CLEVELAND, Ohio — In this edition of Hey, Mary Kay! I answer questions about Tommy Rees, the trade deadline, and more. Some of the questions came from our Browns Football Insider Subscribers. To become one, click the blue banner at the top of the cleveland.com/Browns page. Thanks for all of the great questions!
Hey, Mary Kay:
What can Tommy Rees do differently to make the offense more productive? — Tom Bayes, Charlotte, NC
Hey, Tom: Rees can do a number of things to jumpstart this points-challenged offense, including running the ball more in a variety of ways such as jet sweeps and end arounds. Receiver Malachi Corley has moved the ball every time he’s touched it, including gaining 31 yards on a jet sweep in New England, and deserves more touches. Corley, a 2024 fourth-round pick of the Jets who was let go in the final cuts, is a dual-threat “wide back” in the mold of a Deebo Samuel, and can be a valuable weapon down the stretch.
Perhaps Rees can get more out of fourth-round back Dylan Sampson, if even in the short passing game. With the return of tight end Brenden Bates, he might even run more three tight-end sets, especially while Dillon Gabriel finds his rhythm with the receivers. Most of Gabriel’s production has come with his tight ends this season, and not his receivers. Rees must also try to overhaul the third-down and red zone packages, soliciting ideas and plays from unlikely sources and people. Simplifying terminology might also help with this young crew.
Hey, Mary Kay!
The beat writers and your Cleveland insiders have recognized the problem at receiver for years now. Why hasn’t the front office addressed it given the importance of the passing game these days? — Tom, Middlebury, Ct.
Hey, Tom: The front office has addressed the receiver position through trades, some mid- to late-round picks, and a couple of free agents such as rookie Isaiah Bond. What they haven’t done is draft a receiver high, or spend a lot on one in free agency. This offseason, they should try to draft a No. 1-caliber receiver in the first or second round, sign one in free agency, or draft one. They have some good, development receivers in the pipeline, but need to add a Pro Bowl-caliber starter.
Hey, Mary Kay:
Why didn’t the Browns add any players by Tuesday’s trade deadline? — Ben Jones, Macon, Ga.
Hey, Ben: They tried to add a couple of players, but nothing came together by the 4 p.m. deadline. They were players who could help them not only this season but for the next few years, much like cornerback Tyson Campbell. They’ll likely have a chance to pursue some of them again in the offseason. The Browns never planned to part with some of their players with expiring contracts such as David Njoku or Wyatt Teller, because they might want to extend or re-sign them.
They had already made their blockbuster trade on draft day when they moved down from No. 2 to No. 5 with the Jaguars, picking up a second-rounder and a fourth-rounder in 2025, and a first-rounder in 2026. They also traded Joe Flacco to the Bengals and Greg Newsome II to the Jaguars in exchange for Campbell. With six trades overall since the offseason, they were active in the market, just not at the deadline, when their only move was to ship edge rusher Joe Tryon-Shoyinka to the Bears to move up from the seventh round to the sixth.
Hey, Mary Kay:
What’s the downside in accelerating Deshaun Watson’s return? The Browns owe him guaranteed money (this year and next) regardless of his playing status. Is it strictly for insurance purposes? If not, I’m puzzled. Although he isn’t the player they anticipated, I can’t imagine that he would be worse than Dillon Gabriel. — Mike Parker, Chester, MD
Hey, Mike: Coming off a re-torn Achilles, Watson must first pass his medical exams before he can be cleared to practice. If he passes, the Browns can open his 21-day practice window. If he’s not activated during that three-week period, he’ll remain on reserve/Physically Unable to Perform for the rest of the season. It all comes down to being cleared by the Browns doctors, in conjunction with Watson’s surgeon, to determine if he’s ready. Watson feels great and believes he has plenty left in the tank, but the Browns must wait for the green light before seeing what he can do on the field. Behind the scenes, he’s throwing a lot, doing agility work, and even box-jumping, as quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave recently revealed. I’m sure if it were up to Watson, he’d be practicing already and gearing up to play this season.
Hey, Mary Kay:
When Zak Zinter was drafted, he was one of the top offensive linemen in college. Yes, he was recovering from a broken leg, but now he’s healthy. Why can’t he find a way to play? He’s rarely activated for games. I just don’t understand what’s going on. — Sam, Medina, Ohio
Hey, Sam: Zinter has been inactive primarily because the Browns two starting guards, Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller, have remained healthy and played well this season. Both guards have started all eight games, and have provided continuity on the interior of the line, which has helped tremendously given the revolving door at tackle. If Bitonio retires after this season or Teller isn’t re-signed, Zinter will be in line for a starting job.
Hey, Mary Kay:
Have you heard anything about how the Browns will replace Paul DePodesta? — @BrownsLifers on X
Hey, BrownsLifers: I don’t see the Browns replacing DePodesta, their Chief Strategy Officer, during the season, but they’ll likely take a look at everything in the offseason and decide how to proceed. At that point, they’ll determine if they want to hire a new Chief Strategy Officer, or perhaps hire or name a new president. It’s an important time in the Browns organization, with two potential franchise-changing first-round picks in 2026, and groundbreaking soon on the new stadium.
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