The NFL Combine will take place in about two weeks in Indianapolis and serve as one of the main steppingstones in the offseason ahead of free agency and the draft.
The Combine provides all 32 teams a chance to meet with prospects, as well as for those prospects to showcase their skills in front of coaches, general managers and scouts. The Browns hold the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, as well as a total of nine picks throughout the draft.
So, before heading to the Combine, we opened up the mailbag to answer some questions.
What are some positions the Browns could target in the early rounds of the NFL Draft? – Joshua M., Akron, Ohio
As the Browns go through their preparation for free agency and the draft, there are different positions they could look to target to fill areas of need on the roster. The first month of free agency – set to officially begin with the new league year on March 12 – could have an impact on the draft.
Executive Vice President of Football Operations and General Manager Andrew Berry said at the Senior Bowl their approach going into free agency is the idea that they could go into the draft with the ability to line up and play at their known spots, in order to not be influenced by need. They want to make the best long-term decisions for the organization. Berry explained that they are taking the longer-term focus with the 2025 offseason as whole, more so in the past two offseasons, which might alter their approach.
Now, there are certain positions that have come up as targets – especially in the early rounds of the draft. Those positions include quarterback, defensive tackle, edge, offensive tackle, running back, tight end or defensive back.
With the Achilles injury to Deshaun Watson and Jameis Winston set to be an unrestricted free agent, the Browns quarterback room will look different in 2025. They could use the draft to bring in a young quarterback to develop in the system under a potential veteran.
The Browns could use some depth to their defensive line, especially on the interior. They could bring in youth to develop under their veteran defensive line and help combat the need for depth when injuries come into play — especially as DT Mike Hall Jr. recovers from an injury sustained at the end of the 2024 season. On the edge, Cleveland could add depth to line up across from DE Myles Garrett and add to their pass rush.
Like their defensive line, adding a young player in the draft at tackle can add depth to the position that has veteran players and dealt with injuries in 2024. The Browns will also have questions at the position as LT Jedrick Wills Jr. is set to be an unrestricted free agent.
Cleveland could add young talent to its running back room led by Nick Chubb and the emergence of Jerome Ford. Chubb is also set to be an unrestricted free agent as he works his way back from a broken foot sustained in Week 15.
The Browns may need to bolster their tight end room alongside David Njoku, with Jordan Akins set to be an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
Whether at corner or safety, adding a young talent to the secondary could be an option in the draft. With the retirement of Rodney McLeod Jr., there's space at safety the Browns could look to fill.
What are the Browns' plans to rebuild the offense? – Joe J., Corry, Pennsylvania
At this point in the offseason, it's just a little too early to know exactly what those plans are for the Browns to rebuild their offense. With free agency and the draft still ahead, the additions the Browns will make to the roster – especially on the offensive side of the ball – can play a factor in what the offense will look like exactly in 2025.
Yet, new offensive coordinator Tommy Rees has discussed traits of the offense he and head coach Kevin Stefanski want to create together. They want to build a system that is sound and explosive, as well as a system that caters and highlights the strengths of all their players. He also always wants to have a "why" to what they are doing on the field, and for their players to understand that "why."
"It's always going to be player centric," Rees said on Jan. 23. "It's always going to be in the front of the mind to make sure we're doing things that are sound football wise and then how do we create opportunities for our players and our offense to be explosive."
There's also a desire to build a system that has a level of multiplicity to it. Rees said when it comes to scheme, how the scheme is presented is what can put opposing defenses in a bind while the identities of the scheme stay consistent for the offense.
One of the biggest questions surrounding the offense for 2025 comes at the quarterback position. As they work through the quarterback situation, Rees said they want to build an offense that has flexibility to cater towards the quarterback's strengths.
"We have to be malleable in our ability to shape the offense to really highlight the strengths of that player," Rees said on Jan. 23. "I know we're going to put a system together that's able to do that."
Will Dawand Jones be an option at left tackle? How will the Browns approach that position? – Will W., Chattanooga, Tennessee
The Browns will have some decisions to make at left tackle this offseason, as Wills is an unrestricted free agent in March. With free agency and the draft still ahead of the Browns, they could look to add depth at tackle through those two outlets. Yet, T Dawand Jones could also one of those options for left tackle already on the roster– especially after stepping into that role starting in Week 8 during the 2024 season.
In 2024, Jones played 511 offensive snaps – primarily at right tackle with 334 but also 176 at left tackle. He had eight penalties called against him and allowed four sacks over the course of the season. As the Browns dealt with injuries across their offensive line, Jones started the first five games of the season at right tackle before being moved to left tackle in Week 8 and earned the starting role. He started three games at left tackle before he was placed on injured reserve on Nov. 19.
Jones had previous collegiate experience at left tackle, as he started one game at Ohio State at left tackle and played most of his freshman and sophomore seasons on the left side. When head coach Kevin Stefanski made the switch in November 2024, he knew there were areas Jones could improve but saw the potential of keeping him there at left tackle. Those reps at left tackle could help Jones in the offseason prepare to step into a role at either left or right tackle, or as a swing tackle.
