The 2024 season did not go as planned for the Cleveland Browns. In 2023, they made the playoffs with backup quarterback Joe Flacco, who joined the team mid-season. However, the Browns chose not to bring him back for 2024, opting instead to stick with Deshaun Watson. Watson, who had only played six games in 2022 due to a suspension and six games in 2023 after undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery, had yet to show much promise of returning to the elite level he once reached in Houston.
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Despite this, the Browns let Flacco leave for the Indianapolis Colts and signed Jameis Winston as the backup quarterback for the 2024 season. The Browns began the 2024 season with a dismal 1-5 record, and their first divisional game was against the Cincinnati Bengals. In the second quarter of that game, Watson, attempting to run the ball, tore his Achilles tendon, ending his season once again. Tragically, some Browns fans even cheered when Watson went down. With Watson sidelined, the Browns were forced to scramble at the quarterback position for the remainder of the season, finishing with a disastrous 3-14 record.
This marked the second time in three years that the Browns had a losing season, after going 11-6 and making the playoffs in 2023 despite an injury-riddled roster. 2024 also marked Myles Garrett’s eighth season in the NFL, all spent with the Browns. During that time, the team posted a combined record of 53-78, including a 0-16 season in Garrett’s rookie year. Over those eight seasons, the Browns have had fourteen different starting quarterbacks.
Despite the team’s struggles, Garrett has established himself as one of the most dominant defensive players in the NFL. His presence on the defensive line often forces opposing offenses to account for him with double or triple teams. Garrett was named the 2023 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, is a five-time Pro Bowler, and has earned five All-Pro honors, three of which were first-team selections. Despite facing constant double and triple teams, Garrett has amassed 102.5 sacks over his career.
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It is clear that Garrett is not the reason the Browns have failed to win consistently. Now 29 years old, Garrett is frustrated with the lack of consistency from the Browns organization. In a social media post, he revealed that his career goal is not just to reach the Hall of Fame, but to compete for championships through deep playoff runs leading to Super Bowls. Unfortunately, Garrett has not had that opportunity in Cleveland, and with only a few prime years left, he is eager to win now. As a result, he has requested a trade.
The Browns, however, have made it clear that they are not willing to trade Garrett. He is under contract for two more seasons and remains a cornerstone of the team. While Garrett wants to avoid playing through a rebuild, the Browns have insisted that they are not in a rebuilding phase and still plan to compete in 2025. They are currently in a critical position, holding the number two overall pick in the upcoming draft.
The Browns could use this pick to either select a quarterback, such as Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders, or bolster their defense by adding a pass-rusher like Abdul Carter to complement Garrett. Free agency will also be a major focus for the team, with head coach Kevin Stefanski mentioning the possibility of bringing in a veteran quarterback to bridge the gap until the Browns find their franchise QB in the draft. The pressure is mounting on the organization as both players and fans demand change.
Garrett is not the only player expressing discontent with the direction of the team. Guard Joel Bitonio, who was drafted by the Browns in 2014 and has had a stellar career despite the team’s struggles, has stated that he may retire if the team decides to embark on a rebuild. The Browns have a lot of work ahead of them this offseason, with decisions to make in both free agency and the draft.
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Tensions are running high in Cleveland as the Browns face an incredibly challenging offseason ahead. After a dismal 2024 season, the organization is under intense pressure from both fans and players to make drastic changes. The franchise’s inability to find long-term success has once again put the spotlight on a series of pressing issues, most notably the ongoing challenge surrounding Deshaun Watson’s massive, guaranteed contract. Despite his uncertain future, Watson is still owed an eye-watering $92 million over the next two years—money that is fully guaranteed.
