Myles Garrett’s desire to compete won’t lead to a trade but Nick Chubb and JOK’s future are more uncertain
Coming off of a 3-14 season, the Cleveland Browns seem set to basically “run it back” in many ways. Not every way, as we saw with the dismissal of OC Ken Dorsey and OL coach Andy Dickerson, but GM Andrew Berry, HC Kevin Stefanski and QB Deshaun Watson will be returning.
Watson’s “return” may not be to the field after a setback and a salary cap loophole opens up the team’s options at quarterback.
With the second overall pick and a return to Stefanski’s system, the Browns could help DE Myles Garrett feel like they are not rebuilding. With his talent and at his age, Garrett is not the type of player you rebuild around but, instead, build with.
Speaking to the media following the season, Berry noted that he did not expect big changes to the core of Cleveland’s roster:
#Browns EVP/GM Andrew Berry isn’t going to blow up the roster this offseason pic.twitter.com/kk0gJk4DVB
— Daryl Ruiter (@RuiterWrongFAN) January 6, 2025
Unsurprisingly, Berry doesn’t list “our cornerstone players” but two that could be exceptions, at least based on most people’s belief in the core of the roster, are RB Nick Chubb and LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah.
Berry was vague about Chubb’s future, a pending free agent, as the talented running back finished his second season in a row on injured reserve.
JOK’s future remains even more of a mystery. Since the star linebacker hurt his neck in the first matchup with the Baltimore Ravens, Stefanski has given very little information on his injury, treatment plan or recovery timeframe. Following the season, that messaging continued with a simple idea that Stefanski is “hopeful” that Owusu-Koramoah will be back next year.
Berry provided slightly more information but a similar message of hope:
Andrew Berry: No update on JOK
Do you expect him back in 2025?
“That’s our hope, for sure. But with long-term injuries, I really don’t have a crystal ball.”
— Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) January 6, 2025
Bringing back the core of a team that alternated between going to the playoffs and winning just three games is logical but age and injury continue to progress on the Browns roster. Losing Chubb and/or JOK would just add to the problems surrounding the core of the team in Cleveland.
How do you feel about the Browns moving forward with the same core of players and making changes around that group?