2025 Browns Offseason Thread: Delusions Of Grandeur?

[American Hero]

Washington hit on a rookie QB at 2, made the NFC title game, and they have arguably less talent and certainly a worse HC. Let’s just be patient and see how things look after the draft. A Cousins, Ward/Sanders QB room has us right back in the thick of things potentially. I have a lot of faith in AB. He is a smart guy.

Daniels played like a top 5 QB this year. His QBR was right there with the best in the league. It's ridiculous to expect that anomaly to happen again

The bolded is just laughable. By the way your best player just publicly demanded a trade and clearly doesn't want to be here which you don't even address

 

[Mr. Orange]

I don't think Jimmy is gung-ho for a tear down.

He may be better in the long run to have the team tank in '25, restructure Myles/Ward contracts before trading them, acquiring draft picks in '25 and '26 and have that group of players at their peak for '28-'29 for fan interest in the new stadium. Cut Deshaun post-June 1 in '26 for cap hits in '26 and '27 when those rookie contracts can buffer the hit.

If you take DaWand and Zinter as the future, 3 more OL still need to materialize to replace LT, Bitonio and Teller. Need a QB, a RB, a TE and at least one WR. 2 DL if Myles is traded, another LB (2 if JOK issues persist), a CB and safety. And those are only the starters.

OL is often addressed in FA but we have another year until it’s a problem. Should def take an OL high in this draft and maybe again next year.

With 4 top 100 picks you can address QB, OL, TE, DB and take a RB late. That’s how I would attack this draft. Obviously you go BPA tiers for those position groups.

Next year again you can hit OL early, then you are in decent shape and Watson is coming off the books and into the stretch provision.

 

[Damage]

Daniels played like a top 5 QB this year. His QBR was right there with the best in the league. It's ridiculous to expect that anomaly to happen again

The bolded is just laughable. By the way your best player just publicly demanded a trade and clearly doesn't want to be here which you don't even address

I don't disagree but I will say the Browns roster isn't as perilous as many would suggest. This isn't a tear it down to the studs and prepare for a 4-5 year rebuild.

This isn't a 2017, 2018 Browns roster. Despite some of the regression on this list, there is young talent:

• Jeudy
• Njoku
• Tillman
• Jerome Ford
• Dawand Jones
• Delpit
• Emerson
• Hall Jr
• Ronnie Hickman
• Isaiah McGuire
• Newsome
• JOK
• Denzel Ward
• Alex Weight
• Zach Zinter

Is there a universe where they trade Myles and could get 7-9 wins and possibly sneak into the playoffs Sure. I sure as shit wouldn't bet on it's not inconceivable.

 

[CBBI]

Is there a universe where they trade Myles and could get 7-9 wins and possibly sneak into the playoffs Sure. I sure as shit wouldn't bet on it's not inconceivable.

Yes it is.

Because trading Myles isn't just removing Myles from the roster.

It's removing at least 3-4 other starters (including multiple of the names on your list) because of the dead cap acceleration into 2025.

There's no scenario where they trade Myles and attempt to "remain competitive" - if they are forced to go through with that trade, that's it. It's over. The roster must be imploded.

 

[American Hero]

I don't disagree but I will say the Browns roster isn't as perilous as many would suggest. This isn't a tear it down to the studs and prepare for a 4-5 year rebuild.

This isn't a 2017, 2018 Browns roster. Despite some of the regression on this list, there is young talent:

• Jeudy
• Njoku
• Tillman
• Jerome Ford
• Dawand Jones
• Delpit
• Emerson
• Hall Jr
• Ronnie Hickman
• Isaiah McGuire
• Newsome
• JOK
• Denzel Ward
• Alex Weight
• Zach Zinter

Is there a universe where they trade Myles and could get 7-9 wins and possibly sneak into the playoffs Sure. I sure as shit wouldn't bet on it's not inconceivable.

If you were going to rank all 32 teams' young talent, that would be at or near the bottom of the entire league. Thats a weak list.

Most of those guys were mediocre to bad last year

 

[bigfoot5415]

It's just sad. The hardcore, irrationally loyal fans will stick around. It's not in me to switch teams. I've thought about it before but can't do it. The Browns are one of the only things that kept my family talking during periods we really didn't get along. It's more than just football. It's my connection to them and my love for the city.

It's sad because what do the casual fans/younger fans, etc have to cheer for? We have no young talent and our best players have either been career-changing injured or have asked to leave the team because he says we basically have no chance at being good. And it's not like we are locked in for a franchise qb to draft. And it looks like the front office/ownership who got us here is all safe in their jobs. What exactly is there to cheer for?

Sad.

My kids loathe the Browns. I'm at that point as well most people I know 25-35 are the same unless their family/Dad is hardcore.

 

[JDailey23]

Do some of you people really think we are going to get multiple 1st rounders for Myles? I saw that made up proposal from the Bears for their 1st, 2nd and 3rd picks and I’d take that in a heartbeat.

 

[Otsego Mar]

Do some of you people really think we are going to get multiple 1st rounders for Myles? I saw that made up proposal from the Bears for their 1st, 2nd and 3rd picks and I’d take that in a heartbeat.

At least 2, yes.

 

[Vee-Rex]

I really hate to do this… someone tell me to stop.

I should preface this to say I understand Myles is generational. But… would it truly be backbreaking to our defense to lose him?

Our defense ranked middle of the pack in total sacks. Last overall in interceptions. Bottom 6 in passer rating. For all of Myles efforts, opposing teams can just double him and neutralize him for noticeable stretches (let’s not pretend we haven’t all wondered where the fuck Myles is at times). Do we really get pressure all like that? Are our other pass rushers trash, or is there more to it?

Not to say another pass rusher would do better than Myles, more so to question if we overvalue the impact of pass rushers.

He’ll be 30 and one has to wonder if his over reliance on athleticism will cause a steep drop off within the coming years. Do we want to pay that 35 million a year? Or cash in?

I’m not beating the drum either way, but I do see a path that allows us to trade him (assuming we can work magic with the cap) and still look to compete from a roster standpoint. Unfortunately, I think the biggest upgrade we could make on defense would be at DC but that ship has probably already sailed.

 

[Mr. Orange]

The Average age of an nfl player is 26. (Gen Z if you really want to feel old). The roster will turnover a lot in the next 2-3 years. Just get your QB and we are fine

 

[American Hero]

I really hate to do this… someone tell me to stop.

I should preface this to say I understand Myles is generational. But… would it truly be backbreaking to our defense to lose him?

Our defense ranked middle of the pack in total sacks. Last overall in interceptions. Bottom 6 in passer rating. For all of Myles efforts, opposing teams can just double him and neutralize him for noticeable stretches (let’s not pretend we haven’t all wondered where the fuck Myles is at times). Do we really get pressure all like that? Are our other pass rushers trash, or is there more to it?

Not to say another pass rusher would do better than Myles, more so to question if we overvalue the impact of pass rushers.

He’ll be 30 and one has to wonder if his over reliance on athleticism will cause a steep drop off within the coming years. Do we want to pay that 35 million a year? Or cash in?

I’m not beating the drum either way, but I do see a path that allows us to trade him (assuming we can work magic with the cap) and still look to compete from a roster standpoint. Unfortunately, I think the biggest upgrade we could make on defense would be at DC but that ship has probably already sailed.

Myles is consistently rated the best past rusher in the league against double teams. Does taking the best defensive player off your roster impact the defense? Yes. You probably go from a middle of the pack defense to bottom 10 at least.

I do agree he might start declining in play over the next 3-4 years

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

I really hate to do this… someone tell me to stop.

I should preface this to say I understand Myles is generational. But… would it truly be backbreaking to our defense to lose him?

Yes.

He has led the league in defensive impact. Both incompletions and turnovers generated by his pass rush--and that's while leading the league in being double (or more) teamed.

Without him, our defense has no advantage. There would be no point trying to contend with Cincinnati and Baltimore at this time and we have to go into a full rebuild.

He is the most dominant defensive player in football and is on pace to challenge Reggie White for the title of greatest defensive end in NFL history.

 

[Vee-Rex]

Yes.

He has led the league in defensive impact. Both incompletions and turnovers generated by his pass rush--and that's while leading the league in being double (or more) teamed.

Without him, our defense has no advantage. There would be no point trying to contend with Cincinnati and Baltimore at this time and we have to go into a full rebuild.

He is the most dominant defensive player in football and is on pace to challenge Reggie White for the title of greatest defensive end in NFL history.

I know the logic behind having a generational player. He stands above his peers. But from a positional standpoint, there’s just a limit to how much that type of player can impact a game. Do we have 0 wins without Myles? Or maybe just 1 or 2 wins less wins? This is “Myles” we’re talking about here - that generational GOAT level player at DE.

I just don’t know if I look at this situation and declare we tank/fire everyone/trade everyone if we don’t keep Myles. He alone is just not franchise-altering, like an elite QB would be.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

I know the logic behind having a generational player. He stands above his peers. But from a positional standpoint, there’s just a limit to how much that type of player can impact a game. Do we have 0 wins without Myles? Or maybe just 1 or 2 wins less wins? This is “Myles” we’re talking about here - that generational GOAT level player at DE.

I just don’t know if I look at this situation and declare we tank/fire everyone/trade everyone if we don’t keep Myles. He alone is just not franchise-altering, like an elite QB would be.

Here's the thing.

We absolutely do not have an offense that can ascend to the top ranks. We're in agreement on that one, right?

We don't have a Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, Patrick Mahomes or Josh Allen pulling the trigger.

We don't even have JaMarr Chase, AJ Brown, Justin Jefferson, etc to catch passes.

We no longer have all-pro Nick Chubb at RB.

Our offensive line has aged out of dominance.

So, you look at that and figure, yeah... Stefanski plus a better QB can probably use what's left to cobble together a respectable offense... give us a puncher's chance when guys like Myles and Denzel can change the game in an instant on the defensive side.

But when you take away that transcendent talent, you're left with a team that just can't do it anymore. You no longer are a Matt Stafford away from letting your Aaron Donald lead the way to the Super Bowl... you're just a team without any strengths and without any identity.

 

[Vee-Rex]

Here's the thing.

We absolutely do not have an offense that can ascend to the top ranks. We're in agreement on that one, right?

We don't have a Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, Patrick Mahomes or Josh Allen pulling the trigger.

We don't even have JaMarr Chase, AJ Brown, Justin Jefferson, etc to catch passes.

We no longer have all-pro Nick Chubb at RB.

Our offensive line has aged out of dominance.

So, you look at that and figure, yeah... Stefanski plus a better QB can probably use what's left to cobble together a respectable offense... give us a puncher's chance when guys like Myles and Denzel can change the game in an instant on the defensive side.

But when you take away that transcendent talent, you're left with a team that just can't do it anymore. You no longer are a Matt Stafford away from letting your Aaron Donald lead the way to the Super Bowl... you're just a team without any strengths and without any identity.

Until we draft Cam Ward. Then the sky is the limit for us.