The latest Cleveland Browns news and notes from around the NFL in the Sunday Dawg Chow.
The NFL playoffs opened on Saturday and continue today with a trio of games.
The Cleveland Browns are not participating this season, of course, but there is one game today that will serve as an agitator for some Browns fans, which is the primetime meeting between the Washington Commanders and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who are led by quarterback Baker Mayfield.
This will be the fifth playoff game started by Mayfield, and the last two times he played in a primetime playoff game he came out on the winning side — last season when he threw three touchdown passes in a win against the Philadelphia Eagles, and in 2020 when he also tossed three touchdowns to help the Browns win their first road playoff game since 1969.
Seeing Mayfield in the playoffs again while the Browns are once again searching for a starting quarterback will rub some Cleveland fans the wrong way while fueling others who still regret the team for moving on from the No. 1 overall selection in the 2018 NFL Draft. (Has it really been seven seasons already?)
The takeaway here is that no one can change the past, so no need to let Mayfield’s success or failure ruin what should be an entertaining day of playoff football.
With that taken care of, let’s kick off the day with the latest edition of the Sunday Dawg Chow.
Dawgs By Nature:
- Deshaun Watson has cost the Browns more than just money (Thomas Moore) – Three years into Deshaun Watson’s tenure with the Cleveland Browns, there are several ways to quantify the trade, which ultimately cost the franchise more than just the dollars in the contract.
- NFL draft, free agency, trades: Quarterback options for the Browns going into 2025 (Barry Shuck) – The Cleveland Browns do not have a starting quarterback. Could they select someone in this year’s NFL Draft who can come in and start Day 1? The franchise owns the No. 2 overall pick plus the first pick in the second round, but a seasoned veteran might be more to the liking.
- Buckeyes in the National Title game, Cavs best team in the NBA, Guardians contenders: Does any of that ease Browns fans suffering? (Jared Mueller) – While we know that not all Cleveland Browns fans are also fans of the Ohio State Buckeyes, Cleveland Cavaliers and/or Cleveland Guardians, we know there is a lot of overlap. But does those teams’ success help soothe suffering Browns fans?
- Deshaun Watson speculation: Browns could cut the QB, nullify contract (Jared Mueller) – The latest injury for Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson has called into question whether the Browns would be able to void the guarantees in Watson’s contract and release him.
- Browns Roster: Three most attractive trade candidates (Damon Wolfe) – As fans, it’s easy to identify with player trades in the vacuum of stats and skill sets, but teams don’t trade for players as much as they trade for contracts. From this context, let’s take a look at a few surprises from the Cleveland Browns who could be traded away during the offseason.
- 6 free agents from Steelers vs Ravens the Browns could pursue (Jared Mueller) – NFL free agency is months away, but with the NFL playoffs kicking off on Saturday, Cleveland Browns fans should keep their eyes on these players.
- Raiders rumor could give Browns leverage in 2025 NFL draft (Jared Mueller) – The idea of the Cleveland Browns trading down from the No. 2 overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft does make some sense depending on how they grade Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward at quarterback.
- 6 free agents from Chargers vs Texans the Browns could pursue (Jared Mueller) – Here are three free agents from both the Los Angeles Chargers and Houston Texans that Browns fans should keep an eye on in the playoffs.
- Browns position coach gets interview for coordinator position (Jared Mueller) – Ephraim Banda joined Jim Schwartz’s staff in 2023 after being a college defensive coordinator.
Cleveland Browns:
- 6 key players the Browns need to play up to their potential in 2025 (cleveland.com) – Cleveland Browns GM Andrew Berry offered his assessment of what went wrong this season when he met with the media on Monday. He called the team’s 3-14 record embarrassing and, at one point, pointed to a number of factors for what went wrong.
- Cleveland Browns QB questions: Pathways to replace Deshaun Watson as 2025 starter (Beacon Journal) – The news Friday that Deshaun Watson will likely miss “significant time” in the 2025 season because he re-ruptured his Achilles tendon only confirmed what was already known. The Cleveland Browns are going to be in the market for a quarterback. Not just any quarterback, mind you. They’re in the market for a starting quarterback.
- How the Browns failed on 0-line in 2024. Can their latest move fix it? (Terry Pluto) – Offensive line coaches are like pitching coaches in baseball. They live in their own world of players who have a specialized job. With many teams, fans don’t even know their names – unless they are one of the great ones.
- Myles Garrett’s jersey and gloves on display at Pro Football Hall of Fame (clevelandbrowns.com) – With his 14th sack, Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett became the first player in NFL history to reach 14 or more sacks in four consecutive seasons. With the accomplishment, the Pro Football Hall of Fame created a display in the “Pro Football Today” gallery, featuring Garrett’s game-worn jersey, gloves, and wristband from the Week 17 matchup against the Miami Dolphins.
NFL:
- Every day is a block party for Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield (Tampa Bay Times) – The Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB and his offensive line are inseparable, on and off the field, creating a bond that has fueled success.
- NFL playoff primer: Taunting rules will be ‘strictly enforced’ (The Washington Post) – The NFL told teams this week that its sportsmanship-related rules will be “strictly enforced” during the postseason.
- HOF voters confront tough question: Should a Chiefs great who committed murder-suicide get in? (ESPN) – When Jim Tyrer first appeared on a Pro Football Hall of Fame ballot in the early 1980s after completing an impressive 14-year career, the Kansas City Chiefs offensive lineman looked like a sure bet to land in Canton. Tyrer, though, never made it into the Hall, and his name disappeared from the ballot for more than 40 years.