The Cleveland Browns started their off-season with a bang with the announcement that quarterback Deshaun Watson had a setback in his rehab. As I’ve said on numerous podcasts, Browns GM Andrew Berry has been working on a plan to get rid of Watson since he got hurt and now it’s even clearer how they’ll accomplish that goal. He won’t be healthy at the start of training camp, so he’ll be placed on the PUP list, and he won’t be healthy as they break training camp, so he’ll be placed on IR. Because of the new contract restructure, Watson could be made a post June 1 cut in 2026 with minimal cap consequences. Yesterday it was also reported by Over The Cap the Browns had injury insurance on Watson for 2024 and 2025. Injury insurance is not transparent, so the following is speculation on my part and what I could research. As I understand it, the Browns would receive a salary cap credit for 2025 somewhere between $5 to $8 million. Over The Cap reported the Browns had insurance for 2025 in the amount of $44.5 million. If Watson misses eight plus games in 2025, then the Browns would receive a salary cap credit of $44.5 million.

The next question will be hiring a new offensive coordinator and offensive line coach. The Browns would like to keep tight end coach/passing game coordinator Tommy Rees. There is speculation Mike Vrabel would like to bring Rees with him when he takes a head coaching job. Nothing is set in stone yet, but I’m inclined to think the Browns have good chance to retain Rees as OC and Kevin Stefanski will call plays. I can’t wait for the Cleveland media to tell me how bad this is after starting the 2024 season telling me he should give up play calling, then after he did how he shouldn’t have given up play calling. As for the offensive line coach, apparently, Andy Dickerson left the team three to four weeks ago. It was noted to me by a friend who has HBO and was watching “Hard Knocks.” The assistant OL coach was is charge of positional meeting. Then it was reported Vrabel was working with the offensive line the last month of the season.

Finally the Titans have fired the GM Ran Carthon today. How does this effect the Browns? When the Titans hired Carthon, assistant Browns GM Glenn Cook was a finalist for the job. If he’s hired by Tennessee, the Browns will receive a 2025 third round pick and 2026 third round pick. It also effects the Browns because the Titans pick ahead of Cleveland.