Kevin Stefanski has been the head man in Cleveland for the last five seasons. His first two campaigns produced records of 11-5 and 8-9. There was relative stability at the quarterback position with Baker Mayfield under center. Since then, even the devil has abandoned Browns football while shaking his head and muttering, “That’s rough.”
In 2022, the Browns traded for quarterback Deshaun Watson, sending three first round picks, a third and a fourth to the Houston Texans. Then, Cleveland signed Watson to a fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract. Watson only played six games that season due to an off-the-field issue, giving Jacoby Brissett 11 starts.
Watson played only six games in 2023 due to a shoulder injury. Joe Flacco started five games, P.J. Walker started two games, Dorian Thompson-Robinson started three games and Jeff Driskel got the nod for one contest.
Last season, Watson saw seven starts before a season-ending leg injury. Jameis Winston started seven games, Thompson-Robinson got another two games and Bailey Zappe started once.
In January of 2025, Watson underwent surgery for an Achilles injury and could miss the entire season. Flacco was brought back, Kenny Pickett was traded for and two quarterbacks were selected in the draft — Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders.
It’s within the range of outcomes that every quarterback makes multiple starts this season.
Browns target share overview
Last season, the Browns led the NFL in pass rate at 65.03%. Their 661 attempts were nine more than the Cincinnati Bengals tossed. Unlike the Bengals, though, the Browns were inept all around through the air.
The 59.8% completion percentage was second-worst. The 5.9 yards per attempt were the fewest in the NFL. The 19 touchdowns were third-fewest while Cleveland led the league with 23 interceptions. The 27.2% first down percentage was the worst. The Browns had the fourth-fewest passes over 20 yards and were tied for the fewest passes over 40 yards. If that’s not enough, the 66 sacks allowed were the second-most.
Whew, I need a cigarette and I quit smoking decades ago.
The defense, or lack of it, had a big part in the high pass rate last season. The unit finished 32nd in points and 28th in yards. Their 12 turnovers were tied for the second-fewest. The defense could be improved with the additions of Maliek Collins, Mason Graham and Carson Schwesinger, but there are still holes and the unit will likely not be shutting down many offenses. Cleveland may play from behind plenty.
Prior to last season, Cleveland ranked 16th, 25th, 27th and 29th in pass rate. Those were obviously different teams with a very good offensive line and Nick Chubb battering opposing defenders. PFF has the Browns’ offensive line ranked 27th this season.
The Browns may not lead the league in pass rate again, but it’s likely that they are among the league leaders once again.
Flacco is slated to start Week 1. In five starts with the Browns in 2023, Flacco attempted more than 40 passes four times, throwing multiple touchdowns in each contest. The offensive coordinator that season was Alex Van Pelt. Tommy Rees is now the OC for the Browns, so it can’t be assumed that Flacco will be slinging it around over 40 times again this season. That said, the situation may offer no other choice.
Before we get too wacko for Flacco, let’s remember that he’s 40 years old and didn’t exactly light it up last season in Indianapolis.
Now, let’s take a look at how the targets should be distributed in Cleveland this season.
Wide receivers
Jerry Jeudy led the Browns with 144 targets and a 22.8% target share last season. In 2023, Flacco peppered top receiver Amari Cooper with five, 14, eight and 15 targets when he started. As long as Flacco starts, Jeudy could see an uptick in target share. While Jeudy should still lead the wide receivers in target share if Pickett, Gabriel or Sanders starts, there’s plenty of unknown with all three and the efficiency could be lacking.
Elijah Moore finished 2024 with 103 targets and a 16.3% target share. Moore is now in Buffalo.
Cedric Tillman had 49 targets and a 12.2% target share in 11 games. Tillman will likely be the No. 2 receiver this season while working in a more fitting role from the boundary and should see a higher target share. He did have a three-game stretch last season during which he garnered 12, nine and 11 targets.
The Browns utilized 11 personnel at the sixth-highest rate last season. If the pass rate is high once again, there should be three wide receivers on the field plenty. The issue is who will be the third receiver alongside Jeudy and Tillman?
Jamari Thrash was the fifth-round pick of the Browns in the 2024 NFL Draft. He played in nine games last season and garnered only seven targets all season. Thrash does seem like the current favorite to start at slot receiver based on camp reports.
DeAndre Carter is an option, but he’s 32 years old and has a total of 171 targets in seven seasons.
Diontae Johnson is on the team, but he hasn’t been good on a consistent basis since 2022. Last season, Johnson played for three teams, garnering four targets with Houston, five targets with Baltimore and 58 targets with Carolina in seven games. He did have a 19.3% target share.
Tight ends
David Njoku had 97 targets and a 22.8% target share last season. Jordan Akins was second with 58 targets and a 9.2% target share. Akins is no longer on the team.
The Browns selected Harold Fannin Jr. in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Njoku should dominate the targets once again at the position, and could see an uptick if Fannin isn’t ready for prime time yet. In 2023 with Flacco under center, Njoku received six, eight, 14, nine and eight targets in those games.
Running backs
Jerome Ford led the backfield group with 43 targets and an 8.4% target share last season.
The Browns selected Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson in the 2025 NFL Draft. Sampson could be in the mix for pass catching responsibilities, but Ford will likely handle those duties early on.
In 2023, Flacco threw to running backs 30 times in five games.
