Cleveland Browns News

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Kenny Pickett • QB • Browns

Kenny Pickett Intends To Start For Browns

On Saturday, Cleveland Browns quarterback Kenny Pickett told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that the plan is for him to be the team's starting quarterback in 2025. "I'm not going there to hang out. I want to go play. I'm excited, been working hard for it, taking it a day at a time." Pickett looked to be on his way to the starting gig with the news that teammate Deshaun Watson (Achilles) could miss all of next season after rupturing his Achilles tendon again. Now, he'll incur some competition courtesy of veteran Joe Flacco. The 26-year-old struggled during his two-year stint as a Steeler but gained valuable experience with the Philadelphia Eagles during their Super Bowl run in 2024. Pickett will be awarded the starting job if he can beat out the aging veteran. Still, it isn't a foregone conclusion that the Browns won't continue to add arms with uncertainty surrounding Watson's status. The Cleveland QB situation will be one to monitor.

Yesterday

Rayshawn Jenkins • SS • Browns

Rayshawn Jenkins Visiting With Browns

The Cleveland Browns are hosting free-agent safety Rayshawn Jenkins for a visit on Friday. Jenkins most recently played with the Seattle Seahawks this past season. He finished with 53 tackles, two sacks, and one fumble recovery across 13 games (nine starts) in 2024. It was a down year for Jenkins who finished with 100-plus tackles in each of the two seasons prior to him joining the Seahawks. The 31-year-old could be a quality depth or rotational player on many organizations. The addition of Jenkins could be good for the Browns secondary to have him alongside Grant Delpit.

3 days ago

Joe Flacco • QB • Browns

Joe Flacco Heading Back To Cleveland

The Cleveland Browns have signed free-agent quarterback Joe Flacco on Friday. They've agreed on a one-year, $4 million contract, including incentives that could earn up to $13 million for the upcoming season. The 40-year-old threw for 1,761 passing yards with 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions with the Indianapolis Colts last season. Before that, Flacco went 4-1 with the Browns while throwing for 1,616 passing yards with 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions during the 2023 campaign. The Browns already have Kenny Pickett and the No. 2 overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. That being said, it's unclear where Flacco is going to fall on the depth chart once the season begins. For now, Flacco is looked upon as a veteran presence who might still have a little bit left in the tank on the football field.

3 days ago

Deshaun Watson • QB • Browns

Deshaun Watson Set To Be "Way Better Than Before" Upon Return

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (Achilles) posted an Instagram video this week of him working out in Browns gear with a message for the doubters. "Everyone don't think I can get back to where I was. But I know...I'm gonna be way better than before." Watson's time as a Brown has been forgettable, with injuries and off-field issues marring his tenure with the team, and we'll have to wait longer than expected to see him again. After re-rupturing his Achilles tendon in early January, the 29-year-old is slated to miss significant time in the 2025 campaign. The Clemson product was once on an early-career superstar trajectory with the Texans. However, he's yet to recapture even an iota of his former success since holding out with Houston in 2021. Whether Watson will be a viable fantasy asset again remains to be seen, and he'll have some work to do before getting another shot on the field. It wouldn't be surprising if we didn't see him return to action in 2025.

4 days ago

Winston Reid • LB • Browns

Winston Reid Signs Exclusive-Rights Tender

Cleveland Browns exclusive-rights free-agent linebacker Winston Reid signed his tender on Tuesday to officially return to the team for the 2025 season. Reid will return for his second NFL season in Cleveland after recording 23 tackles (15 solo), half a sack, two pass breakups and one fumble recovery in 16 games (three starts) in his rookie year after going undrafted out of Weber State. The 25-year-old linebacker will return to the Browns and will enter training camp this summer in a reserve role at middle linebacker behind Jordan Hicks. He will be hoping to perform well enough in camp and the preseason to earn a 53-man roster spot going into Week 1 this fall.

6 days ago

Blake Whiteheart • TE • Browns

Blake Whiteheart Signs Tender With Browns

Exclusive-rights free-agent tight end Blake Whiteheart signed his tender offer from the Cleveland Browns on Monday and will officially return to the team in 2025. Whiteheart will head into his second season in Cleveland after catching six of nine targets for 51 yards and one touchdown in 11 games (two starts) in 2024. The 25-year-old once again won't be anywhere near the fantasy radar as he provides depth at the position for the Browns behind starter David Njoku. He went undrafted out of Wake Forest and began his NFL career in 2023 with the Arizona Cardinals, but he didn't receive a single target in two games played that year. In addition to Njoku and Whiteheart, the Browns also have Brenden Bates and Tre'McKitty on the TE depth chart this offseason.

7 days ago

Kenny Pickett • QB • Browns

Browns Feel Good About QB Situation, Kenny Pickett

When asked about the team's current quarterback situation, Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said, "I feel good. Obviously it's March 31, so there's still a draft to be had. It's not August 1. I will say this: Kenny Pickett's a guy that I believe in, that we believe in. So we'll see how it all shakes out." A lot can still happen between now and this month's NFL draft, including a potential trade for Atlanta Falcons QB Kirk Cousins, but we find it hard to believe that Cleveland would be happy going into Week 1 of the 2025 season this fall with Pickett as their starter. The team is saying they won't trade up to No. 1 overall to select Miami QB Cam Ward in the draft, but it would be a surprise if they don't take Colorado's Shedeur Sanders at No. 2 overall or another signal-caller later in the first round if they trade back. At the very least, though, Pickett, a former first-rounder, should have a chance to compete for the starting gig this summer.

Apr 2

Jerome Baker • LB • Browns

Jerome Baker Signs With Browns

According to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, former Tennessee Titans linebacker Jerome Baker has signed an undisclosed contract with the Cleveland Browns. The Cleveland native split two five-game stints last season with the Seattle Seahawks and Tennessee Titans after a mid-season trade, missing seven games with hamstring and neck injuries. Baker was the epitome of health earlier in his career, missing nary a game through his first five seasons. However, the 28-year-old has not appeared in 10 combined games since 2023. He's a fine run defender and should help a defense that let up the fifth-most points in the NFL a season ago (25.6). Baker is the third addition at linebacker for the squad, joining Devin Bush and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka.

Mar 22

Tony Brown • WR • Browns

Browns Re-Sign Tony Brown

The Cleveland Browns announced on Thursday that they re-signed cornerback Tony Brown (foot) to an undisclosed deal. Brown played in a career-low six games (no starts) in his first year with the Browns in 2024 due to a season-ending foot injury that landed him on Injured Reserve in late October. In those six games, he had just five tackles (two solo) and a forced fumble. The 29-year-old former undrafted free agent out of the University of Alabama played all 135 of his snaps with Cleveland on special teams and will likely resume that role with them in training camp this summer. In six NFL seasons with the Browns, Colts, Packers and Bengals, Brown has only 80 tackles (56 solo), one sack, one interception, seven pass breakups and four forced fumbles in 67 games played (five starts).

Mar 21

Teven Jenkins • G • Browns

Teven Jenkins Heading To Cleveland

Former Chicago Bears offensive lineman Teven Jenkins has signed an undisclosed deal with the Cleveland Browns. FOX Sports NFL Insider Jordan Schultz reported the news. Chicago drafted the 27-year-old in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft and appeared in 45 games for the team (38 starts). During his tenure with the Bears, Jenkins has spent time at left tackle, left guard, and right guard. Cleveland's offensive line was amongst the best units in the league a few seasons ago, but that didn't carry over into 2024 -- particularly in pass-blocking situations. Quarterbacks Jameis Winston, Deshaun Watson (Achilles), and Dorian Thompson-Robinson were sacked a combined 65 times last season -- two fewer than the most-sacked QB in the NFL (Caleb Williams). Jenkins should be a significant boost for Cleveland's offensive front and is projected to slot in as a guard for the squad.

Mar 20

Jerome Baker • LB • Browns

Jerome Baker Visits With Browns

Veteran free-agent linebacker Jerome Baker has visited with the Cleveland Browns. Baker remains on the open market after splitting time between the Seattle Seahawks and Tennessee Titans in 2024. He only appeared in 10 games (eight starts) between both teams and had a career-low 61 tackles (34 solo), two sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. The 28-year-old played in five games with Seattle before he was traded to the Titans to close out the year. Baker was originally a third-round selection (73rd overall) by the Miami Dolphins in 2018 out of Ohio State. With seven years of NFL experience with three different teams, he should eventually latch on with another squad, but Baker might have to compete for a backup role in his new digs. Baker has 648 career tackles (416 solo), 24.5 sacks, 33 tackles for loss, 49 QB hits, five interceptions (two returned for TDs), 25 pass breakups, seven forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in 104 games (90 starts).

Mar 20

Teven Jenkins • G • Browns

Teven Jenkins Signs With Browns

Former Chicago Bears offensive guard Teven Jenkins signed an undisclosed deal with the Cleveland Browns on Thursday, sources told FOX Sports' Jordan Schultz. Jenkins will head to the AFC North after starting 38 games over his last four seasons with the Bears. The 27-year-old former second-round pick (39th overall) in the 2021 NFL draft out of Oklahoma State started a career-high 14 games in the Windy City in 2024 and has had issues with injuries over his four years in the NFL. While durability hasn't really been Jenkins' thing, he'll head to Cleveland with plenty of experience and versatility along the offensive line in his career, having made 38 starts at left tackle, left guard and right guard. All 14 of his starts last year for the Bears came at left guard.

Mar 20

DeAndre Carter • WR • Browns

Browns Sign DeAndre Carter To One-Year Deal

The Cleveland Browns signed free-agent wide receiver and return specialist DeAndre Carter (hamstring) to a one-year deal for nearly $800,000 guaranteed on Wednesday, sources told FOX Sports' Jordan Schultz. Carter will head to the AFC North in 2025 after spending the 2024 campaign with the Chicago Bears, where he caught only nine of 14 targets for 72 yards and no touchdowns on offense over 13 games (no starts). The 31-year-old will most likely be more of an asset to the Browns on special teams as a kick returner than he will be on offense, as he hasn't had more than 46 catches, 538 yards or three touchdowns in a single season during his seven NFL seasons. Carter missed the final four games last year with a hamstring injury but should be good to go for training camp this summer. He had 17 punt returns for 158 yards and 15 kickoff returns for 479 yards for the Bears in 2024.

Mar 20

Carson Wentz • QB • Browns

Carson Wentz, Browns Have Mutual Interest

Veteran free-agent quarterback Carson Wentz and the Cleveland Browns have a mutual interest in bringing him in as their bridge quarterback, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. Wentz spent the last two seasons as a backup for the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Rams following seven years as a primary starter with the Philadelphia Eagles, Indianapolis Colts, and Washington Commanders. Overall, the former No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft out of North Dakota State has thrown for 22,410 yards, 153 touchdowns, and 67 interceptions in 98 career games. While Wentz is unlikely to emerge as a legitimate NFL starter again, he could provide average quarterback play for Cleveland in 2025 as they search for a new franchise QB following Deshaun Watson's disastrous tenure with the organization. According to Cabot, Wentz could be the backup plan if the Browns do not sign Russell Wilson.

Mar 19

Russell Wilson • QB • Browns

Browns Unlikely To Land Russell Wilson

ESPN's Adam Schefter says that with the Cleveland Browns being limited financially in what they can do since they have so much money tied up in quarterback Deshaun Watson (Achilles), they probably can't offer free-agent quarterback Russell Wilson what the Pittsburgh Steelers or New York Giants can. As a result, the Steelers and Giants sound a bit more plausible as landing spots for Wilson for the time being, per Schefter. There's currently no urgency for the Steelers and Giants to sign Wilson, especially as they wait to see whether the Minnesota Vikings will get involved with Aaron Rodgers. The best-case scenario for the 36-year-old Wilson from fantasy perspective would be a return to Pittsburgh, but that would mean Rodgers would have land in Minnesota or New York. Regardless of where Wilson is playing in 2025, the declining veteran will most likely be a low-end QB2 in fantasy if he's the starter.

Mar 18

Ben Cleveland • G • Browns

Ben Cleveland Remaining With Ravens

Baltimore Ravens offensive guard Ben Cleveland has re-signed with the organization. Cleveland is back with the team after spending the first four seasons with his career with the team. He is a former third-round pick of the Ravens from 2021. Cleveland has made some spot starts in his career, but has mainly been a rotational player. He played in all 19 games for the Ravens last season, including the playoffs. Cleveland will probably be a depth or rotational player next season, but the fact he has been a viable and healthy option makes him valuable to the team.

Mar 16

Kenny Pickett • QB • Browns

Kenny Pickett Views Himself As Browns Starter

Veteran quarterback Kenny Pickett was traded from the Philadelphia Eagles to the Cleveland Browns this week in a deal that sent Dorian Thompson-Robinson to Philly. Pickett is now back in the AFC North after spending his first two seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The former first-round pick said he views himself as a starter with his new organization. The 26-year-old has a 15-10 record as a starter behind 4,765 passing yards, 15 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions with the Steelers and Eagles. With Deshaun Watson (Achilles) unlikely to play in 2025, there's a real chance Pickett will compete for the starting job, but the Browns are likely to add more competition via free agency or the 2025 NFL Draft.

Mar 13

Bailey Zappe • QB • Browns

Bailey Zappe Released By Browns

Cleveland Browns quarterback Bailey Zappe has been non-tendered by the organization on Wednesday. Zappe will now hit the open market after making one start with the Browns last season. The 25-year-old is a former 4th round pick of the New England Patriots from 2022. Zappe has thrown for 2,223 yards with 12 touchdowns and 14 interceptions between 15 games (nine starts) between the Patriots and Browns. He will look to catch on elsewhere as a backup option.

Mar 12

Maliek Collins • DT • Browns

Maliek Collins Reaches Agreement On Two-Year Deal With Browns

Free-agent defensive tackle Maliek Collins reached an agreement with the Cleveland Browns on a two-year, $20 million deal on Wednesday shortly after he was released by the San Francisco 49ers, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The deal includes $13 million fully guaranteed. In his lone season in the Bay Area, Collins started all 17 games and recorded 33 tackles (20 solo), a career-high-tying five sacks, five tackles for loss, 12 QB hits and two fumble recoveries. The 29-year-old former third-round selection (67th overall) by the Dallas Cowboys in 2016 out of Nebraska has 30.5 career sacks in nine seasons, including 10 in the last two years with the Niners and Houston Texans. Collins will help bolster Cleveland's interior defensive line in 2025 after the expected post-June 1 cut of Dalvin Tomlinson.

Mar 12

Russell Wilson • QB • Browns

Russell Wilson To Visit With Browns On Thursday

Free-agent quarterback Russell Wilson is scheduled to fly to Cleveland on Wednesday night to visit with the Browns on Thursday, sources tell ESPN's Adam Schefter. Wilson will then fly to New York on Thursday night to visit with the Giants on Friday. The Steelers were unable to re-sign Justin Fields -- he landed a two-year deal with the New York Jets -- but it appears Pittsburgh is now more interested in signing Aaron Rodgers than running it back with Wilson. That leaves the Browns and Giants as the most likely landing spots for the 36-year-old signal-caller, who threw for 2,482 yards, 16 touchdowns and five interceptions in 11 starts for the Steelers in 2024. He's become more of a low-end QB2 in fantasy at this point in his career, but a move to Cleveland, where he'd competing with Kenny Pickett for the starting job, would be the least attractive from a fantasy perspective.

Mar 12

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