WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Browns Managing and Principal Partners Dee and Jimmy Haslam understand how disappointing the 2024 season was not only for the fans, but also the franchise.
It's why the organization has spent time during the offseason to improve on all fronts to not have the type of season they experienced in 2024 again. They made changes to their coaching staff on the offensive side of the ball. During the first wave of free agency, Executive Vice President of Football operations and General Manager Andrew Berry added depth to both the offensive and defensive lines.
The next stepping stone of the 2025 offseason comes in the draft, in which the Browns hold a total of 10 picks – including the No. 2 overall pick.
"The draft is huge for us," Haslam said. "We're excited about the draft, but we got to get it right. We spend a lot of time working on it and we'll continue to do so."
The Haslams have been a part of the trips for some of the workouts with draft prospects, in which Haslam said they have attended dinners with the prospect and their families to get to know them, understand them as a person and learn how important football is to them as an individual. They went to four visits ahead of the NFL Annual Meeting and have three more to come in the days following. Haslam said he has found those dinners helpful to meet the players and understand their background, as well as spend quality time with them.
While the Browns don't wish to be in the position of having the second pick again, the Haslams are embracing the excitement the pick brings to the 2025 NFL Draft. From the trips and visits to get to know draft prospects, to understanding how they will bring in young talented players to help improve their roster, the pick adds a renewed sense of excitement about the future of the Browns.
Alongside the No. 2 pick, the Browns also hold three other picks in the top 100 picks of the draft with 33, 67 and 94. Haslam said those picks will also play a factor in adding talent in young players to the roster.
One of the biggest needs on the roster comes in a quarterback, as QB Deshaun Watson recovers from a re-ruptured Achilles tendon injury and will miss significant time of the 2025 season. Watson has dealt with two significant injuries the past two seasons, as he endured a shoulder injury in 2023 that ended his season prematurely, and a ruptured Achilles tendon that ended his 2024 season. In his three seasons in Cleveland, Watson has played a total of 19 games.
"We took a big swing and miss with Deshaun. We thought we had the quarterback, we didn't, and we gave up a lot of draft picks to get him. So, we've got to dig ourselves out of that hole," Haslam said. "The Deshaun Watson was an entire organization decision, and it ends with Dee and I. So, hold us accountable."
As the franchise considers their options for the No. 2 pick, Haslam reiterated the message that Berry shared on Sunday – there are different options to consider with the pick. They could consider a quarterback, or they could consider another position. Their overall goal is to do what is best for the future of the Browns.
And while they recognize the overarching need for a quarterback for the future of the franchise, Haslam said as an organization they are prepared to work through the process if it's not the case that a quarterback of that caliber is available to them in the draft. They understand the importance of the position for the success of a team and wish to find that player to bring that success to Cleveland. Currently, the quarterback room consists of QB Kenny Pickett, who the Browns acquired in a trade with the Eagles at the beginning of the new league year on March 12.
"I think the message is if the right person's there, we're going to take him. If not, we'll figure it out for a year or two until we get the right person," Haslam said. "So, it would be great if we could get the quarterback, but we're not going to force it. We're going to be patient, and we're going to try to accumulate as many really good football players as we can."
