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What was learned and what will linger from Browns offseason program until training camp?
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- What was learned and what will linger from Browns offseason program until training camp?
BEREA — There will be about six weeks until the full Browns roster gathers together to start training camp next month. Until then, the last views of them on the field will be what was seen over the six open practices during the recently concluded OTAs and minicamp .
It can be easy to draw grand conclusions from relatively insignificant sample sizes. That's especially true with football, a sport whose offseason and regular season/postseason differ dramatically in what you can even do on the field.
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It's impossible for football teams to actually "play football," if you will, in the offseason because of the physical and violent nature of the sport. It's why the players are only in helmets and, by and large, shorts, and contact is essentially a no-no.
Still, conclusions will be drawn and baselines will be established with still two-plus months until the first regular-season game. What follows is an attempt not to do that, but at least point out a few things from the last four weeks of the Browns ' offseason program that were noticed and what could linger into training camp.
The first one starts not with something on the field, but off. However, it most certainly could potentially linger into training camp.
How does the Amari Cooper contract situation resolve itself?
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper (2) on the sideline against the Houston Texans on Dec. 24, 2023, in Houston.
The story of minicamp for the Browns was the absence of Pro Bowl wide receiver Amari Cooper. The veteran, who will be 30 on Monday and is heading into his 10th NFL season, was absent from all three days.
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While neither Cooper nor his agent, Chafie Fields, have said anything publicly, the unexcused absences spoke volumes for what he's thinking regarding his deal, or lack of one, beyond this season. What is going to be fascinating to watch is what kind of resolution does the situation have, if any, by late July?
The assumption is that, ultimately, the Browns and Cooper will come to an agreement on a new deal. If that assumption is correct, then the next fascinating thing to watch is exactly how the deal looks, both in years and dollars.
General manager Andrew Berry's biggest singular achievement in the role was the March 2022 deal that got Cooper from the Dallas Cowboys for two day-three draft picks. The five-year deal Cooper brought with him from Dallas was worth $100 million — currently the fifth-highest contract value for a receiver in the NFL — with $60 million guaranteed, which is eighth highest among receivers in the league.
That's including the multiple big-money deals that have been agreed to in recent months, including the four-year, $140 million deal the Minnesota Vikings ' Justin Jefferson received. Another of the receiver deals given out was to Cooper's new teammate, Jerry Jeudy , who got a three-year deal worth $58 million, with $41 million fully guaranteed, about a week after he was acquired from the Denver Broncos .
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Cooper's been worth every penny, with 150 catches for 2,410 yards and 14 touchdowns in two seasons in Cleveland . He played in all but two games in that time.
Still, what do the Browns give a 30-year-old receiver? Or, and this is the other question than lingers out there, do they give Cooper anything at all?
How does Deshaun Watson 's throwing program change when he gets to training camp?
Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson talks with tight end David Njoku (85) during minicamp, Thursday, June 13, 2024, in Berea.
Deshaun Watson showed off his surgically repaired throwing shoulder over the last three weeks. The results were, for the most part, positive for the Browns quarterback.
After only doing individual drills in OTAs, Watson added 7-on-7 drills to his menu during minicamp. In both settings, he looked to have good velocity on his throws, and even showed off some arm strength, including a 50-yard throw that was pretty much on target on the final day of minicamp.
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Browns coach Kevin Stefanski didn't say what's exactly next for Watson, at least during the month off before training camp. What's next for him to do when he gets back in the team setting?
"You know, natural next step is throwing out there against the defense in 7-on-7," Stefanski said. "Then you'll graduate to team, and we can do team drills and those type of things."
That'll also be the next checkpoint for Watson in terms of assessing where the bar of expectation should be set for him in his third season in Cleveland.
How good can the Browns defense be in year 2 of Jim Schwartz?
Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz watches the team warm up during minicamp June 11 in Berea.
The Browns defense was, statistically, about as good as it gets during the first season under defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. That is, until the AFC wild card game against the Houston Texans , when everything seemed to go wrong for not just the defense, but the whole team.
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So what does the second year with Schwartz, with virtually every important piece of that defense returning, look like in Cleveland? That was almost impossible to glean from what was witnessed on the field because, as even he would acknowledge, what's played in May and June isn't real football.
What was evident, especially in minicamp when all of the players were present, was the potential for that defense to take a step forward. What you could see was more instincts kicking in for the players, instincts that come from experience, both in scheme and with teammates.
But, again, it was just May and June. It's still way too early for final declarations.
Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns offseason takeaways talk Amari Cooper, Deshaun Watson, defense
