If I had to describe the 2024 Cleveland Browns offense in a nutshell, it would be bad. Like, real bad. Everyone knows how bad the offense was for a myriad of reasons. Bad quarterback play is the start. Incompatible scheme that didn’t match the players’ skillsets and just overall lack of cohesion as a group.
As a result, half of the staff was fired and replaced, and head coach Kevin Stefanski decided to go back to the offense that worked and won him coach of the year in 2020. Heavy play action, emphasis on the run game with inside run and power gap. It’s a scheme that will work well considering the division the Browns play in.
If there was any doubt what the Browns offense will look like this year?
Joel Bitonio: "It feels like a 2020-2021 install."
"Outside zone and power schemes."
— Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) June 2, 2025
As far as how the offense will look, many believe that the offense will be one of the worst in the league this upcoming season. It might be true, but the offense could potentially not be as bad as people think.
Offensive line won’t be as bad as last year
For as much as the offensive line struggled last year, some of it can be due to the quarterback play (i.e the quarterback holding onto the ball too long last season) or the line dealing with injuries. The interior of the line, mainly the guard positions, is figured out: Wyatt Teller and Joel Bitonio will be the starters.
The tackle spots are a bit tricky. With offensive tackle Jed Wills not returning to the team (and possibly sitting out the entire season due to a lingering knee injury he suffered last season) Dawand Jones will go from right to left, and Jones appears to be slimmer than last season:
As far as who the center will be, it will be an open competition between Ethan Pocic and Luke Wypler, believe it or not.
With the familiarity coming back in terms of blocking scheme, the offensive line could potentially look revitalized. Bitonio looked a bit rough last season, but with him coming back for another season, he could look potentially better.
It might be rough to start, but the unit can be at least a top 20 one in the league.
Better quarterback play and skill positions overachieving
As far as the quarterback play goes, it cannot be worse than what the team had last year. Make no mistake, whoever starts at quarterback, whether it’s Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, rookies Shedeur Sanders or Dillon Gabriel, the quarterback play will be competent, especially with the better offensive line and system.
It might be rough at times, but it will be competent as well.
As far as the skill positions go, it is a lot of inexperience in the rooms. The running back room has two talented rookies in Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson. Judkins and Sampson are likely going to have a bigger role than people expect and could produce at an efficient rate.
As far as the passing game goes, the receivers and tight end rooms will have their fair share of inexperience, but have very good players at the top. Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy and tight end David Njoku are the only proven vets in their respective rooms. The rest? Talented, but unproven.
If the NFL has taught us anything, expect the unexpected.
Could Diontae Johnson turn into a reliable target, as he was early in his career, and not become a liability? It’s possible. Wide receiver Cedric Tillman has the talent but needs to string together quality games. Rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr is the biggest wildcard out of the group and could emerge as a quality target in the passing game. Collectively, the group will have its growing pains, but it’s possible they overcome those pains and become productive.
The talent is there, but can they produce?
A lot of reasons for more optimism than “worst offense in the NFL,” but now they have to put it together.