CLEVELAND, OHIO (TheOBR.com) - Good morning, Cleveland Browns fans!
I hope that you were able to see Gang of Three last night, or perhaps watch the replay, as Pete, Lane, and I dove headlong into the Browns' many issues that the Baltimore Ravens exposed in this weekend's embarrassing 41-17 defeat.
Everywhere you looked, there were issues, even on the team's supposedly impenetrable defense. These items have been discussed on many Browns sites, but the operative question is whether there are ways around these issues or, at least, to understand why they are occurring. The questions and topics on our forums are exploding as Browns fans look for answers and causes.
THE DAILY BLOVIATION
THE BROWNS DRAFT CLASS LOOKS OUSTANDING, BUT...
While Browns fans may gravitate to some of the flashier players in the team's excellent 2025 draft class, the team has quietly put together value from top to bottom in the class. Harold Fannin has jumped out with his performance in the first two games, and Carson Schwesinger looks like a dominant linebacker who can (almost) make us stop ruminating about the loss of JOK.
Less flashy, but seemingly as critical, is the quick emergence of fifth-pick Mason Graham as the same run-stuffing force that enabled the Michigan Wolverines to upset the Ohio State Buckeyes last season. Graham stumbled a little to start the game against the Bengals, but since then has been a force in the middle of the Browns' defensive line. This class appears to have hit on nearly every single choice - the only lingering mystery being whether quarterbacks Dillon Gabriel and/or Shedeur Sanders will make the impact the team hopes they can make.
Still, there are questions about the Browns' strategy in the draft, which seems predicated on maximizing the long-term value at each draft slot rather than filling immediate needs. The Browns had a strong defense with the team's clear stars, Denzel Ward and Myles Garrett, playing on that side of the ball. Still, the Browns chose to spend their first two picks on defense while holes continue to dot the roster on offense, with an aging offensive line and a lack of depth at wide receiver.
The 2025 draft approach, which appears to indicate confidence in long-term job security on the part of Andrew Berry, strengthens an already strong unit while leaving the offense with a large number of holes unfilled by stellar young players. In the long term, getting the "best value" at each slot in the draft regardless of immediate need will pay off, but it means offensive pain in 2025.
CORNERBACK DEPTH ISSUES ARE UNDERSTANDABLE, BUT STILL NEGLIGENT
At least the decision not to trade Greg Newsome is paying off. Newsome is playing pretty good ball this year, and has provided some stability as the Browns lost M.J. Emerson to injury and Denzel Ward continues to be a challenge to keep in the lineup.
Imagine what Sunday's game would have looked like with Newsome dealt off to the highest bidder.
When Emerson went down, there was an expectation that the Browns would immediately seek to deal with his absence by seeking out another veteran presence. When that didn't happen, the assumption was that the team had a high level of confidence in Cameron Mitchell and Myles Harden to step up at the back end of the cornerback room.
That, it turns out, is a disaster. While Harden has potential, he and Mitchell were picked on mercilessly by Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson after Ward left due to cramping, playing only 20 snaps on the day.
Understandably, the Browns didn't want to pay the price necessary to land a replacement cornerback. Corners are in short supply across the league, and the law of supply and demand suggests that the team would have been stripped of precious draft picks. Where they appear to have gone wrong is in their evaluation of Mitchell, who clearly was a significant issue on Sunday. At some point, it's the coaching staff's job to make the case that the depth in the room was insufficient. That doesn't appear to have happened.
THE 2026 DRAFT IS ALREADY FULL OF INTRIGUE
At this point, it's debatable whether any quarterback in the promising 2026 draft class is stepping up as a "sure thing", a la Andrew Luck or Joe Burrow, making the Browns' multiple draft picks next year easy to spend. But, as Pete Smith pointed out last night, the class at offensive tackle looks outstanding.
Browns fans might have to reconcile themselves to the notion that the team will chase unglamorous offensive linemen in 2026, as they have a giant issue on the offensive line. Dawand Jones is not having a strong start at left tackle, and right tackle Jack Conklin can't stay healthy. The team's inability to run the ball with their beloved wide zone scheme is falling apart partially due to the tackle position, but also due to the inevitable decline at guard as Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller struggle to maintain the heights they've attained in their careers.
Dawand Jones and Joe Flacco
Dawand Jones and Joe Flacco (Photo: Getty)
The rushing woes are also because the team's running backs - with the likely exception of Quinshon Judkins - aren't necessarily perfect fits for the wide zone scheme. With Zak Zinter inactive the last two weeks, the only obvious replacement on the line who looks ready to step in next year appears to be center Luke Wypler. The Browns need to restock the offensive line to support whoever turns out to be the 2026 starter at quarterback, and it's increasingly looking like their bank of draft picks will be emptied to address the issue.
Still, there is some hope in the rubble of Sunday's loss. The showing of Quinshon Judkins was very promising, and if he can revive the running game, it might draw safeties in and reopen the long pass for Joe Flacco, who has had to settle for underneath routes thus far this season.
To be competitive not only in 2025 but also in 2026, the team will have to nail its draft picks and make savvy moves. The bill from the disastrous Deshaun Watson deal has come due in 2025, as the lost draft picks have yielded a roster full of holes. To recover and keep his job, General Manager Andrew Berry will have to be as flawless in his 2026 selections as he appears to have been in 2025.
Have a good one! GO BROWNS!
Newswire Bloviation Archive
OBR Daily News Ticker
GOODIES FROM THE OBR
BROWNS VIDEOS
The Gang of Three: September 15, 2025 - (youtube.com)
BROWNS ARTICLES
Cleveland Browns Stock Up/Down : Baltimore Ravens - Jack
Cleveland Browns News and Rumors 9/15: How Soon is Now? - Barry
Cleveland Browns Update: Denzel Ward, Jack Conklin Day to Day; Cornerbacks Struggling with Coverages - Fred
FORUM POSTS
ASK THE INSIDERS (VIP)
Is there a world where the browns
Playoff Contention
McGuire on the ground a lot?
Couple of Questions for Pete
Is Flacco playing it safe to avoid INTs?
Cornerback
Punter injury update?
Why was D Jones out of the game yesterday?
Zak Zinter
Sense of Urgency
Denver example
Potential O-Line Changes
Flacco's Long Throws
Back to Urgency
Ward's absence
Was it that hot in Baltimore?
It sure wasnt the defenses fault...
Leverage from our FSSS on passing downs.
How realistic of shot did Pickett have at QB1 before injury?
What if Myles asks again?
Is it time to trade Njoku?
How realistic of shot did Pickett have at QB1 before injury?
Losing the locker room?
Regime Change
Couple of Questions for Pete
INSIDER DISCUSSION (VIP)
Why can't we have nice things?
The browns decision not to make sanders active .
THE WATERCOOLER
The Official Last Member Standing Contest Week 3
MMF part deuc: Raiders & Bolts
Who remembers The Quarterback Club?
One Word Monday!
LiveWire Thread for 915 - Twitter, Videos, Articles
Morning Show 92.3
PFF Grades
Burrow out with toe injury
Some good points
losing mentality and when I knew the game was over
OT: Drew Mestemaker, best college QB you might not know
Why didn't Stefanski challenge the Jeudy incompletion?
MNF: Bakers Bucs at Chubbs Texans
JJ McCarthy out 2-4 weeks with Ankle injury
THE LIFT
Positive news from the world of sports and beyond...
How to wait well, according to neuroscience and psychology - (bigthink.com)
When I was younger, I was not a patient person. Convinced that I was somehow special with onerous responsibilities, I did and said a lot of stupid stuff because I wouldn't be kept waiting, as there was vital (in my mind) work to do. When taken away from what I thought was essential work, my body reacted - speeding up my heart rate, shortening my temper, and so forth.
It turns out that the work I had to do wasn't that important, after all. With age comes patience as perspective is forced upon you, and you realize that five minutes here or there spent waiting gives the body and mind time to reset.
WRAPPING UP
When not tapping his foot at a red light, Barry McBride is the Publisher and Founder of the OBR and bloviates this nonsense every morning. You can follow him on Twitter @barrymcbride or write him at barry@theobr.com if you are so compelled.
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