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QB Joe Flacco Has Support From Browns Veterans

July 4th, 2025 at 9:02pm CST by Ely Allen

With Deshaun Watson looking like a long shot to play in the 2025 NFL season at all, veteran quarterback Joe Flacco is emerging as the favorite to open the season as the Browns’ starting quarterback when they host the Bengals in Week 1. The coaches are starting to feel that way, but he’s getting support from some veteran teammates, as well, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.

Per Cabot, when the Browns traded for Kenny Pickett early in the offseason, they had visions of the 27-year-old blossoming into a breakout star à la Sam Darnold. Throughout the spring, though, Flacco seemed to prove more capable of a starting role. The 40-year-old veteran shined as the “best pure thrower” of the football out of the four active passers on the roster, including rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders.

That arm, combined with “his intimate knowledge of (head) coach Kevin Stefanski‘s offense,” has put Flacco securely in the lead for the starting job at the moment. That experience saw him go 4-1 late in the 2023 season as a starter and lead the Browns to the postseason for only the second time in the 20 years prior. Gabriel and Sanders haven’t been ruled out as potential Week 1 starters yet, but Cabot posits that they stand a much better chance of earning starting time later in the season.

It’s not just the coaches who see the experience and talent of Flacco, he “has the full support of big-time veterans such as All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett,” as well. Before agreeing to an extension this offseason, Garrett expressed interest in playing for a playoff contender elsewhere in large part due to the team’s handling of the quarterback position. As a result, his endorsement of Flacco speaks volumes, along with the support of other veterans.

Elsewhere in the competition, we learned a bit more on Sanders’ driving history recently. After initially reporting on a speeding incident in mid-June that saw the 23-year-old cited at 101 mph on a 60-mph road, we saw ESPN (in conjunction with the Associated Press) report that this was the second such speeding incident Sanders had been involved in that month. Reports show that Sanders was pulled over on June 5 for going 91 mph in a 65-mph zone.

Sanders, reportedly, “failed to appear for an arraignment for that citation and faces $269 in fines and court costs” as a result. He faces a $250 fine for his most recent citation, a fourth-degree misdemeanor. His second ticket was received as he was pulled over alongside his girlfriend, who was driving 92 mph in a separate car. Despite the two traveling together at high speeds in separate vehicles, reports claim that there is “no suggestion that the two may have been racing,” according to Mike Florio of NBC Sports.

Following an unprecedented draft slide that resulted from character concerns for the Colorado alumnus, speeding incidents are not a great sign of development early in his professional career. Repeated offenses look even worse for the young passer, and if any suggestions of racing do emerge from his driving citations, things could go from bad to worse.

Largest 2025 Cap Hits: Defense

July 4th, 2025 at 9:00pm CST by Adam La Rose

The 2025 offseason has been defined in no small part by extensions amongst the league’s top edge rushers. A number of high-profile situations on that front remain unresolved at this point, which will make for interesting storylines over the coming weeks. Still, pass rushers once again account for some of the top cap charges around the NFL.

Just like on offense, here is a breakdown of the top 25 defensive cap hits in 2025:

  1. Maxx Crosby, DE (Raiders): $38.15MM
  2. T.J. Watt, OLB (Steelers): $30.42MM
  3. DeForest Buckner, DT (Colts): $26.6MM
  4. Daron Payne, DT (Commanders): $26.17MM
  5. Rashan Gary, OLB (Packers): $25.77MM
  6. Montez Sweat, DE (Bears): $25.09MM
  7. Denzel Ward, CB (Browns): $24.56MM
  8. Micah Parsons, DE (Cowboys): $24.01MM
  9. Derwin James, S (Chargers): $23.86MM
  10. Roquan Smith, LB (Ravens): $23.72MM
  11. Dexter Lawrence, DT (Giants): $23.64MM
  12. Chris Jones, DT (Chiefs): $23.6MM
  13. Jeffery Simmons, DT (Titans): $22.7MM
  14. L’Jarius Sneed, CB (Titans): $22.58MM
  15. Vita Vea, DT (Buccaneers): $22.47MM
  16. Minkah Fitzpatrick, S (Dolphins): $22.36MM
  17. Jonathan Greenard, DE (Vikings): $22.3MM
  18. Jessie Bates, S (Falcons): $22.25MM
  19. Myles Garrett, DE (Browns): $21.92MM)
  20. Quinnen Williams, DT (Jets): $21.59MM
  21. Jaylon Johnson, CB (Bears): $21MM
  22. Nick Bosa, DE (49ers): $20.43MM
  23. Kenny Clark, DT (Packers): $20.37MM
  24. Danielle Hunter, DE (Texans): $20.2MM
  25. Zach Allen, DE (Broncos): $19.8MM

Crosby briefly held the title of the league’s highest-paid pass rusher when his latest Raiders extension was signed. That $35.5MM-per-year pact was quickly overtaken in value, but it put to rest speculation about a potential trade. Now fully healthy, Crosby’s level of play in 2025 will be critical in determining Vegas’ success.

Garrett currently leads the way in terms of AAV for edge rushers (and, in turn, all defensive players). He landed $40MM in annual compensation from the Browns in a deal which ended his long-running trade request. The four-time All-Pro sought a change of scenery to a Super Bowl contender but then altered his stance following communication with Cleveland’s front office. Garrett is now on the books through 2030.

Other notable pass rushers face an uncertain future beyond the coming campaign, by contrast. That includes Watt, who is not close to reaching an agreement on a third Steelers contract. The former Defensive Player of the Year is reported to be eyeing a pact which will again move him to the top of the pecking order for pass rushers. He thus finds himself in a similar situation to fellow 30-year-old All-Pro Trey Hendrickson with the Bengals.

While Hendrickson is believed to be aiming for a new deal similar in average annual value to those like Bosa and Hunter’s, Parsons could leapfrog Watt atop the pecking order by the time the season begins. Little (if any) progress has been made since Parsons and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones reached a handshake agreement on the framework of a deal. Time remains for a pact to be finalized before training camp; failing that, the possibility of a hold-in will increase.

Recent years have seen a major spike in the valuation of interior defensive linemen capable of producing against the pass. It comes as no surprise, then, to see a multitude of D-tackles on the list. Buckner and Chris Jones are among the veterans with the longest track record of success in terms of sacks and pressures (along with disruptive play against the run, of course). Payne, Lawrence, Simmons and Williams were among the players who helped moved the position’s market upward with similar second contracts during the 2023 offseason.

Gary, Sweat and Greenard will again be counted on to lead the way in terms of pass rush production for their respective NFC North teams. Green Bay, Chicago and Minnesota each have upside elsewhere on the depth chart, but expectations will remain high for those three based on their lucrative deals. The highly competitive division will no doubt come down to head-to-head games, and they will be influenced in large part by the performances of each defense.

The cornerback market reached $30MM per year this offseason thanks to Derek Stingley Jr.‘s Texans extension. Given the term remaining on his rookie pact, though, his cap charge for this season checks in at a much lower rate than that of teammates like Hunter or other top CBs. Ward and Jaylon Jones are on the books through 2027, and the same is true of Sneed. The high-priced Tennessee trade acquisition did not enjoy a healthy debut season with his new team in 2024, but he appears to be set for full participation in training camp.

Safety and linebacker are among the positions which have witnessed slower growth than others recently. Still, a few top performers are attached to deals landing them on this list. Smith has been a first-team All-Pro performer during his tenure with the Ravens; he will be expected to remain one in 2025 and beyond. James and Bates will likewise be counted on as key playmakers in Los Angeles and Atlanta. Fitzpatrick will, interestingly, return to his original team after being part of the blockbuster Steelers-Dolphins trade from earlier this week.

Vea helped the Buccaneers rank fourth against the run last season while Clark and the Packers finished seventh in that regard. Both veterans have multiple years remaining on their deals, although in both cases the final season does not include guaranteed money. Vea and/or Clark could thus find themselves discussing an extension next offseason.

Allen is among the players listed who could have a new deal in hand before Week 1. The former Cardinal is coming off a career-best 8.5 sacks from the 2024 season. To no surprise, then, Allen is high on Denver’s list of extension priorities, and it will be interesting to see if the pending 2026 free agent works out a new pact prior to the start of the campaign.

The NFL’s Longest-Tenured Head Coaches

July 3rd, 2025 at 10:26pm CST by Adam La Rose

By the end of the 2024 regular season, the Bears, Jets and Saints had already moved on from their head coaches. Those teams were joined by Cowboys, Jaguars, Raiders and Patriots in making a change on the sidelines.

After their midseason terminations, Matt Eberflus, Robert Saleh and Dennis Allen each landed defensive coordinator gigs during the 2025 hiring cycle. The staffers who remained in place through the end of the campaign have yet to line up their next NFL opportunity, however. Mike McCarthy withdrew from the Saints’ search, setting the 61-year-old for at least one year out of coaching (just like the pause between his Packers and Cowboys stints).

Meanwhile, Doug Pederson was unable to parlay interest in an offensive coordinator position into a hire this spring. The former Super Bowl winner is thus set to be out of coaching for 2025. The same will also be true of Antonio Pierce and Jerod Mayo after their one-and-done stints as full-time head coaches did not go as planned.

While recent months have brought about the latest round of changes, many of the longest-tenured head coaches around the league remain in place. McCarthy was the only staffer within the top 10 on last year’s list in that regard who has been replaced. In all, nine head coaches hired at the beginning of this decade (or earlier) will carry on with their respective teams in 2025.

Six of those reside in the AFC, with Mike Tomlin – who became the league’s longest-tenured head coach last year in the wake of Bill Belichick’s Patriots departure – once again leading the way, albeit with questions about his future beyond this season present. The NFC will include Sean McVay, Kyle Shanahan and Matt LaFleur handling their familiar roles in 2025, although the latter (who has two years left on his deal) will not receive an early extension.

Here is a look at how the league’s head coaches shape up entering the 2025 campaign:

  1. Mike Tomlin (Pittsburgh Steelers): January 27, 2007; extended through 2027
  2. John Harbaugh (Baltimore Ravens): January 19, 2008; extended through 2028
  3. Andy Reid (Kansas City Chiefs): January 4, 2013; extended through 2029
  4. Sean McDermott (Buffalo Bills): January 11, 2017; extended through 2027
  5. Sean McVay (Los Angeles Rams): January 12, 2017; extended through 2027
  6. Kyle Shanahan (San Francisco 49ers): February 6, 2017; extended through 2027
  7. Matt LaFleur (Green Bay Packers): January 8, 2019: extended through 2026
  8. Zac Taylor (Cincinnati Bengals): February 4, 2019; extended through 2026
  9. Kevin Stefanski (Cleveland Browns): January 13, 2020; signed extension in June 2024
  10. Dan Campbell (Detroit Lions): January 20, 2021; extended through 2027
  11. Nick Sirianni (Philadelphia Eagles): January 21, 2021; signed offseason extension
  12. Brian Daboll (New York Giants): January 28, 2022
  13. Kevin O’Connell (Minnesota Vikings): February 2, 2022; signed offseason extension
  14. Mike McDaniel (Miami Dolphins): February 6, 2022; extended through 2028
  15. Todd Bowles (Tampa Bay Buccaneers): March 30, 2022; extended through 2028
  16. Sean Payton (Denver Broncos): January 31, 2023
  17. DeMeco Ryans (Houston Texans): January 31, 2023
  18. Shane Steichen (Indianapolis Colts): February 14, 2023
  19. Jonathan Gannon (Arizona Cardinals): February 14, 2023
  20. Brian Callahan (Tennessee Titans): January 22, 2024
  21. Jim Harbaugh (Los Angeles Chargers): January 24, 2024
  22. Dave Canales (Carolina Panthers): January 25, 2024
  23. Raheem Morris (Atlanta Falcons): January 25, 2024
  24. Mike Macdonald (Seattle Seahawks): January 31, 2024
  25. Dan Quinn (Washington Commanders): February 1, 2024
  26. Mike Vrabel (New England Patriots): January 12, 2025
  27. Ben Johnson (Chicago Bears): January 20, 2025
  28. Aaron Glenn (New York Jets): January 22, 2025
  29. Liam Coen (Jacksonville Jaguars): January 23, 2025
  30. Pete Carroll (Las Vegas Raiders): January 24, 2025
  31. Brian Schottenheimer (Dallas Cowboys): January 24, 2025
  32. Kellen Moore (New Orleans Saints): February 11, 2025

Deshaun Watson Likely Headed To Reserve/PUP List, Longshot To Play In 2025

July 2nd, 2025 at 9:09pm CST by Sam Robinson

Jimmy Haslam effectively closed the book on the Deshaun Watson era in Cleveland, labeling the high-priced quarterback “a big swing and miss” earlier this year. Two years, however, still remain on the embattled QB’s five-year, $230MM fully guaranteed contract — a deal that has produced some significant headlines pertaining to an NFLPA grievance recently. Watson’s rehab also may soon create a complicated situation for a team that has added four new passers this offseason.

Watson had resumed throwing to receivers in the spring, having shed his walking boot. As for where Watson stands now, cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot offers a few key details on the fourth-year Browns performer’s rehab journey from two Achilles tears.

[RELATED: Browns Not Planning To Trade One Of Their Rookie QBs]

As the Browns began a four-man competition between Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, the team was “thrilled” Watson participated and has offered advice. Conversely, Watson beginning his rehab in Miami after his October 2024 injury did not go over well with some among the Browns, Cabot indicates. Watson as a mentorship presence certainly presents interesting optics given the on- and off-field developments that occurred since his Pro Bowl Texans days, but that appears to be happening as the Browns hold their competition.

Watson is mentoring both Gabriel and Sanders, per Cabot, who adds the veteran has taken Sanders “under his wing.” The 29-year-old passer has also shared thoughts on Kevin Stefanski‘s scheme with the two veterans, even after he fared poorly — as regular calls for his benching rang out last year — before going down with the first of his two Achilles tears. The second still appears likely to force Watson to miss a second full season; the first came when the Texans made him a healthy scratch throughout 2021.

As for Watson’s potential hopes of infiltrating the Browns’ QB mix at some point this season, Cabot notes he is expected to begin the season on the reserve/PUP list. That will knock Watson out for at least four games, and the Browns do not have to activate him immediately. Even if the Browns do designate Watson for return, they would have a three-week window before an activation decision would loom. Even as Watson has displayed progress thus far this offseason, Cabot adds a return to Cleveland’s active roster this season remains an “enormous longshot.”

Though, after parking Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah on the PUP list early (to end his season), the team has not made that move with Watson. A reality in which Watson is ready to practice in October is on the radar, per Cabot; the ninth-year vet underwent his second Achilles surgery in January.

Watson’s albatross contract, repeatedly restructured (most recently in March), will undoubtedly remain a Browns issue for the foreseeable future. The Browns would be on the hook for an unfathomable dead money amount if they cut him next year; they would surely spread the $131.16MM across two years via a post-June 1 designation. Though, Cabot adds Watson remaining on the team — a scenario which would come about due to the restructures on his contract — as a veteran to complement the likes of Gabriel and Sanders in 2026 is not out of the question. In that scenario, another restructure — which would likely to require more void years manipulation — would happen, according to Cabot.

Cleveland is also setting up for a potential battle via an insurance measure taken out on the contract. Watson being unable to play this season puts a $44.27MM sum in play for the Browns to recover. Although the team could collect on other components of the policy to help soften the blow of an inevitable divorce, Watson being healthy enough to play in 2025 would affect a sizable chunk of the return. This will make potential Watson clearance an interesting storyline to follow, even as Haslam’s comments point to the team not having any plans of redeploying him.

Largest 2025 Cap Hits: Offense

July 1st, 2025 at 10:05pm CST by Adam La Rose

Last offseason brought about a record-breaking jump in the salary cap. This year, the ceiling rose to $279.2MM, another notable spike. The market at a number of positions will benefit from the ongoing surge in spending power available to teams, with quarterbacks obviously the largest standout in that respect.

In 2024, a pair of signal-callers surpassed the $50MM mark in terms of cap charges for the season. That will not be the case this time around, but to little surprise quarterbacks once again lead the way in terms of representing the largest share of many teams’ financial commitments for 2025. Positions such as receiver and offensive tackle have also generally not reached the same peak in terms of cap commitments as last year.

Leading up to training camp, are the NFL’s top 25 cap charges for offensive players:

  1. Dak Prescott, QB (Cowboys): $50.52MM
  2. Matthew Stafford, QB (Rams): $47.47MM
  3. Joe Burrow, QB (Bengals): $46MM
  4. Lamar Jackson, QB (Ravens): $43.5MM
  5. Kyler Murray, QB (Cardinals): $43.33MM
  6. Kirk Cousins, QB (Falcons): $40MM
  7. Geno Smith, QB (Raiders): $40MM
  8. Tua Tagovailoa, QB (Dolphins): $39.18MM
  9. Justin Herbert, QB (Chargers): $37.35MM
  10. Josh Allen, QB (Bills): $36.34MM
  11. Deshaun Watson, QB (Browns): $35.97MM
  12. Jared Goff, QB (Lions): $32.6MM
  13. Taylor Moton, RT (Panthers): $31.35MM
  14. Jordan Love, QB (Packers): $29.69MM
  15. Patrick Mahomes, QB (Chiefs): $28.06MM
  16. Calvin Ridley, WR (Titans): $28MM
  17. Tyreek Hill, WR (Dolphins): $27.7MM
  18. Jawaan Taylor, RT (Chiefs): $27.39MM
  19. Baker Mayfield, QB (Buccaneers): $26.48MM
  20. Terry McLaurin, WR (Commanders): $25.5MM
  21. Mike Evans, WR (Buccaneers): $25.36MM
  22. D.J. Moore, WR (Bears): $24.9MM
  23. Tee Higgins, WR (Bengals): $24.06MM
  24. Ja’Marr Chase, WR (Bengals): $23.57MM
  25. Trey Smith, RG (Chiefs): $23.4MM

Prescott’s last-minute 2024 Cowboys extension made him the first player in NFL history to carry an AAV of $60MM. That pact will have lasting impacts well beyond the coming campaign, as the team looks to also fit in the big-ticket extension CeeDee Lamb inked last summer and the one Micah Parsons is in position to sign at some point before Week 1.

Once again, Stafford and the Rams entered the spring with plenty of uncertainty. Retirement was a consideration quickly done away with in the case of the 37-year-old, but it remained to be seen if he would remain in Los Angeles. Trade offers came in from numerous suitors, and the chance existed for Stafford to land a more lucrative deal elsewhere. In the end, though, team and player reached agreement on another reworked pact. Stafford is now in line to receive $84MM over the next two years, including guaranteed money in 2026. A bit of continuity will thus be in place under center for the Rams.

2020 draft classmates Burrow, Tagovailoa and Herbert are understandable top-10 players on this list given their respective deals. All three are on the books for years to come as they look to unseat the Chiefs atop the AFC. Burrow spoke about restructuring his pact to create the cap space necessary for the Bengals to retain or extend each of their key in-house players this offseason. That has yet to take place, and it will be interesting to see if a reworking is explored while talks on the Trey Hendrickson front continue.

The Ravens have worked out a few extensions on offense already (Derrick Henry, Rashod Bateman) but Jackson looms as a candidate for a new deal. Three years remain on his pact, but starting in 2026 his cap charge is scheduled so spike well past its current figure. The two-time MVP has discussed a new arrangement this offseason, and a bump in guarantees and overall compensation similar to what the Bills did with Allen would come as no surprise.

Cousins’ figure stands out, of course, given the fact he is slated to operate as Atlanta’s backup this season. With no release coming and no trade imminent, the four-time Pro Bowler is set to stay in place behind Michael Penix Jr. Cousins has made progress in his rehab from shoulder and ankle injuries suffered prior to his benching midway through his debut Atlanta season. With $10MM already guaranteed for next year, it will be interesting to see if a trade market develops in the coming months in his case.

With the exception of Watson – whose second Achilles tear is set to sideline him for most or all of the coming campaign – the remaining quarterbacks on the list are positioned to serve as starters for their respective teams. Only Geno Smith will be suiting up for a new organization after he was traded from the Seahawks to the Raiders. That swap was followed up by a two-year, $75MM extension and allowed him to reunite with head coach Pete Carroll. A short-term upgrade under center will be key as Vegas looks to find stability on the sidelines and in the front office.

Moton’s cap figure was a talking point earlier this offseason, but the Panthers are content to avoid a fourth restructure in his case. The pending free agent hopes to finish his career in Carolina, but an extension would have helped ensure that while lowering his immediate cap charge. In the absence of such an agreement, it will be interesting to see if Moton, 30, can deliver another strong showing in 2025.

Ridley is perhaps a surprising figure to lead the way in terms of cap charges at the receiver spot. He will operate as a key member of the Titans’ offense, a unit whose success will of course depend in large part on the play of rookie Cam Ward. Ridley has two more years left on his deal beyond 2025, but with limited guarantees owed over that span his Tennessee future could be greatly impacted by who this season plays out.

The likes of Hill, Evans and Moore are not currently the subject of speculation regarding their future. McLaurin, however, was absent from much of the Commanders’ spring practices with little progress being made at the negotiating table. Plenty of work is still required at this point to avoid a potential free agent departure next spring. Coming off a career-high in touchdowns while thriving alongside Jayden Daniels, the two-time Pro Bowler is in line for a raise which will likely lower his cap hit this season.

Chase and Higgins inked their deals simultaneously, putting an end to questions regarding where the latter in particular would play on his second contract. Those two, together with Burrow, will serve as foundational players for years to come in Cincinnati. It will be interesting to see how long Chase (with an AAV of $40.25MM) remains the league’s top earner in that respect for non-quarterbacks.

Kansas City’s offensive line faces questions entering the season. Despite his big-ticket contract, Taylor is not a lock to remain a starter at this point. With no guaranteed left on the final year of his deal (2026), a parting of ways could be in store next spring if a backup gig ensues. Trey Smith, meanwhile, remains attached to the franchise tag although an extension is among the team’s remaining offseason priorities.

Browns Finalize Land Purchase For Domed Stadium Construction

July 1st, 2025 at 9:00am CST by Adam La Rose

JULY 1: Ohio’s budget has been finalized, and the Browns are officially set to proceed with construction on the new stadium. A statement from Jimmy and Dee Haslam confirms the project will move forward with the land deal now in place.

JUNE 28: Efforts on the part of the Browns to construct a new, domed stadium have seen a notable development. An agreement has been reached for the purchase of land 12 miles outside of downtown Cleveland.

Primacy Development – a company located at the Browns’ headquarters with ties to the Haslam Sports Group – has closed on the purchase of a 176-acre plot in Brook Park, Daryl Ruiter of 92.3 The Fan reports. Cuyahoga County records indicate the price will check in at more than $76MM. This news comes after the Browns exercised their purchase option on the land in December.

To pave the way for the agreement to be finalized, the Modell Law (which prevented the Browns from leaving Cleveland) has been amended. Ohio governor Mike DeWine is now in position to sign the necessary provisions into law next week while finalizing the state’s budget. That includes $600MM in state funding for the construction of the team’s new stadium, which is currently expected to cost a total of $2.4 billion.

The Browns’ new home will be a domed (rather than outdoor) stadium, making it the first of its kind in the AFC North (and marking a departure from the Ravens, Steelers and Bengals). Once construction is complete, the AFC East will be the league’s only division consisting entirely of teams – the Bills, Dolphins, Patriots and Jets – which play outdoors when at home.

The targeted start time for construction of Cleveland’s new stadium is early next year, with the Browns planning to move there in time for the 2029 campaign. Provided the land purchase agreement is indeed finalized in the coming days, the process will take an important step forward.

Browns Not Planning To Trade Rookie QB; Latest On Joe Flacco-Kenny Pickett Contest

June 27th, 2025 at 10:17pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Browns added intrigue to their unsettled quarterback room during the draft by respectively selecting Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders in the third and fifth rounds. Those two will be joined in training camp by veteran Joe Flacco and trade acquisition Kenny Pickett.

The latter has appeared to be in the lead for the starting gig on more than one occasion so far. Pickett – a Steelers first-rounder in 2022 – did not develop as hoped in Pittsburgh and was dealt to the Eagles last year. After a single campaign as Jalen Hurts‘ backup, the 27-year-old was acquired by the Browns as an option capable of handling QB1 duties.

To no surprise, Cleveland declined Pickett’s fifth-year option this spring. As a result, he is a pending 2026 free agent. Pickett’s market value will depend greatly on how he performs with the Browns, and keeping the starter’s role throughout the season would be key in helping his stock. Both Gabriel and Sanders loom as potential replacements in the lineup, however, and Flacco is certainly a strong candidate to open the year atop the depth chart.

Indeed, NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe notes Flacco may now be considered the favorite entering training camp (video link). In 2023, a midseason Flacco signing proved to be highly beneficial for Cleveland. The former Super Bowl MVP took on starting duties and helped lead the Browns to the postseason. Flacco, 40, returned via free agency after a one-and-done season with the Colts. He is the only signal-caller with a history in head coach Kevin Stefanski‘s scheme, something which will no doubt play a role in determining the team’s starter early on.

Both Gabriel and Sanders are under team control for the next four years, meaning they should be expected to remain on the roster once summer cutdowns take place. Wolfe confirms a trade involving either rookie should not be expected. That could leave the Browns in position to carry all four quarterbacks on their active roster, something general manager Andrew Berry recently expressed a willingness for. A more realistic scenario, though, remains either Pickett or Flacco being traded ahead of Week 1 (provided the Browns’ other passers remain healthy, of course).

As a result, the performances between Cleveland’s veteran quarterbacks will be worth watching closely this summer. The question of which signal-caller sees the first start in 2025 (presumably the winner of the Flacco-Pickett contest) will be key in determining which makes the most total starts this season. It will be interesting to see how first-team reps continue to be split once padded practices begin as the Browns continue their evaluation process.

Browns Announce 8 Hires, 7 Promotions In Front Office

June 27th, 2025 at 7:26pm CST by Ely Allen

Yesterday, the Browns announced more than a handful of new hires and promotions in their operations, player personnel, and analytics departments. Operations had one new hire and one promotion, player personnel had four new hires and four promotions, and analytics had three new hires and two promotions.

The biggest ticket items were in the player personnel department, so we’ll start there. With Dan Saganey‘s departure and subsequent hiring in Tennessee, Adam Al-Khayyal steps into Saganey’s old role as director of player personnel. Al-Khayyal has been in Cleveland for the past 10 years, starting as an intern in 2015 before getting promotions to assistant director of pro personnel and director of pro scouting.

Matt Donahoe was elevated from southeast area scout to national scout. Having joined the Browns six years ago after time with the Chiefs, Donahoe enters his 12th season of NFL work. Filling in as a new area scout will be John Nussman, though he will cover the midwest region. This is the second straight year of promotions for Nussman, who was named NFS scout for the team last year after four seasons as a scouting assistant. Stepping into the newly vacant NFS scout role will be Tyler Habursky, who was hired last year as a scouting assistant.

The big new hire in the player personnel department is Shaun Herock, who comes in as the team’s new senior college personnel advisor. Herock started in the NFL as a scouting intern for the Falcons in in the ’90s. In 1994, Green Bay hired him after a short internship with them, and he eventually rose through the ranks to become assistant director of college scouting, serving in the role for 11 seasons. He left to serve as director of college scouting for the Raiders, serving as interim general manager in his last season with the team following the dismissal of Reggie McKenzie. When he, too, was let go at the end of the 2018 season, he joined the Browns as a scout and, eventually, was promoted to national scout. He returned to the Raiders as a personnel advisor in 2022, but he departs from the Raiders for Cleveland once more after three years away.

The other three new hires in the player personnel department are all new scouting assistants. Josh Meyer, Andrew Nimo-Sefah, and Ryan Smith were all hired to serve in that role. Meyer joins the team after working as a player personnel & recruiting analyst at his alma mater, Michigan, a role he earned after working as a recruiting intern as a student. Nimo-Sefah interned for the Cardinals in various roles as a student before working for the NFL GSISS support team and as a stats analyst for ESPN after that. Smith has experience with the team as an external film analyst in the team’s past two drafts, but he’ll now be paid directly by the team in his new position.

In operations, the new hire is the big-ticket item as James Cook joins the team as senior director of player development. Cook began his career in the NFL’s London office, working in several international projects like the International Player Pathway Program, flag football, the NFL Academy, and NFL Africa. Most recently, Cook served as head of player development for the league’s newest Academy based in Asia-Pacific. The promotion in operations looks a bit more like a lateral move. Hajriz Aliu, who has served the team as a scouting assistant for the past three seasons, is changing departments and will serve now as a football operations assistant in 2025.

In analytics, the two promotions see Abby Protin named senior software developer of football information systems and Jacqueline Roberts named coordinator of coaching logistics. Protin joined the team in 2022 as a software developer after time as a data analyst for the University of Maryland baseball team. Roberts joined the Browns last year as an intern within team logistics. She came in with experience in coaching operations from her work at the Senior Bowl.

Protin’s group adds two new junior software developers in Evan Stanislaw and John Michael Tran. Stanislaw has some work experience in sports from his time working for the NHL’s Dallas Stars, while Tran comes to Cleveland after internships at NASA and Amazon. Lastly, Ethan Weissman has been hired to the group as a football research analyst. This comes after the Harvard graduate served the past two years as a research & strategy intern for the team.

Minor NFL Transactions: 6/26/25

June 26th, 2025 at 8:15pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Here are today’s minor moves from around the league:

Cleveland Browns

New England Patriots

  • Released: DT Wilfried Pene

Szmyt signed with the Bears as an undrafted rookie in 2023, but did not make the 53-man roster. In 2024, he played for the UFL’s St. Louis Battlehawks, converting 19 of his 21 field goal attempts with a long of 61 yards. Szmyt then joined the Browns’ practice squad at the end of the 2024 season and signed a reserve/futures contracts for 2025. He was waived in early June to make room for wide receiver Jaelen Gill and now finds himself back on the roster after the team’s release of Ogbo Okoronkwo.

Browns Release DE Ogbo Okoronkwo

June 26th, 2025 at 9:18am CST by Adam La Rose

Ogbo Okoronkwo recently emerged as a cut candidate, and he is indeed on the open market. The veteran edge rusher was released by the Browns on Thursday, per a team announcement.

Okoronkwo had been in Cleveland since signing as a free agent in 2022. The former Texan operated as a part-time defender during his first three seasons in the league, but during his walk year he made eight starts and recorded five sacks. That uptick in usage and production resulted in a three-year, $19MM Browns pact being worked out.

While Okoronkwo, 30, managed to remain mostly healthy during his Cleveland tenure, he did not emerge as a starter capable of complementing Myles Garrett‘s production. Only after Za’Darius Smith was traded away midway through the 2024 season did Okoronkwo receive starts along the edge. In all, he managed just 7.5 sacks across 30 games with the Browns.

None of Okoronkwo’s base salary for this season ($2.24MM) was guaranteed. The former fifth-rounder was due a $1.5MM option bonus on August 30, so it comes as no surprise he has been let go before that date. Today’s move will generate $3.67MM in cap savings for Cleveland while incurring a dead money charge of $1.95MM.

Cleveland still has Garrett in the fold thanks to his $40MM-per-year extension signed this offseason. The team will move forward with Alex Wright and Isaiah McGuire as inexpensive rotational contributors in the pass rush department. Okoronkwo, meanwhile, will now hit the market as part of a free agent EDGE group including Smith and the likes of Matt Judon, Von Miller and Jadeveon Clowney.

It would come as little surprise if some or all members of that contingent waited until the start of training camps around the league to sign with their next team. As a result, Okoronkwo’s next opportunity may not be in place for several weeks. Given the nature of his Browns stint, he can be expected to take a low-cost deal covering 2025 in a bid to help his market value for next spring.

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