he can also provide Jim Schwartz with a solid option when Myles Garrett or Za’Darius Smith need rest. Veteran safeties Juan Thornhill and Rodney McLeod bring much needed experience to the secondary to pair alongside Grant Delpit. Thornhill is fresh off his second Super Bowl victory with the Kansas City Chiefs, while McLeod brings 11 years of experience with him to Cleveland. The most important part of McLeod’s signing is that he is the only player on the roster to have previously played in Schwartz’s scheme so that familiarity will be crucial in the early part of the season.
On the offensive side of the ball, Andrew Berry added more weapons to DeShaun Watson’s arsenal in the form of Marquise Goodwin and Jordan Aikins. Goodwin is a ten-year veteran that still has plenty of speed at his age, which made him the talk of Browns OTAs in May. Aikins is a familiar target for Watson, the two played three seasons together with the Houston Texans. The pair showed off that chemistry during that time as Aikins pulled in 90 catches for 1,046 yards and 3 touchdowns. Kevin Stefanski loves to use multiple tight ends in his offense so Jordan will be used quite often. After Jacoby Brissett had a career year in 11 games as the Browns starter last season, Andrew Berry knew he needed a new backup for Watson, so he turned to an old friend, Josh Dobbs. Dobbs served as Brissett’s backup during Watson’s 11 game suspension last season before he was waived. He showed some flashes as in two starts for the Tennessee Titans later that season and his skillset is a perfect complement to backup DeShaun Watson.
Draft
Draft Selections: Cedrick Tillman WR Tennessee (3rd round pick 74), Siaki Ika DT Baylor (3rd round pick 98), Dawand Jones OT Ohio State (4th round pick 111), Isaiah McGuire DE Missouri (4th round pick 126), Dorian Thompson-Robinson QB UCLA (5th round pick 140), Cameron Mitchell CB Northwestern (5th round pick 142), Luke Wypler (6th round pick 190)
Size turned out to be the theme of this year’s Browns draft class. Cleveland had to wait until the third round of the draft to make a selection after the trades for DeShaun Watson in 2022 and Elijah Moore in March. Andrew Berry used his first three selections to get bigger at the key positions of receiver, defensive tackle, and offensive tackle. At 6’3″, 215 pounds, Cedric Tillman is the big-bodied target that the Browns needed, though he may not see the field this season due to a crowded receiver room. Defensive tackle, Siaki Ika said in his introductory press conference in Berea that he’d like to drop down a bit from his weight of 358 pounds, but his size did not prevent him from having a productive senior season at Baylor. He earned a First Team All-Big 12 Conference selection with 24 tackles, 2 tackles for a loss, and 2 pass break ups. Ika can swallow blocks and thrive as a run stuffer alongside Dalvin Tomlinson.
The most intriguing pick of the Browns draft class is Dawand Jones. He is a massive human being at 6’8″, 375 pounds and he went viral during draft weekend for his high school basketball highlight tape. With his athleticism at his size, Jones was evaluated as a “Hall of Fame level talent” by one NFL scout and he will have the opportunity to develop into a long-term starter under one of the best offensive line coaches in the game, Bill Callahan. Tillman and Ika are the two most likely to make an immediate impact on the field this season while the rest of this draft class can develop and add to the team’s depth.
Trades
Acquired: Elijah Moore WR and a 2023 3rd round pick (No. 74 overall) from the New York Jets for a 2023 2nd round pick (No. 42 overall). Za’Darius Smith DE, a 2025 6th round pick, and a 2025 7th round pick from the Minnesota Vikings for a 2024 5th round pick and a 2025 5th round pick.
Andrew Berry has been known to make a big splash or two on the offseason trade market, just look no further than last season when he landed two Pro Bowlers in receiver, Amari Cooper, and quarterback, DeShaun Watson in a three-day span. Berry worked his magic again this offseason to make two more impact deals, the first one being a pre-draft trade for New York Jets receiver, Elijah Moore. Cleveland had a great receiving duo last season in the form of Cooper and Donovan Peoples-Jones, but what they were really missing was a speed threat, that can take the top off the defense. The Browns now have that with Moore, who had an impressive rookie season in 2021 that was cut short due to a quad injury, but he still managed to hull in 43 receptions for 538 yards and 5 touchdowns in just 11 games. He grew frustrated with his role in New York last season after the emergence of the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, Garrett Wilson, and now he has a fresh start in what could be one of the best receiving rooms in the league this year.
The move that solidified the Browns Super Bowl push was a Friday evening trade on May 12 for three-time Pro-Bowl pass rusher, Za’Darius Smith. The Browns needed to find Myles Garrett a new running mate after they released Jadeveon Clowney in March. Smith is an upgrade from Clowney and when he is healthy, he is one of the best defensive ends in the NFL. He finished in the top six in the league in sacks in 2019 and 2020, but only played one game in 2021 due to a back injury. He turned in another Pro-Bowl campaign for the Vikings last year with 37 tackles, 10 sacks, and 1 forced fumble despite playing through a knee contusion during the second half of the season. On paper the pairing of Garrett and Smith make one of the top pass rushing duos in the NFL, which should spell nightmares for AFC North quarterbacks.
Andrew Berry has made it clear with his offseason transactions that the Browns are ready to contend, but as good as his moves look everything depends on the play of DeShaun Watson. If Watson can regain his form from his last full season in 2020 when he led the NFL in passing, the sky is the limit for this team. Cleveland has their QB, an elite running back in Nick Chubb, explosive weapons at the skill positions, a reloaded defense, and an experienced coaching staff. Everything is riding on the success of this season, and anything less than an AFC Championship game appearance could result in some major changes yet again in Berea.
JEFF LANSKY 