5 Big Decisions Browns Will Assess This Offseason

From coaching hires to contract decisions for key players, the Browns still have a lengthy offseason to-do list for 2024

The disappointment from Saturday’s playoff loss to the Houston Texans won’t be going away soon, but the Cleveland Browns have already turned the page quickly and have completed some major decisions to begin the 2024 offseason.

The first of them happened Wednesday when head coach Kevin Stefanski decided to fire offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt and dismiss two of his offensive assistants: running backs coach Stump Mitchell and tight ends coach T.C. McCartney.

That suggests there will be more big changes to come on offense in 2024, but the Browns have a lot more decisions to make until that blueprint is finalized. We’re breaking down a few of them here.

1. Hire a new offensive coordinator

This is the obvious one after this week’s news. Stefanski’s decision to move on from Van Pelt likely means the Browns will be re-tooling much of their offense — and they probably need to in order for Watson to meet expectations that have only been elevated for 2024 after the Browns showed promise of being AFC contenders in 2023.

The Browns are entering their third year with Watson and still face questions about the level he can perform at over the course of a full season. That’s not ideal, but picking an offensive coordinator who can help him will be a crucial first step toward avoiding the same inconsistencies that have plagued him through his first 12 games in Cleveland.

2. Decide on offensive play caller

The next immediate question that will come after Stefanski hires his offensive coordinator is to decide who will call the plays. According to Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot, Stefanski could be willing to give up the play-calling duties depending on who becomes the next OC.

Stefanski has been the play-caller since he became head coach in 2020, so passing those duties to another coach would be a significant change, but it could help lure top offensive coordinator candidates looking for a play-calling job to Cleveland. In an NFL landscape where young offensive minds are finding more success and are in high demand, it could be an appealing — and necessary — option for Stefanski to offer.

3. Find receiver help

Whether it’s through free agency or the draft, the Browns need to find another pass catcher who can be consistently relied on to contribute as a top receiver.

Amari Cooper has been the only wideout who has done that the past two seasons, and while he could still remain a highly productive receiver in future years, he will be turning 30 over the summer, so adding young talent should be near the top of the list of roster priorities. A breakout year from tight end David Njoku in 2023 certainly provided a boost to the pass game as well, but no other receiver created problems for opposing defenses.

That has to change for the Browns to give Watson the best chance of success in 2024.

Sep 10, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb (24) runs the ball against the Cincinnati Bengals during the first quarter at Cleveland Browns Stadium / Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

4. Nick Chubb’s contract

Chubb has one year left on his current contract, which will account for roughly $15.8 million against the salary cap in 2024, per Spotrac. At some point — whether it’s this offseason or next — general manager Andrew Berry will need to make a decision on how Chubb, who will be returning from a significant knee injury suffered in the second game of the season that required two surgeries to repair, will fit in future plans.

Chubb is a four-time Pro Bowler who has averaged over five yards per carry in each of his six seasons in Cleveland, but it’s tough to predict how the Browns might gauge Chubb’s value moving forward in a world where aging, high-mileage running backs are often deemed replaceable from NFL front offices.

5. Jack Conklin’s contract

Conklin, who signed a four-year contract extension at the end of 2022, has three years left on a deal that could impede the Browns’ cap plans over the next three years — he’s set to count $12 million against the cap in 2024 and $19.5 million in both 2025 and 2026, per Spotrac.

Conklin will turn 30 next season and is coming off a season-ending knee injury suffered in Week 1, which was his second season-ending injury in the last three years. Dawand Jones, a fourth-round rookie, was highly impressive when he filled in for Conklin at right tackle until he suffered his own season-ending knee injury in a practice before Week 15.

The Browns certainly don’t need to make any decisions on Conklin’s future now if they believe he can return as a reliable tackle, but his age and recent injury history — as well as Jones’ success — could lead to a complicated decision on how to best approach the matter.