Cleveland Browns Depth Chart
- AFC North
- Stadium
- Cleveland Browns Stadium
- Head Coach
- Kevin Stefanski
- Offensive Coordinator
- Ken Dorsey
- Defensive Coordinator
- Jim Schwartz
- Special Teams Coach
- Bubba Ventrone
- Defensive Scheme
- 4-3
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (shoulder) has had well-documented struggles since being traded from the Houston Texans ahead of the 2022 season. He's appeared in just 12 games over the last two years, completing just under 60% of his passes for 2,217 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions. Those stats are far from his days of MVP contention with Houston, but Browns general manager Andrew Berry remains confident. "Obviously, he's been rehabbing the shoulder injury, but he is well on his way there and in a really strong spot," Berry said. "We do expect to hit the ground running on that side of the ball, and I know he is very excited about returning to the playing field and getting over this injury. We have high expectations for him and the offense this season." Watson missed Week 4, 6, and 8 last season and played just a handful of snaps in Week 7 before returning in Week 9. He was then placed on season-ending Injured Reserve ahead of Week 11. A combination of poor play and injuries has put a bleak outlook on his career, and 2024 could be his last chance to prove he belongs as a starter in Cleveland. All that said, backup quarterback Jameis Winston is an intriguing stash option in Superflex and dynasty leagues.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (hip) is set to have a follow-up MRI exam on his hip on Monday, and if all goes as planned, he's hoping to be back out on the field during the team's minicamp next weekend. The 24-year-old signal-caller suffered a subluxation of his hip on Christmas Eve last season and missed the rest of the year, which prompted the Browns to add veteran QB Joe Flacco. Thompson-Robinson has made good progress this offseason and is close to being cleared to throw during the team's offseason workouts. The Browns aren't going to rush him, though, and when healthy, he's going to be buried on the QB depth chart in Cleveland behind Deshaun Watson, Jameis Winston and Tyler Huntley.
Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry said that running back Nick Chubb (knee) is "progressing nicely" in his recovery from the gruesome knee injury that he suffered in Week 2 against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2023. However, Berry also said Chubb "still has a long way to go" in his rehab. Chubb resumed running on land a few weeks ago, but it remains to be seen if he'll be ready for the start of training camp this summer. The Browns didn't take a RB in this year's draft but added D'Onta Foreman and pass-catching back Nyheim Hines in free agency. Cleveland also has Jerome Ford as an option to help ease Chubb back into the fold if he's still not 100 percent early on in 2024. Before his injury, Chubb as a no-doubt RB1, but that will be in question this fall as he comes off his season-ending injury.
In a media availability this week, Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski spoke on the team's current running back situation. "I think Jerome [Ford] has done a nice job. He had some really, really, really big moments for our football team and he made big plays for us when we needed it." Stefanski said. "So, excited about that." Cleveland appears to have a crowded running back room heading into 2024, as Nick Chubb (knee), Ford, and D'Onta Foreman have all had their moments over the last two seasons. Of course, Chubb is recovering from a major knee injury that he suffered in Week 2 of last season, so he could be eased into action to begin the new campaign. "With Nick [Chubb], obviously, we'll continue to let him rehab, and when he's ready and the doctors tell me he's ready, he goes." Stefanski said," Until then, we like the guys we have." There will be plenty of updates on this situation as we inch closer to fantasy football season, but for now, his comments regarding Ford are promising. The Cincinnati product rushed 204 times for 813 yards and four touchdowns last year to go along with 44 receptions for 319 yards and five scores. Regardless of Chubb's status, Ford should at least be involved in the receiving game in his third NFL season.
The Cleveland Browns signed veteran center Brian Allen, according to his agency. The 28-year-old was selected with the No. 111 overall pick (fourth round) by the Los Angeles Rams in the 2018 NFL Draft and played in 50 games (32 starts) for the organization. However, his role in L.A. faded over the last two seasons, as he started just seven games in 2022 due to injuries and did not log a start in 2023 after losing the position battle to Coleman Shelton. He'll likely compete with third-year center Dawson Deaton for the backup center job behind Ethan Pocic in Cleveland this year.