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Browns offseason priorities: Kevin Stefanski-Deshaun Watson confab, defensive tackle help
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- Browns offseason priorities: Kevin Stefanski-Deshaun Watson confab, defensive tackle help
BEREA — The Browns have been in the offseason for two weeks now. They answered their most immediate question when they hired Jim Schwartz to replace Joe Woods as defensive coordinator .
That question having been answered, their attention can now turn to the rest of the offseason. Or, to the portion of the offseason that involves reshaping the look of the roster.
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To that end, it's time to dive into some of the Browns' biggest priorities over the next few months. There's a lot of personnel-based items on this list.
The first item on the list has nothing to do with player acquisition. However, it may have everything to do with how successful next season goes for the Browns.
Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson talks with coach Kevin Stefanski after minicamp on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Canton.
'Man-to-man' talk between Kevin Stefanski, Deshaun Watson
Every time either coach Kevin Stefanski or quarterback Deshaun Watson talked over the last six weeks of the season, they spoke about continuing to grow their relationship. Then, both immediately after the season-finale in Pittsburgh and the day after it, Watson stated his first offseason goal was to sit down and have a "man-to-man conversation" with Stefanski.
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On the surface, that may sound like a quarterback and a coach not on the same page. And, quite frankly, there may be parts of their relationship that still needs to be ironed out now that they've had at least some time together.
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Here's the thing: Watson and Stefanski have to make sure they're in lock-step on what the offense looks like in the fall for the Browns to have any chance of success. What the offense looked like — schematically, at least — over Watson's six starts this past season isn't what it's going to look like next year, at least if you listen to any of the parties who have a direct say in the matter.
So the sooner the coach and the quarterback can get on the same page, the sooner things can begin to move in the direction they need to go on that front. To their credit, those conversations literally began the Monday after the season ended, so it's already something both parties understand is a priority and something that must continue as allowed throughout the offseason.
Washington Commanders defensive tackle Daron Payne (94) sacks Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
The Browns depth chart at defensive tackle needs fixed by any means necessary
Again, a lot of these offseason priorities aren't state secrets. This one, as much as any of them, has been out there since the last offseason.
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Jordan Elliott , Perrion Winfrey and Tommy Togiai are the defensive tackles under contract for the Browns. Ben Stille, who was signed in November off the Miami Dolphins ' practice squad, is an exclusive-rights free agent, so if they want him back, he'll be back.
Obviously, that's not going to cut it for next season. Nor does literally anyone believe that's going to be it for the group.
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The No. 1 priority when the free-agent period opens in mid-March has to be to land a top-level defensive tackle. The Washington Commanders' Daron Payne has been the name to come up on most wish lists, but a player of that caliber often doesn't make it to market.
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Whoever the big-ticket tackle is, the Browns need to land him on March 15. Two top-level tackles is probably not an option, but taking a flier — after having reeled in a big one — on a reclamation project in the mold of a Takk McKinley or Malik McDowell wouldn't be the worst way for the Browns to get some bang for their potential buck.
Oh, and of course there is the draft in late April. Although the Browns don't pick, for now, until No. 43 — the 11th pick of the second round — there should still be quality defensive tackle talent to be had there.
Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson changes the play at the line of scrimmage as he awaits a second-quarter snap from center Ethan Pocic against the Steelers, Jan. 8, 2023, in Pittsburgh.
Re-sign offensive linemen Ethan Pocic and figure out Jedrick Wills Jr's fifth-year option
Speaking of not getting to market, the Browns need to prioritize not letting center Ethan Pocic get there. They've invested heavily in the offensive line over the last couple of years, with extensions to guards Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller , as well as right tackle Jack Conklin .
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Now, they need to invest in one of the more pleasant surprises to emerge from this past season. Pocic was signed to a one-year deal last offseason, and came into training camp as an insurance policy of sorts behind projected starter Nick Harris.
Harris sustained a season-ending knee injury in the preseason opener at Jacksonville. Pocic came in and, well, played at a near-Pro Bowl level.
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Despite missing essentially five games due to a knee injury he sustained on the very first play of a Week 11 loss to Buffalo, Pocic consistently graded out as one of the league's top centers. In fact, according to Pro Football Focus, his overall grade of 79 out of 100 was third in the league behind only Kansas City's Creed Humphrey and Philadelphia's Jason Kelce .
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Harris has been recovering from his knee injury, and the 2020 day-three pick is expected to be ready to go for training camp. However, considering the investments already made up front, the Browns would be wise, if the price is right, to keep Pocic.
The other line question hinges on the May 1 decision that must be made on left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr.'s fifth-year option. The big question really centers on when they want to make the final assessment on whether or not he's the answer at left tackle.
If they pick up the option, they'll have two more years to really assess things. If they don't, then 2023 will be a fish-or-cut-bait season.
Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin (17) is tackled by Cleveland Browns safety Grant Delpit (22) and safety John Johnson III (43) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
The Browns need to figure out the free safety position with John Johnson III , Grant Delpit
Schwartz's coverage of choice is man-to-man. The Browns have the cornerbacks to play that coverage.
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What the Browns don't know is if they have is the deep safety to play that coverage. That's something they'll have to answer well before training camp, in part because they can cut safety John Johnson III after June 1 at a mere $3.75 million against the cap while creating $9.75 million in cap space.
Johnson was, by snap counts, the primary free safety on the team last season with 689 snaps there compared to 250 in-the-box snaps. Grant Delpit , meanwhile, played almost an even number between free (441 snaps) and in the box (429).
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Woods' zone-coverage scheme often left both Johnson and Delpit in a two-deep look. Schwartz's man-coverage look would leave just a single-high free safety to play centerfield, while the other would be more in the box.
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If the answer isn't Johnson, then the Browns need to dip into the free-agent market, as they did when they signed him two years ago from the Los Angeles Rams .
Browns wide receivers Amari Cooper (right) and Donovan Peoples-Jones celebrate after Cooper caught a TD pass against the New York Jets during the first half, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022, in Cleveland.
Provide more depth in the pass-catching group beyond Amari Cooper
Amari Cooper showed why the trade the Browns made to get him from the Dallas Cowboys last March — and the subsequent new deal he received — were maybe the best move they made last offseason. He clearly established himself as a No. 1 in the receiving corps, and one of the leaders by example in the locker room.
Donovan Peoples-Jones , in his third season, took the kind of steps you would've wanted to see him take to develop into a steady top-three receiver on a contender. Tight end David Njoku nearly had a career year and at least seemed to be blossoming into the kind of tight end one expects at his price tag .
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Rookies David Bell and Michael Woods II flashed in brief moments, but looked like they were in a transition year when they weren't injured. Harrison Bryant is a solid blocking tight end and can catch the ball, but isn't necessarily an explosive pass-catcher.
The rest of the group remains a major question mark that may likely lead to some roster renovations this offseason. Not necessarily big-ticket additions, but certainly a second-day draft pick being expended and/or a second-tier free-agent signing wouldn't come as a major surprise.
Contact Chris at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com.
On Twitter: @ceasterlingABJ
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: The Browns need to fix these spots on the depth chart
