Cleveland

Browns

Berry frequently trades back on, or before, draft day, so this is hardly surprising. Berry adds that if the Browns do end up keeping the pick, he has “no idea what we’re going to take at this point.” The Browns also possess the 24th and 39th picks this year. NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe previously reported that the Browns will likely try to “supplement the offense” by drafting a left tackle and a wide receiver early this season, before “maybe” drafting a quarterback next year. The roster has many needs and the front office is apparently considering a two-year turnaround, though QBs Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson will get a chance to prove themselves this year. That said, the more picks, the better.

The former fifth-round pick enjoyed a successful playing career. Walker spent his first four seasons in the NFL with the Colts after being drafted in 2017. From 2021 to 2023, Walker signed three one-year deals with the Browns and, unfortunately, spent time on injured reserve in all three campaigns. He played for the Dolphins in 2024 and the Buccaneers in 2025. Across his nine-year career, Walker totaled 581 combined tackles, 362 solo tackles, 5.5 sacks and four interceptions.

Simpson, whose draft stock is rising daily, will almost assuredly go in the first round of the 2026 draft after throwing for 3,567 yards, 28 touchdowns, and five interceptions over 15 games in 2025 as Alabama’s starting QB. Miami would be a strange landing spot for Simpson considering the team just signed Malik Willis to a significant contract that would imply he is locked in as the team’s Week 1 starter. Arizona seems to be an increasingly likely landing spot for Simpson considering Gardner Minshew and Jacoby Brissett are the only two quarterbacks on the roster at the moment. Simpson is likely to be the second QB off the draft board after Fernando Mendoza.

Monken is known for maximizing his quarterback’s potential in the passing game, but the trio of Watson, Shedeur Sanders, and Dillon Gabriel may be a bridge too far for the 60-year-old, first-time head coach. That said, the Browns seem determined to find out, although we can’t rule out the team bringing in a rookie in next month’s draft. Watson’s time with the Browns has been forgettable to say the least. In four seasons with the team, the $230 million man who signed a five-year deal in 2022 has thrown for 3,365-19-12 in 19 games, and is working his way back from a torn Achilles he suffered in 2024. In fairness to Watson, things can’t get any worse, so maybe, should he win the QB1 job in camp, he will see better numbers with Monken calling the plays.

The Browns were set to finalize a one-year, $5 million contract with Epenesa, pending a physical. Evidently, that deal will not go through. Epenesa played through a “minor” pec injury suffered in late September, missed one game with a concussion, played through a foot injury in early December and a neck injury in the Divisional Round. Hopefully, he can rehab whatever is currently ailing him. Epenesa, 27, notched 28 quarterback pressures and three sacks last year.

Berry maintained that Judkins should be able to fully participate in training camp, which typically starts in late July. We had not yet heard whether he would participate in organized team activities (OTAs) and/or mandatory minicamp, but given Berry’s comments, we could see him doing drills with teammates in May. At worst, it sounds like Judkins should retake the field with his teammates for workouts in June.

The Browns modified Garrett’s contract language last week, in a manner that lowers Garrett’s dead money in the event of a trade, while also granting Cleveland extra time to work through bonus payouts for the next three seasons. Understandably, reporters, fans and NFL teams wondered if a trade was imminent. Evidently, the Browns have no desire to trade their star defender. Berry adds that he does not want to “waste a ton more breath on the topic.” Theoretically, this should put this story to rest.

Wolfe is standing by his report from February, in which he told viewers that they should not be surprised if the Browns abstain from drafting a quarterback this year. He believes that the Browns are likely to “supplement the offense” by spending their two first-round picks on a wide receiver and a left tackle this season before “maybe” drafting a quarterback next year. Per Wolfe, the Browns’ quarterback competition is between Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson, seemingly rendering Dillon Gabriel a locked-in backup.

Schefter detailed his conversation with the Browns while speaking to Pat McAfee, adding that the Browns “couldn’t have been stronger” in their remarks. Garrett’s recently reworked deal gives the Browns more salary cap flexibility, so this report makes sense. Could the Browns’ front office still listen to trade offers? Absolutely. For now, it sounds like the Browns plan to keep him, though.

Yates reports, “Garrett’s contract previously called for his option bonuses in 2026, 2027 and 2028 to be exercised by the 15th day of the league year.” Now, his contract has been amended to push that day back to seven days before the start of the regular season each year. Garrett also had $8 million of his 2029 and 2030 base salary converted to roster bonuses. Yates adds that “the payment of the option bonuses was also modified in a way that has benefit to Garrett.” So, the Browns gain flexibility while Garrett gets a boost. Most notably, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year’s contract is easier to trade; Cleveland takes less dead cap in the event of a trade while getting an extra five months in the offseason before paying bonuses for the next three seasons. The change in Garrett’s contract language certainly makes things interesting for the Browns’ future.