HEADLINES

Cleveland Browns News & Rumors

CB K’Waun Williams Expected To Retire

January 15th, 2025 at 10:07am CST by Sam Robinson

After missing all of the 2023 season due to injury, K’Waun Williams did not play in 2024. The veteran cornerback does not appear prepared to aim for a comeback in 2025, either.

The veteran slot defender is expected to retire, according to the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson. Williams spent the 2022 and ’23 seasons in Denver but will be best remembered for his time in San Francisco. Williams played 10 NFL seasons.

Williams, 33, suffered an ankle injury in summer 2023 and ended up on IR. The Broncos carried Williams through to their 53-man roster, in hopes the experienced inside corner could return later that season. That never transpired, as Williams did not make it back from surgery in time. The former Browns UDFA’s contract expired after that ’23 season. While five or six teams reached out about potential 2024 landing spots, Williams’ agent said (via Tomasson) no fit developed.

The Broncos had signed Williams to take over for the oft-injured Bryce Callahan in 2022, and the former played 14 games during Denver’s disappointing Nathaniel Hackett-led campaign. Denver signed off on a two-year, $5.2MM deal; that ran Williams’ career earnings past $18MM. The Pittsburgh alum’s two 49ers contracts did the heavier lifting to reach that total.

After the Browns waived Williams in 2017, following an ongoing dispute about an ankle injury, he landed with the 49ers during Kyle Shanahan‘s first offseason running the show. That agreement proved pivotal, as Williams manned the slot under Robert Saleh and DeMeco Ryans for five years. Williams was a regular for the 2019 49ers, who rebounded from a 4-12 season to reach Super Bowl LIV, and then was their slot staple in 2021 — after the team bounced back from a 6-10 slate to reach the NFC championship game. Williams forced four fumbles to help San Francisco to a 13-3 record during that 2019 season; he added a fifth during the 49ers’ NFC title game win over the Packers.

Helping a team that did not have the same stability at outside corner during this span, Williams was charged with just two touchdowns surrendered across his final four NFL seasons. Earning a three-year, $8.85MM extension early during the 2017 season, Williams joined Richard Sherman and Emmanuel Moseley as 49ers regulars during the Super Bowl LIV run. The 49ers then re-signed him to a one-year deal for the 2021 campaign. Williams played two seasons for the Browns, the first of which (2014) doubling as Shanahan’s Cleveland OC stopover. The Bears had claimed Williams off waivers in 2016 but did not pass him on a physical.

San Francisco struggled to find a Williams replacement in 2022 and ’23, seeing various options play in nickel sets alongside Charvarius Ward and Deommodore Lenoir in that span. The Broncos have turned to UDFA Ja’Quan McMillian in the slot post-Williams. If this is it for Williams, he will close his career with five interceptions, 11 forced fumbles and 34 passes defensed.

Browns To Promote Tommy Rees To OC

January 14th, 2025 at 10:55pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Browns‘ search for a new offensive coordinator is set to come to an end. Tight ends coach Tommy Rees is being promoted, as first reported by Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.

Ken Dorsey took on the role of OC last offseason, allowing him a quick turnaround following his in-season 2023 firing by the Bills. Things did not go according to plan on offense for Cleveland this year, however resulting in another dismissal. Many expected a return to someone familiar with head coach Kevin Stefanski‘s with the next hire. As a result, this news comes as no surprise.

Rees quickly emerged as one of the candidates to receive offensive coordinator consideration. An interview was lined up last week, and with reported interest existing from outside teams, Cleveland needed to move quickly with respect to handing him the reins on offense. After speaking with Darrell Bevell (Dolphins), Charles London (Seahawks), Kevin Koger (Falcons) and Klint Kubiak (Saints), the top in-house candidate has received the no. This will be Rees’ third OC position in his career, but the first at the NFL level.

The 32-year-old quickly transitioned from playing to coaching, holding down one-year positions in the college and pro games in 2015 and ’16. After that, Rees worked as the quarterbacks coach at Notre Dame, his alma mater. He served in that capacity from 2017-22, with the final three seasons of that stretch doubling as his time at the helm of the team’s offense. In 2023, Rees joined Nick Saban‘s staff at Alabama and handled OC responsibilities.

That period was followed by a return to the NFL coaching ranks with the Browns. Rees held the role of tight ends coach but also pass game specialist during his first year working under Stefanski. This promotion will result in a major increase in responsibilities and expectation, although the possibility remains Stefanski will reclaim play-calling duties. In any case, a step forward in production will be needed for the Browns in 2025.

Indeed, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes Stefanski is expected to take back play-calling responsibilities. This will make Cleveland’s 2025 OC job a bit less important than the team’s 2024 position proved to be, but the Browns canned Dorsey after one year, doing so shortly before elevating a coach who drew interest elsewhere. Rees had emerged on Mike Vrabel‘s radar as a possible Patriots option, SI.com’s Albert Breer notes. Vrabel, a Browns consultant this past season, had been tied to Rees before he committed to the Pats. Josh McDaniels has also surfaced as an option for Vrabel’s team.

It certainly says plenty about Rees’ stock in Cleveland that the Browns passed over far more experienced options to go with him, and if the former Fighting Irish and Crimson Tide OC fares well, HC looks will be expected in the not-too-distant future. For now, the Browns — who employed Alex Van Pelt as Stefanski’s non-play-calling OC for four years — will go with a third OC in three seasons. As they aim to find a starting QB upgrade on the underperforming Deshaun Watson (who suffered a second Achilles tear), Rees will be a key part of the team’s equation.

Sam Robinson contributed to this post.

NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/14/25

January 14th, 2025 at 10:18pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Once the regular season ends, teams that are eliminated from the playoffs can sign players – typically young members of their practice squads – to reserve/futures contracts. Teams that lose in the playoffs are also eligible to sign such deals. Here are the latest reserve/futures contracts from around the NFL:

Cleveland Browns

Green Bay Packers

Los Angeles Chargers

Minnesota Vikings

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Holley is a former Western Michigan Bronco who started his professional career with the Philadelphia Stars of the USFL in 2022. He then signed with the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts for the 2023 season and played a key role in their 2024 Grey Cup championship. Holley led all CFL interior defensive linemen with 8.0 sacks, drawing attention from multiple NFL teams before signing with the Browns, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson.

Steward was an undrafted rookie out of Troy in 2024 who spent the year on the Bears’ practice squad. He was pursued by multiple teams once the regular season ended, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson, but ultimately chose to stay within the NFC North with the Vikings.

NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/13/25

January 13th, 2025 at 7:38pm CST by Ben Levine

Many teams have started signing players to reserve/futures contracts, allowing the organization to retain (routinely) young, practice squad players through the offseason. Here are the latest reserve/futures contracts:

Arizona Cardinals

Cleveland Browns

  • DT Ralph Holley

Denver Broncos

Green Bay Packers

Los Angeles Chargers

Pittsburgh Steelers

  • OT Doug Nester

Browns Interview Saints’ Klint Kubiak For OC

January 13th, 2025 at 12:28pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Browns are interviewing Saints offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak for the same position on Monday, per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.

Kubiak has a history with Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski. The two overlapped on the Vikings’ offensive coaching staff in 2013 and 2014. Kubiak was an offensive quality control coach, while Stefanski was the assistant quarterbacks coach one season and tight ends coach the next.

Stefanski has hired a former Vikings colleague before. His first defensive coordinator in Cleveland was Joe Woods, who arrived in Minnesota as the defensive backs coach in 2006, the same year Stefanski was hired as an assistant to then-head coach Brad Childress.

Kubiak is also scheduled to meet with the Seahawks for their OC job on Tuesday, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. He is still under contract with the Saints, but the team granted both interview requests amid their own search for a new head coach. Their list of candidates includes five current offensive coordinators. If one of them gets the job, Kubiak could lose his play-calling duties or be replaced altogether.

The Saints were one of the hottest offenses in the league to start the season with 91 points in their first two games. Injuries to key players hinder the rest of their season; Derek Carr, Chris Olave, Alvin Kamara, Rashid Shaheed, Erik McCoy, and Taysom Hill all missed significant time.

Kubiak would face a tough task ahead of him in Cleveland. The Browns offense finished with the fewest points, second-fewest yards per play, and most turnovers in the NFL in 2024 as they cycled through four different quarterbacks and struggled to stay healthy along the offensive line.

Kubiak’s first order of business would be working with Stefanski and Browns general manager Andrew Berry to decide on the team’s next starting quarterback. Deshaun Watson may miss the entire 2025 season after re-tearing his Achilles, Jameis Winston is set to hit free agency this spring, and neither Dorian Thompson-Robinson nor Bailey Zappe have showed they can be a long-term starter in the NFL.

Winston has expressed a desire to return to Cleveland, and the Browns also have the second overall pick in the draft. They could pair the familiar veteran with a top rookie prospect to start rebuilding after the disastrous trade for Watson in 2022.

2025 NFL Cap Carryover, By Team

January 11th, 2025 at 9:52pm CST by Adam La Rose

With the regular season in the books, all NFL teams have declared their cap carryover for the 2025 league year. Unused cap space from the current campaign will roll over, a substantial element of many teams’ financial planning.

Last offseason saw a record-breaking jump in the salary cap ceiling (pushing the upper limit to $255.4MM). To no surprise, another spike is expected but a smaller year-to-year increase is likely to take place. It was learned last month that teams are preparing for the 2025 cap to check in at a figure between $265MM-$275MM.

As teams evaluate key roster-building decisions – including restructures and cuts aimed at manufacturing cap space – carryovers are crucial. It it still not known what exactly the cap ceiling will wind up as, but in the meantime every club’s space which has been rolled over will add a degree of clarity with respect to how their offseason will take shape. Several teams (including the top two on this year’s list) have made a concerted effort in recent years to carry unused space through the course of a campaign knowing a spike in cap charges for core players are forthcoming.

Courtesy of Over the Cap, here is the full breakdown of each team’s 2025 cap carryover amount:

  • San Francisco 49ers: $50.01MM
  • Cleveland Browns: $41.95MM
  • New England Patriots: $34.86MM
  • Las Vegas Raiders: $33.57MM
  • Detroit Lions: $23.73MM
  • Washington Commanders: $19.83MM
  • Dallas Cowboys: $18.84MM
  • Jacksonville Jaguars: $15.89MM
  • Green Bay Packers: $15.11MM
  • Tennessee Titans: $14.72MM
  • Arizona Cardinals: $11.38MM
  • Indianapolis Colts: $10.1MM
  • Seattle Seahawks: $8.42MM
  • Pittsburgh Steelers: $6.83MM
  • Philadelphia Eagles: $6.81MM
  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers: $6.63MM
  • Atlanta Falcons: $6.07MM
  • Minnesota Vikings: $5.94MM
  • Cincinnati Bengals: $5.94MM
  • Chicago Bears: $5.08MM
  • Los Angeles Chargers: $4.89MM
  • Houston Texans: $4.81MM
  • Kansas City Chiefs: $3.15MM
  • Miami Dolphins: $3MM
  • New Orleans Saints: $2.93MM
  • Los Angeles Rams: $2.75MM
  • Baltimore Ravens: $2.14MM
  • Denver Broncos: $1.91MM
  • Buffalo Bills: $1.34MM
  • New York Giants: $1.17MM
  • Carolina Panthers: $490K
  • New York Jets: $346K

Coaching Rumors: Brady, Browns, Bears

January 11th, 2025 at 6:00pm CST by Ely Allen

Head coach and general manager interviews are underway, and the Raiders are looking to hire both. Already looking to hire a new head coach after firing Antonio Pierce, the Raiders made the move to fire general manager Tom Telesco, as well, at the alleged behest of part-owner Tom Brady. According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, that may not be the only influence Brady has brought to the equation.

Initially, reports were that Brady preferred to start clean with a general manager who would work in tandem with a new head coach, resulting in the termination of Telesco. Now, Brady’s effect on the team continues as his influence seems to be bringing in candidates that they otherwise wouldn’t typically land

Russini notes that coaches like Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who has notoriously been picky over his potential jobs, are showing interest in Las Vegas perhaps because of Brady’s influence. We’ll see if that influence continues into the search for a new general manager, as well. The presence of the future Hall of Famer seems to be making Las Vegas a premier destination.

Here are a few other coaching updates around the NFL:

  • The Browns will see assistant wide receivers coach Callie Brownson depart this offseason, per Browns staff writer Kelsey Russo. Brownson will not be remaining in the NFL as she plans to take a job as the senior director of high performance & national team operations for Team USA Football. She’ll be responsible for multiple administrative aspects of both the Men’s and Women’s National Teams for the United States when flag football makes its Olympic debut in Los Angeles in 2028.
  • The Bears are losing an assistant, as well, this one in the front office. Salary cap analyst and pro scout J.J. Cosh will leave Chicago to accept a position as executive associate administrative director over player management at Georgia Tech. Cosh has been with the Bears for six years, joining the team in 2018 as a scouting analyst. He’ll return to the college ranks after coming to the NFL following an introduction to football at Notre Dame.
  • Like Brownson and Cosh, Seahawks defensive assistant Nick Perry will be departing for the college coaching ranks, as well. A former undrafted safety out of Alabama, Perry eventually returned to Tuscaloosa as a graduate student and defensive analyst. In 2021, Perry was hired as assistant defensive backs coach for the Falcons, holding the position for two years before switching sides and serving as assistant wide receivers coach. This past season, he made the move to Seattle, working as a defensive assistant under first year head coach Mike Macdonald. Now, Matt Zentiz of 247Sports reports that Perry has earned his first full position coaching gig as defensive backs coach at Arkansas.

Browns’ Deshaun Watson Suffers Second Achilles Tear

January 10th, 2025 at 11:50pm CST by Adam La Rose

Deshaun Watson‘s recent setback in his Achilles rehab has proven to be a situation which will seriously threaten his availability for 2025. The Browns quarterback tore his Achilles a second time, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. The team has since confirmed the news.

Such a scenario was raised as a possibility earlier this week, with a second surgery of course being required in that event. As Rapoport notes, Watson underwent surgery yesterday to repair the most recent tear. His recovery timeline will now be pushed back as a result of the second operation; returning to full health in time for the start of the 2025 campaign was already a stretch, but now Watson is in danger of missing next season altogether.

“Earlier this week, when Watson reported to CrossCountry Mortgage Campus for his exit physical as part of the Browns’ season-ending process, he complained of discomfort after rolling his ankle in Miami,” a team statement reads in part. “MRI results demonstrated a re-rupture to his Achilles tendon. Dr. Bob Anderson, a foot and ankle specialist in Charlotte, NC, performed both surgeries.”

When on the field, Watson’s level of play has fallen well short of expectations. The former Texans Pro Bowler is still in Cleveland’s plans with two more years and $92MM guaranteed remaining on his pact (one which was once again restructured last month). The team has made it clear, though, that adding competition at the QB spot will be a priority for the offseason. Especially with Watson now set to miss considerable time next year, Cleveland will likely proceed with increased urgency in finding a new passer.

The Browns are currently scheduled to select second overall in April’s draft, and bringing in a rookie QB has already been floated as a distinct possibility. Two signal-callers – Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders – are considered the top options in this year’s class, one which is not viewed as favorably as past drafts. With veteran Jameis Winston a pending free agent, the Browns may be in the market for more than one quarterback addition over the coming months. In any case, Watson’s bid to return to his Houston form will be significantly delayed.

Colts Interview Browns’ Ephraim Banda For DC

January 10th, 2025 at 7:38pm CST by Ely Allen

The meteoric rise continues for Ephraim Banda. The Browns safeties coach has only been in the NFL for two years, and he already has earned his first defensive coordinator interview. Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports that Banda will meet with the Colts about their open defensive coordinator position.

Banda’s story is an inspiring one of perseverance and never giving up on your dreams. A high school athlete that turned down a few small school scholarship offers to do junior college and walk on somewhere bigger, Banda found himself working as a bartender while taking classes in San Antonio and staying in football shape by playing in amateur leagues. In 2007, Banda finally got his chance when Incarnate Word created a football program. He walked on at 25 years old, but since he wasn’t on scholarship, he had to continue bartending.

Unfortunately, a knee injury ended any hopes of a playing career for Banda. Still, he refused to give up on his football dream, working as a student assistant for the Cardinals in San Antonio while finishing his degree. He earned a graduate assistant position at the University of Texas on the recommendation of an Incarnate Word coach who had been hired by the Longhorns. In Austin, he met then-defensive coordinator Manny Diaz, another upstart coach who came to football after jobs outside of the sport.

He stayed at Texas for three years, even after Diaz was fired, coaching with the program through the transition from Mack Brown to Charlie Strong. Diaz bounced back in 2015 getting hired as the defensive coordinator at Mississippi State, and Banda joined him in Starkville as a defensive quality control coach. When Diaz was poached by Mark Richt to serve as defensive coordinator in Coral Gables, Banda got his first position coaching job as Miami’s safeties coach.

After three years and sending players like Rayshawn Jenkins, Jaquan Johnson, and Sheldrick Redwine to the NFL, Banda was promoted to co-defensive coordinator of the Hurricanes as Diaz took over the head coaching gig. In 2021, Banda finally parted ways with Diaz, taking the defensive coordinator and safeties coach job at Utah State. He held the role for two years before earning his first NFL job under Jim Schwartz in Cleveland.

In Banda’s two years in Cleveland, the Browns finished first in passing defense in 2023 and 12th this season. He’s managed an impressive safeties group over that time with Grant Delpit leading the group while Ronnie Hickman and Rodney McLeod have filled in for injuries here and there to the other starter, Juan Thornhill.

Colts general manager Chris Ballard has been quoted as valuing a more aggressive approach on defense, per ESPN’s Stephen Holder, something that is likely to affect the team’s coordinator search. According to Mike Chappell of FOX59/CBS4 Sports, the team has also announced that defensive backs coach Ron Milus and linebackers coach Richard Smith will not be returning to the staff in 2025.

With this note, while Banda will be interviewing for the coordinator position, this visit could also serve as an interview for the open defensive backs coaching job, should he fall short. Regardless, the 43-year-old is moving quickly through the coaching ranks of the sport and is a name to watch in the years to come.

Browns To Conduct OC Interview With Kevin Koger

January 10th, 2025 at 1:37pm CST by Adam La Rose

The list of candidates for the Browns’ vacant offensive coordinator position has grown. Falcons tight ends coach Kevin Koger will interview with Cleveland today, Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Koger joined the Falcons’ staff last offseason following a three-year run in the same capacity with the Chargers. During his first year in Atlanta, he took charge of a positional group led by Kyle Pitts, who did not enjoy the return to his rookie form many were hoping for under first-time offensive coordinator Zac Robinson. Still, Koger has drawn the interest of at least one team looking for a new OC, something he is no stranger to.

Koger met with both the Broncos and Packers during the 2022 hiring cycle while they were looking for new offensive coordinators. The 35-year-old began coaching in 2012, and he worked in the college ranks between 2013 and ’18. The following season, he took an opportunity in Green Bay to work as an offensive quality control coach before his Chargers stint. It will be interesting to see if Koger lands on the radar of the Seahawks (who fired Ryan Grubb after one season) or any other teams which win up being in the market for a new OC this offseason.

Cleveland dismissed Ken Dorsey in the aftermath of a 4-13 season. Quarterback play was generally a major weak point with and without Deshaun Watson in the lineup in 2024, and the matter of whether or not head coach Kevin Stefanski calls plays moving forward will be a key talking point as OC interviews take place. Koger has never worked as an offensive coordinator at the college or NFL levels.

The Browns have their own TEs coach (Tommy Rees) in line as a candidate to take over from Dorsey. In terms of outside possibilities, Dolphins pass game coordinator Darrell Bevell as well as Seahawks quarterbacks coach Charles London are on the team’s radar. Easterling notes London will also interview with the Browns today, as the team continues to seek out a long-term answer at the OC spot.

Load More Posts