Four Burning Browns Questions, Including The Browns Pursuing Tee Higgins
The Browns offseason is off and running and their first act was parting ways with and replacing several offensive assistants. There is still plenty of work to be done though as free agency looms large in a few months. Each week we'll answer the burning questions that face the franchise as they build for 2024. Let's tackle four right now!
What will Ken Dorsey's role be as offensive coordinator?
First and foremost I think it's important out of the gate to say that I don't think Kevin Stefanski is giving up play-calling responsibilities. Between his adamancy to do it over the last four years and the support from GM Andrew Berry, who just last week said it was one of his greatest strengths as a coach, I just don't see it happening.
Now that said, I do think Stefanski likes the idea of Dorsey bringing a different perspective to the offensive game plan. His background working with other mobile quarterbacks like Josh Allen and Cam Newton should help matters, as they desperately try to return Deshaun Watson to a top 10 QB. Dorsey's role will likely consist of a lot of scripting plays for the offense and honing in on adjustments to the game plan as they figure out how opposing defenses are attacking them. His offenses in Buffalo put up some impressive numbers over his year-plus as OC. There seemed to be some stubbornness in the way he called things but again, not expecting that to be his role in Cleveland.
Will the Browns really pursue Tee Higgins this offseason?
Well, one thing is for sure, Watson certainly hopes so. He made his plea for his fellow Clemson compadre to join him in Cleveland on the QB Unplugged Podcast last week. Watson's opinion certainly carries some weight in the Browns facility, but he also made a pitch for his former teammate DeAndre Hopkins last offseason and that never came to fruition.
That said, the Browns learned this year that they need more from their wide receiver room. Amari Cooper continues to be a steady and reliable target but behind him they found very little that they could depend on. Cleveland is also acutely aware that Cooper will enter next season at 30 – an always daunting age in the NFL. That doesn't mean he shouldn't or won't be back next season, in fact I'd imagine Berry will restructure the final year of Cooper's deal (which is due to cost the Browns $23 million next year) in order to free up some cap space this offseason.
With all that in mind it would be beneficial to not only bring in a wideout who can also provide a nice one-two-punch with Cooper, but who could also take the reigns of being the No. 1 wide receiver after him. Higgins represents that as one of the top wideouts on the market. Ultimately, it will boil down to the dollars and cents. Spotrac considers Higgins market value at around four years, $74 million. That's over $18 million per year. I think Cleveland will definitely be monitoring the WR market in the months ahead and considering they're pretty familiar with Higgins work, I expect he'll be on their radar.
How much concern should there be about Deshaun Watson's ability after suffering from a glenoid fracture?
This is a question that may not be getting asked enough right now. That's not to say Watson won't come back and be perfectly fine and maybe even return to the quarterback he was with the Texans. It's certainly possible.
However, it's concerning that there isn't much precedent or data to be found on players coming back from a glenoid fracture, let alone a glenoid fracture in the throwing shoulder of a quarterback. Again, that's not to say it won't happen. I'm certainly not a doctor and the medical professionals are saying he'll be fine. But until he's out there throwing a football again I think it's fair to wonder if his arm will be affected by this injury and surgery, even a little bit. Watson was already trying to recapture some semblance of the quarterback he was with Houston and that road seems even tougher now.
Are the teams that just played on conference championship weekend that far ahead of the Browns?
I don't think the gap is that wide between the Browns and the four finalists from Conference Championship Weekend. Now that can change year-to-year. Cleveland seemed destined for more than a Wild Card round exit this year, even amidst all the injuries. Had they been healthier, who knows what could have happened.
The good news is the core is in place. There's finally an established culture as well. It's up to Berry to build a roster of players that will continue buying into that culture. From an X's and O's standpoint though, the Browns are right there. Stefanski is a great play-caller. The defense has an identity. From here it's mostly about Watson. Who he is, or isn't anymore as a quarterback will likely be the story of the 2024 Browns.
