The Cleveland Browns' season from hell is almost over. With only two games remaining on the 2024 schedule, the only goal for the Browns is to secure a top-five pick in the 2025 NFL Draft by finishing 3-14. The fans desperately want to forget about what transpired this season. There are also a few players who the fanbase would rather not see in a Browns uniform again.
We can expect significant changes in the offseason. GM Andrew Berry and head coach Kevin Stefanski's jobs may be safe for now but the roster will go through a transformation. As a result, Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins will be the last home game for a couple of players. Let's take a look.
1. WR Elijah Moore
This was the fourth and final year of Moore's rookie deal. Despite having a ton of chances to prove himself, especially after the Amari Cooper trade, Moore failed to have the breakout season he needed to earn himself a contract extension.
In Moore's defense, the offensive ecosystem has been less than ideal for him since he was acquired from the New York Jets. Constant QB turnover and changes in offensive playcalling make it difficult for any playmaker to establish himself.
Yet, Jerry Jeudy and Cedric Tillman were able to show more flashes in the same offense. Moore is averaging fewer receiving yards per game this season (33.4) and only has 501 yards and one TD in 15 games.
It wouldn't be the end of the world to bring Moore back. He could provide some value as a WR3 but will likely draw some interest in free agency. The Browns can't afford to pay Moore market value when they are financially limited. It may be better for both sides to move on in the offseason.
2. QB Jameis Winston
Winston might not necessarily "play" on Sunday, but his inclusion makes sense for the purpose of this exercise. Not only is Winston dealing with a shoulder injury, but he was also recently benched in favor of second-year QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson. As things stand now, he is the third-string quarterback behind DTR and Bailey Zappe.
Winston likely doesn't want to be a third-string quarterback for a three-win team at this stage of his career. Considering that the Browns are likely keeping Deshaun Watson and Thompson-Robinson next season, it's hard to see the 30-year-old quarterback being anything other than a third-stringer.
The veteran QB is hitting free agency in the offseason, and it's hard to see why he would return to Cleveland. The team may be interested in re-signing him, as he has been nothing but a consummate professional and an exemplary locker-room presence. However, the rest of the league will probably have the same idea.
There are presumably better situations out there for Winston. The Browns are seemingly entering a rebuilding phase and Winston may prefer to be elsewhere where he could be a QB2 for a playoff team.
3. LT Jedrick Wills Jr.
Perhaps the most frustrating member of the team this season has been veteran offensive lineman Jedrick Wills Jr. The fifth-year player was never able to return to form from his MCL injury from a year ago and dealt with injuries all year before landing on injured reserve again.
Wills hasn't played since the Week 9 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers and only appeared in five games all season. The former first-round pick wasn't particularly effective when he played, either.
In the 245 offensive snaps he played this season, Wills has a career-worst 52.9 PFF grade. He allowed three sacks and committed seven penalties in that limited playing time. He played a huge part in Cleveland's disappointing offensive line. On PFF, the Browns' pass-blocking ranks as a bottom-five unit while the entire offense is in the bottom three.
Considering how crucial of a position left tackle is, the Browns will almost certainly address it in the draft or free agency. Wills has shown time and time that he can't be relied upon to start and make an impact.
Furthermore, Wills refused to play through an injury against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 8 and said it was a "business decision." This understandably angered the fans and the organization and Wills only played two more snaps since then.
The business decision made with free agency in mind clearly backfired. Wills will likely get a contract elsewhere but his time in Cleveland, considering how strained the relationship is, is almost certainly over.
