AFC North 2025 Season Wrap – Browns

So, postmortem time.

Given the amount of change the AFC North will see in the next few weeks, it feels a bit premature to pen this article now.  Three of the four AFC North teams are searching for a new head coach (and, presumably, offensive and defensive coordinators, not to mention myriad sideline staffers and position specialists).  I’ll try to avoid any confusion by limiting this piece to what’s occurred, as opposed to what’s pending.

No one needs more rampant, largely-unfounded speculation right now.

I’ll publish one of these each week.  We all need something to do, after all.

The last shall be first.  Something like that.  Enjoy.

Cleveland Browns (5-12)

The Browns struggled to find a suitable, NFL starting-caliber quarterback.

Really, all other synopses of the Browns’ season boil down to that single, telling sentence.  The additions of veteran QBs Kenny Pickett and initial starter Joe Flacco, supplemented by the controversial drafting of rookie QBs Dillion Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders was supposed to be enough to compensate for the lack of a “true” starter and the continued constraints of having their most expensive, failed trade acquisition, QB Deshaun Watson, on the roster.  Flacco was named the starter out of camp and Pickett was unceremoniously released, while the rookies slotted in behind Flacco in a learn-as-they-go approach.

What could go wrong?

Flacco was battered and tossed about behind an increasingly-injured and suspect offensive line, resulting in an October trade to the rival Bengals.  Gabriel was thrust into action thereafter, surviving – not thriving – until a concussion forced him from a November home game against the rival Ravens.  The remainder of their schedule was completed by Sanders, who, to his credit, showed notable improvement over his limited starts, but failed to fully establish himself as the starter going forward.

The rest of the offense, aside from a couple of exceptions, did little to help the team make any future determinations. Rookie RB Quinshon Judkins led the team with 827 rushing yards and seven rushing TDs, and fellow rookie TE Harold Fannin Jr. similarly led the team in receiving with 72 catches for 731 yards and six TDs.  WR Jerry Jeudy managed 50 catches for 602 yards in a disappointing effort after an excellent 2024 season.

The 2025 Browns can be properly termed a paradox, as they fielded one of the best defenses in the NFL, and their rookie additions were a significant contributor to that.

Rookie DT Mason Graham was injured at assorted times early in the season, but came on late, showing the run-stuffing prowess the Browns envisioned from him on draft day.  Rookie MLB Carson Schwesinger led the team in tackles with 156 and should be considered a serious contender for Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.  Former Steelers LB Devin Bush enjoyed a bounce-back year of sorts, posting 125 tackles of his own.

A special paragraph has to be dedicated to DE Myles Garrett, who topped the NFL’s single-season sack record, posting 23 sacks in what most would term a lost year.  Garrett was, cliches be damned, unblockable most of the season, at least without significant help.  The Browns posted a late-season win against the rival Steelers almost solely because the Steelers were far too concerned with Garrett’s pass-rushing ability, compensating to the point of exposing other weaknesses the Browns were able to take advantage of.

Browns owner Jimmy Haslam has touted the acquisition of PK Andre Szmyt as a sign the Browns are a stable franchise. While that dubious assertion is endlessly debatable, there’s no question Szmyt stabilized a problematic kicking game.

Next week:  Bengals