After a disastrous 2024 campaign that saw the Cleveland Browns finish the year with a 3-14 record, major changes are most likely on the horizon. Just one year removed from an 11-6 season and a playoff berth, Cleveland now finds itself with a top draft pick and at a crossroads, particularly at the quarterback position.
The Deshaun Watson experiment has turned into an expensive failure, leaving the Browns searching for answers at the most important position in football. While the team’s defense remained a top-10 unit for most of the year, it ultimately couldn’t carry an offense that finished dead last in PFSN’s Offense+ rankings.
Now, with Myles Garrett requesting a trade in hopes of playing for a contender, replicating last season’s defensive success seems unlikely. That puts even more pressure on the front office to fix the quarterback situation as soon as possible.
Cleveland Browns Expected To Add Multiple Quarterbacks in 2025
According to Zac Jackson of The Athletic, Cleveland is fully committed to overhauling its quarterback room this offseason. The team knows it needs both a short-term solution and a long-term answer.
“The list of needs is lengthy, but with the Deshaun Watson experiment having failed miserably and expensively, the Browns are looking for both a quarterback of the present and one of the future.
“It remains unclear whether they’ll use the No. 2 pick on a young passer, and the team’s salary-cap situation may limit the number of realistic veteran options. But the Browns are undoubtedly on the quarterback search and will be adding at least two new players to their 2025 quarterback room.
“Finding the long-term answer is key to becoming a real AFC contender, and it remains to be seen if the Browns can save the jobs of the folks in charge — and try to salvage the current roster core — by getting competent play from an experienced quarterback early next season.”
With the No. 2 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Browns have a prime opportunity to land a franchise quarterback. However, there’s still uncertainty about whether they’ll take that route, especially considering their financial limitations (second-lowest cap space in the league according to Over the Cap). The 2025 QB class is extremely top-heavy, with the top two choices being Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward.
Browns Offense Was Historically Bad in 2024
Cleveland’s offensive struggles weren’t just bad — they were among the worst in recent memory. According to PFN’s Offense+ metric, the Browns finished with a 56.0 grade (F), making them the lowest-ranked offense in the NFL. Only three teams have recorded a worse Offense+ grade in a single season since the metric was introduced in 2019.
At the very least, Jameis Winston made Cleveland’s offense entertaining for stretches, including upset wins over the Ravens and Steelers. However, the Browns opted to finish the year with Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Bailey Zappe under center — decisions that completely tanked their offensive efficiency and led to their significant drop-off from a season ago.
The Browns’ top priority this offseason is clear: find a quarterback who can prevent another collapse. With Watson’s contract severely limiting their financial flexibility, the draft may be their best bet.
