Newsletter: Yesterday Serves as a Reminder the Browns' Roster is at Crossroads
2025's success might be defined by individual outcomes over the team.
I want to be clear here with a disclaimer: I am in no way defining the Browns’ season before Training Camp even arrives. Anything is possible (I’m looking at you Pacers). Having said that, I think we can all agree that unless an unforeseen miracle happens at the most important position this year, the Browns will be fighting an uphill battle. They could totally win that battle, so don’t let me dissuade your excitement. But in an effort to keep things grounded in realism around here I want to discuss with you a situation where there can be winning this year even when it doesn’t appear in the win column.
You’ve heard this all before. The Browns roster is at a crossroads. But this time I think there is real meaning to the cliche. As we know well, the team has tried to overcome missing three straight drafts of first-round selections, two of which didn’t even have a second round selection. That situation has left a heap of talented but flawed players — as one would expect from a bulk of selections coming in the 3rd-7th round of several drafts. Several of these flawed players who have been thrust into important roles, now find themselves several seasons into their NFL careers and results need to arrive in order to extend those relationships.
The decision to terminate the contract of Ogbo Okoronkwo was a stark reminder of the transition looming. The roster is aging in several spots, and the team is now trying to solve if those mid round picks, who have flashed talent, can anchor a serious role into the future. For example, the Okoronkwo decision puts the looming fate of Alex Wright and Isaiah McGuire into the spotlight but this goes across the roster in several locations where these draft picks have flashed talent but need to show consistency to be a part of the next phase.
Now, not all of the players highlighted below are recent picks, as a few of the names you will see here have been around for a while, but their 2025 season will determine if they have a role into that next phase for the organization. Each of these players are more than capable.
David Njoku (29), Final Year of 2nd Contract
The Browns premier tight end is somehow in the final year of his second contract with the team — a four year, $56M deal he signed in 2022. It serves as a reminder of the importance of drafting those young players in the first round, if possible, and how quickly a trade request can turn into a long-term relationship. It’s tough to remember the dispute he had back before that 2022 season as he’s become a franchise leader as he’s grown.
Njoku will turn 29 in the next two weeks and still has plenty of great football in front of him at a position that finds success past the age 30 threshold. He’s still an elite athlete and productive when on the field. The problem is injuries have popped up and cost him time, and the blocking has slide backward some. The best part of Njoku was despite the lack of elite production in the passing game compared to the top of the NFL at the position, he still did enough paired with being an elite blocker.
The organization selected a young, productive player with Harold Fannin Jr. in the third round of the 2025 Draft and if he proves worthy in both phases throughout his rookie year, it could accelerate a desire to cheapen the position. Ideally there is a third contract, a rare for the post-1999 Browns, and he can work in tandem in 12-personnel with Fannin Jr. for years to come.
Njoku will need to remain healthy, and be productive for his quarterback group that is destined to have multiple starters. A strong rebound season with more of his work from 2022 to 2024 would serve him and the offense well. If things go well he could be an in-season extension candidate but if they go poorly with a slide in performance and health, this could be the end of an era at the position.
Alex Wright (25), Final Year of Rookie Contract
Wright was thrown to the wolves in his 2022 rookie season after Jadeveon Clowney’s health and the team’s relationship with the star fell apart. It was clear he wasn’t quite prepared for the jump from UAB to the NFL at that capacity but he battled. He bounced back well in his second season playing a higher volume of snaps toward the end of the season in a rotational role and accumulated 12 pressures and four sacks in the Browns final five games.
He was off to a strong to a strong start in 2024 including a key sack/safety to clinch the win in Jacksonville but tore his triceps just two weeks later. He’s flashed plenty of potential at an impressive size, but there are clear limitations to his game as an edge rusher. He’s stiff off the edge and doesn’t get into his power approach often enough but he plays hard and has fared well when bumping inside to rush as a 3-technique in pass situations.
He started to flash a more consistent pass rush approach and was converting his power approach more often but it remains to be seen how he will bounce back from the surgery. If he can put together a strong first half of the season rushing the passer paired with an adequate ability to set an edge then he might be a budget extension candidate. If he can’t provide consistent pass rush from either alignment then he will end up replaceable and playing 2026 on a one-year contract somewhere. He should now have plenty of opportunity to prove his worth.
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Browns Film Breakdown to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.