OFFICIAL 2025 Cleveland Browns Hype Train Thread [Archive]

Brobocop

01-10-2025, 12:56 PM

Is this the last year with Deshaun Watson. I know his contract was bad.

Define "with" because he won't be taking a single snap in 2025. I think with the cap roll-over they would get, I had heard they could cut him as early as the end of this year. Not sure how that affects what he is paid when.

itsbaytime

01-10-2025, 01:06 PM

He ruptured his Achilles again. He is out for the year either way, but I assume he wasn't going to play before that.

zakcollects

01-10-2025, 01:10 PM

Finally, bad things happening to bad people.

Brobocop

01-10-2025, 01:15 PM

itsbaytime

01-10-2025, 01:21 PM

I have not heard why, but at least the Browns should be able to collect some insurance on it. I don't think it does anything to his contract.

jplarson

01-10-2025, 01:24 PM

Define "with" because he won't be taking a single snap in 2025. I think with the cap roll-over they would get, I had heard they could cut him as early as the end of this year. Not sure how that affects what he is paid when.

Sounds like he did take a single snap.

gmarutiak

01-10-2025, 01:29 PM

Sounds like he did take a single snap.

Well played.

Floridacardguy

01-10-2025, 01:48 PM

Worst trade in history as if we didn’t already know

Scottish Punk

01-10-2025, 02:25 PM

Jason_OTC
@Jason_OTC

Regarding Watson, if the Achilles injury occurred under normal rehab directed by the team his contract would still be protected. If the injury was a result of something he was not supposed to be doing his guarantees would be at risk either now or by the summer.

Salary cap for NFL is all a bit of voodoo of course. I think this is how it is going to work out. He has a cap hit of 73 million the next two years and a void year of 27 million after that. All of this is guaranteed. He gets the full cap next year. After next year, if he is designated the pre-july cut or whatever it is called, the last 100 million will be split more evenly the last two years instead of all hitting in 2026.

Edit to add: I think his career is essentially over. I would surprised if he takes another down in the NFL. I don't think he really wants to and a bad 31 year old QB with baggage coming off multiple ACL tears would be a terrible signing for anybody.

49erRCCollector

01-10-2025, 02:30 PM

Edit to add: I think his career is essentially over. I would surprised if he takes another down in the NFL. I don't think he really wants to and a bad 31 year old QB with baggage coming off multiple ACL tears would be a terrible signing for anybody.

I just don't see a path back to the field. His reputation, his contract, and now this injury (x2).

It's over.

Fenway55

01-10-2025, 02:34 PM

Salary cap for NFL is all a bit of voodoo of course. I think this is how it is going to work out. He has a cap hit of 73 million the next two years and a void year of 27 million after that. All of this is guaranteed. He gets the full cap next year. After next year, if he is designated the pre-july cut or whatever it is called, the last 100 million will be split more evenly the last two years instead of all hitting in 2026.

Edit to add: I think his career is essentially over. I would surprised if he takes another down in the NFL. I don't think he really wants to and a bad 31 year old QB with baggage coming off multiple ACL tears would be a terrible signing for anybody.
The Browns are already over the 2025 cap. The can - and perhaps even have to - kick the can down the road by converting his 2025 salary into a bonus.

majestik101

01-10-2025, 02:54 PM

Now I'm wondering if it's possible to rupture your Achilles while getting a hand J by a 304 with 10 inch long fingers?

Archangel1775

01-10-2025, 03:51 PM

He ruptured his Achilles again. He is out for the year either way, but I assume he wasn't going to play before that.

That's the most Browns shite ever. Not only did they bench a QB that throws fire touchdowns albeit to both teams, they replaced him with a QB that throws zero with the same INT's just so they can secure a top pick. Then this happens. Haha

AwesomeBrian

01-10-2025, 04:03 PM

Kirk Cousins comes in.
Trade Myles Garrett
Draft Abdul Carter

Move team to St. Louis or whoever else needs a team

hairysasquatch

01-10-2025, 04:35 PM

Now I'm wondering if it's possible to rupture your Achilles while getting a hand J by a 304 with 10 inch long fingers?

This is a good question.

Retired hobbist

01-10-2025, 05:13 PM

This couldn't happen to nicer person...

jplarson

01-10-2025, 05:21 PM

Kirk Cousins comes in.

Asujbl and Boo rooting for the Browns would be strange bedfellows indeed.

Retired hobbist

01-10-2025, 05:23 PM

Kirk Cousins comes in.
Trade Myles Garrett
Draft Abdul Carter

Move team to St. Louis or whoever else needs a team

With the dark clouds permanently hovering over this franchise he could pull a Watson and blow out his Achilles again...:doh:

Siberian13

01-10-2025, 05:35 PM

Asujbl and Boo rooting for the Browns would be strange bedfellows indeed.

Careful, not sure this is allowed. :)!

jplarson

01-10-2025, 05:45 PM

Careful, not sure this is allowed. :)!

Go ahead and report it to make certain :rolleyes:

Siberian13

01-10-2025, 05:48 PM

Go ahead and report it to make certain :rolleyes:

Just trying to look out for you. Don’t want to see you caught up :)!

jplarson

01-10-2025, 05:52 PM

Just trying to look out for you. Don’t want to see you caught up :)!

Oh I know you're looking out for me. Don't worry for a single moment, I'm good to go.

:):flex::cool:

packman80

01-10-2025, 06:02 PM

Is this the last year with Deshaun Watson. I know his contract was bad.

Under contract thru 2026 and pretty much Browns are stuck with him thru then.

auctionjmm

01-10-2025, 06:15 PM

The Browns are already over the 2025 cap. The can - and perhaps even have to - kick the can down the road by converting his 2025 salary into a bonus.

Not quite...

Total Numbers
The Cleveland Browns 2025 salary cap position:

Budget: $318,786,500

39 Players: $275,956,630
11 Draft Picks: $16,758,384
3 Min Contract: $2,520,000
Dead Cap: $53,775,940

Restructures: $71,622,400

This leaves a net balance of $41,397,946 in salary cap space.

Siberian13

01-10-2025, 06:17 PM

What do actual browns fans want as their first round pick?

Derekbauer

01-10-2025, 07:51 PM

I’m hearing the Browns would shop 3rd round pick for McKee. Thoughts Browns fans?

Siberian13

01-10-2025, 07:53 PM

I’m hearing the Browns would shop 3rd round pick for McKee. Thoughts Browns fans?

You trying to kill Tanner’s career?

Derekbauer

01-10-2025, 08:03 PM

You trying to kill Tanner’s career?

Someone will save them eventually!

Siberian13

01-10-2025, 08:05 PM

Someone will save them eventually!

Man I hope so. I hate seeing franchises being bad for so long. Happy for Lions fans. They deserve this run of fun.

Derekbauer

01-10-2025, 08:11 PM

Man I hope so. I hate seeing franchises being bad for so long. Happy for Lions fans. They deserve this run of fun.

I’m with ya. Lions are a good story. Hope the Browns can get there soon enough.

michaeltgraham

01-10-2025, 08:37 PM

Derekbauer

01-10-2025, 08:42 PM

Trade the #2 pick to the Giants or Raiders. Pick up Jeanty at 3 or 6 and add an extra 2nd or 3rd round pick with the deal. Chubb is done and Ford is a decent #2. A guy like Jeanty can transform an offense overnight.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That’s what they said about Barkley for the Giants. It never happened. Great running backs can only do so much for a bad team.

Fenway55

01-10-2025, 08:51 PM

Not quite...

Total Numbers
The Cleveland Browns 2025 salary cap position:

Budget: $318,786,500

39 Players: $275,956,630
11 Draft Picks: $16,758,384
3 Min Contract: $2,520,000
Dead Cap: $53,775,940

Restructures: $71,622,400

This leaves a net balance of $41,397,946 in salary cap space.I don't exactly follow the Browns all that closely, but overthecap.com and sportrac.com each have Cleveland roughly $25 million over the cap for 2025. I'll go with their numbers.

Rooftop

01-10-2025, 09:08 PM

Trade the #2 pick to the Giants or Raiders. Pick up Jeanty at 3 or 6 and add an extra 2nd or 3rd round pick with the deal. Chubb is done and Ford is a decent #2. A guy like Jeanty can transform an offense overnight.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Gets 3.5 yds a carry against Penn State and he’s going to transform the offense? GTF outta here

auctionjmm

01-10-2025, 09:22 PM

I don't exactly follow the Browns all that closely, but overthecap.com and sportrac.com each have Cleveland roughly $25 million over the cap for 2025. I'll go with their numbers.

And each has an asterisk that states they do not include restructures, while acknowledging that many restructures will happen. The Saints had 30% of their team under a restructured contract going into 2023 when they had cap issues. So yes, if the season started today the Browns would be over the cap but it is assumed that by June they will restructure enough to clear the estimated room referenced above.

Siberian13

01-10-2025, 09:23 PM

Gets 3.5 yds a carry against Penn State and he’s going to transform the offense? GTF outta here

Who knows? Derrick Henry got 3.5 ypc against Arkansas.

JeremyNick

01-10-2025, 10:58 PM

Go ahead and report it to make certain :rolleyes:

As long as there aren’t secret decoded messages about Nutty’s family, or threats to nominate for awards, BNut and Sibs won’t smash….maybe.

Siberian13

01-10-2025, 11:02 PM

https://media0.giphy.com/media/igR5863TALcSk/giphy.gif?cid=6c09b95212luk09vue9xdygj0it8lm87dh0de0uefsrltfz0&ep=v1_gifs_search&rid=giphy.gif&ct=g

michaeltgraham

01-10-2025, 11:04 PM

Gets 3.5 yds a carry against Penn State and he’s going to transform the offense? GTF outta here

The O line couldn’t block Penn State. Wasn’t a running back issue.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

michaeltgraham

01-10-2025, 11:05 PM

That’s what they said about Barkley for the Giants. It never happened. Great running backs can only do so much for a bad team.

The Browns are a much better team now than the Giants were when they took Barkley.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Derekbauer

01-11-2025, 07:43 AM

The Browns are a much better team now than the Giants were when they took Barkley.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Based on what?

auctionjmm

01-11-2025, 10:31 AM

Based on what?

Browns are top heavy in terms of talent. Even if you don't count Watson, they have 10 players averaging over 12 million salary per year which is more than any playoff team. 26 combined pro bowl appearances among that group. They aren't your typical rebuilding team holding a #2 pick.

That being said, you don't win games with 10 players if the other 43 aren't playing well so there is much work to be done to sign/draft affordable players and avoid the need TO facilitate a total rebuild.

I don't trust the FO at the moment so perhaps it is heading that way. However, hypothetically speaking, any GM would want that job knowing what the team already has in place. Nobody would be surprised if the Browns were back in the playoffs next year. They probably need to wait two more years before they'd be considered a "contender" because that Watson money does limit them, but if you are talking strictly in terms of talent, they have it.

AwesomeBrian

01-11-2025, 10:42 AM

Nobody would be surprised if the Browns were back in the playoffs next year.

I mean, they are the 4th best team in the division. Buffalo is better than they are. Houston is better. KC, SD are better. Broncos and Colts could be. Even healthy they'd be SCRAPING to make a Wild Card. 2023 was such an anomaly. The home/road splits said it all. Just having a handful of good players doesn't translate to winning.

Derekbauer

01-11-2025, 10:50 AM

Browns are top heavy in terms of talent. Even if you don't count Watson, they have 10 players averaging over 12 million salary per year which is more than any playoff team. 26 combined pro bowl appearances among that group. They aren't your typical rebuilding team holding a #2 pick.

That being said, you don't win games with 10 players if the other 43 aren't playing well so there is much work to be done to sign/draft affordable players and avoid the need TO facilitate a total rebuild.

I don't trust the FO at the moment so perhaps it is heading that way. However, hypothetically speaking, any GM would want that job knowing what the team already has in place. Nobody would be surprised if the Browns were back in the playoffs next year. They probably need to wait two more years before they'd be considered a "contender" because that Watson money does limit them, but if you are talking strictly in terms of talent, they have it.

We’re not talking about defense at all. We’re talking about offense. The guy said Jeanty would transform their offense immediately. Then said they were in a better situation than the Giants before they drafted Barkley.

Giants offense when drafting Barkley-

Average OL
Prime Odell coming back from missing most of the season which is why they were 3-13
Prime Sterling Shepard
First round pick Evan Engram from the year before
Aging Eli Manning one season removed from a playoff appearance

Browns offense next season

No QB
Average to below average OL
Jerry Jeudy
Elijah Moore
Njoku

Who you taking?

Barkley did not transform the offense into a powerhouse.

auctionjmm

01-11-2025, 11:01 AM

I mean, they are the 4th best team in the division. Buffalo is better than they are. Houston is better. KC, SD are better. Broncos and Colts could be. Even healthy they'd be SCRAPING to make a Wild Card. 2023 was such an anomaly. The home/road splits said it all. Just having a handful of good players doesn't translate to winning.

I agree with everything you've just said. That being said, would I be "surprised" if they made it to the wild card next year? I wouldn't. That's all.

AwesomeBrian

01-11-2025, 11:20 AM

I agree with everything you've just said. That being said, would I be "surprised" if they made it to the wild card next year? I wouldn't. That's all.

But this Blowout and we're supposed to argue even if we both make valid points!

:D:)!

Derekbauer

01-11-2025, 11:22 AM

I agree with everything you've just said. That being said, would I be "surprised" if they made it to the wild card next year? I wouldn't. That's all.

Based solely off their defense, I agree with you here.

jplarson

01-11-2025, 11:52 AM

But this Blowout and we're supposed to argue even if we both make valid points!

:D:)!

First, you write beautifully.

Second, I argue with everything you wrote.

AwesomeBrian

01-11-2025, 12:10 PM

First, you write beautifully.

Second, I argue with everything you wrote.

Smashed!

jplarson

01-11-2025, 12:53 PM

Smashed!

Lol!

O U ;)

RJ5683

01-11-2025, 01:37 PM

Is DTR not in the calculus for the Browns’ future?

AwesomeBrian

01-11-2025, 02:36 PM

Is DTR not in the calculus for the Browns’ future?

I believe it's been said that they have seen enough of him to know he's not it

itsbaytime

01-12-2025, 10:31 PM

I believe it's been said that they have seen enough of him to know he's not it

I know I have seen enough of him to know that I don't even trust him to be a backup qb.

AwesomeBrian

01-14-2025, 05:40 PM

Tommy Rees promoted to OC :cry:

That guy still sees Brian Kelly screaming at him in his sleep

amg2002

03-25-2025, 09:05 AM

asujbl

03-25-2025, 10:33 AM

So, where are we at with QB, FA and Draft?

Here is my prediction...

#1 pick will be traded. We end up with Carter, another Edge, or OL. The top Qbs, IMO, are not much better than the guys like Dart, Ewers, Milroe or McCord. I wouldn't be opposed to McMillen or Burden if we drop down a little.

We will sign Carson Wentz and it will be an epic battle between him and Pickett to start the season. Wentz will mentor whoever we pick at QB in the 2nd or 3rd round. Wentz, Pickett and Milroe might be our QB room. :flex:

We will trade a high pick, maybe 3rd round, one that we pick up from trading #2, for Aiyuk. We will sign him to an extension to pair with Jeudy for the next 2+ seasons.

No chance they are trading a “high pick” for Aiyuk when the Niners are desperate to move him before his 4/1 roster bonus

They will trade for him though. That I agree with

This will be like a 5th rounder and Wyatt Teller, to clear him off the books, for Aiyuk

It’s why we signed Jenkins

QB - Sanders (I think they take him… if not I have no idea who starts)
RB - Chubb
WR - Aiyuk, Jeudy, Tillman
TE - Njoku
T - Jones, Conklin
G - Bitonio, Jenkins
C - Pocic