Latest news with #JimSchwartz
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Browns Could Play Role of 'Spoiler' in Best- and Worst-Case Scenarios for 2025
Browns Could Play Role of 'Spoiler' in Best- and Worst-Case Scenarios for 2025 originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Cleveland Browns took a step backward in 2024 after a playoff appearance in 2023 behind super-sub quarterback Joe Flacco. Flacco returns to the fold for 2025, but he's not been given the keys to the offense yet, and could find himself on the bench to start the season if fellow veteran Kenny Pickett or one of the draft picks in Dillon Gabriel or Shedeur Sanders impresses in training camp and preseason. While the defense is clearly the most talented unit on the team, 2025 could ride on the performance of the offense, and particularly, the quarterback position. Pro Football Network predicted each team's best- and worst-case scenarios ahead of the 2025 season, and at the very worst, the Browns could play spoiler. BEST-CASE SCENARIO 6-11 "Things don't look all that peachy for the Cleveland Browns heading into 2025. They don't know who their quarterback is going to be, and they don't have much proven offensive firepower outside of Jerry Jeudy at wide receiver. That makes it difficult to project them as a playoff contender," PFSN wrote. "That said, the Browns could still turn some heads and build momentum going into 2026. They have a talented defense with a great coordinator in Jim Schwartz, and the unit got better by drafting Mason Graham and Carson Schwesinger. "If one of the quarterbacks starts making some noise, Cleveland could play spoiler for some teams down the stretch." WORST-CASE SCENARIO 1-16 "The four-man quarterback competition should be an indication enough that 2025 figures to be a rough season for the Cleveland Browns," PFSN wrote. "None of all their options to replace the injured Deshaun Watson seem particularly inspiring as immediate answers at QB. While the Browns have some good players, their offensive firepower is severely lacking. "The defense took a slight step back in 2024, and unless that unit performs at an elite level this year, they'll likely find themselves in the basement of not just the AFC North but potentially the entire NFL." This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ranking the toughest opponents on the Browns' 2025 regular season schedule
The Cleveland Browns are scheduled to face a gauntlet of elite NFL talent throughout their 2025 schedule. It's no secret that the Browns have one of the NFL's toughest upcoming schedules this season. Based on 2024 opponent win percentages, Cleveland currently has the 12th hardest schedule in 2025, with many expecting that ranking to rise by the end of the season. The Browns, especially in their first five games, face the majority of the NFL's elite quarterbacks. Advertisement Once again, Cleveland will face off against Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and Bengals gunslinger Joe Burrow a total of four times this season. After a difficult start to the first two games, Cleveland will continue their tough stretch against the Packers, Lions, and promising star J.J. McCarthy, as well as the talented Minnesota Vikings. All of these challenges will come before Week 6 of the regular season. The rest of 2025 will not get easier for the Browns. Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz and his players will face numerous tests to prove that they can return to the dominant defense they displayed in 2023. The main hope is that one of the many Browns quarterbacks will be able to keep up with the talented offenses they'll be facing. Now, let's rank the opposing quarterbacks the Cleveland Browns will face in their upcoming 2025 season: 1. Detroit Lions Browns 2025 opponent. 2. Buffalo Bills Browns 2025 opponent. 3. Baltimore Ravens Browns 2025 opponent 4. Minnesota Vikings Browns 2025 opponent 5. Cincinnati Bengals Browns 2025 opponent 6. San Francisco 49ers Browns 2025 opponent 7. Green Bay Packers Jun 11, 2025; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) participates in the team's minicamp at Ray Nitschke Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images 8. Pittsburgh Steelers Browns 2025 opponent 9. Chicago Bears Browns 2025 opponent 10. Miami Dolphins Browns 2025 opponent 11. New England Patriots Browns 2025 opponent 12. Las Vegas Raiders Browns 2025 opponent 13. New York Jets Browns 2025 opponent 14. Tennessee Titans Browns 2025 opponent This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: Ranking the toughest opponents on the Browns' regular season schedule
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Browns Star Cracks Top 5 of NFL's 100 Best Players
Browns Star Cracks Top 5 of NFL's 100 Best Players originally appeared on Athlon Sports. After demanding a trade earlier this offseason, Cleveland Browns superstar pass rusher Myles Garrett backed off his demand and signed a four-year, $160 million contract extension to remain in Cleveland. Advertisement And the Browns are happy he stayed. Garrett just showed up on CBS Sports' top 100 players in the NFL list as the second-best player in the league. He has been a staple near the top of those rankings, appearing at No. 2 last season as well, and 2025 is no exception. 2. Myles Garrett - Cleveland Browns DE "Garrett had 14 sacks to finish second in the league, but his impact was much more obvious than that number. He is an elite game-wrecker as he turns 30 this year. (Last season: No. 2)." The Browns fully expect Garrett to continue the Hall of Fame trajectory that his career has been on over the past eight seasons. Advertisement Browns' defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz thinks that will surely happen and has high hopes for a great season from Garrett. "I really think Myles is going to have the best season of his career. And has to right?" Schwartz said with a laugh. "I've told him before, what's that Spider-Man quote, 'with great power comes great responsibility.' With the big contract, with the notoriety that came along with that, with the process that took to get him to that point, there also comes. "There's always pressure in this league, but probably a little bit more so. But I think that brings out the best in players, and I know that will be the case with Myles also." Related: Insider Predicts Radical QB Move By Browns Related: Browns Reportedly Sign UFL Tight End This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 19, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Browns Coach Reveals 'Growing Pains' for First-Round Draft Pick
Browns Coach Reveals 'Growing Pains' for First-Round Draft Pick originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Cleveland Browns selected Michigan Wolverines defensive tackle Mason Graham with the No. 5 overall pick this year after trading down from No. 2 with Jacksonville. Advertisement In doing so, Cleveland passed on the opportunity to add wideout/cornerback Travis Hunter to the roster. That's a huge gamble, and the pro careers of both Graham and Hunter will forever be compared by Browns fans. As a top-five pick, Graham is expected to contribute immediately in the league, but is that realistic? Cleveland defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz discussed Graham's early work in the offseason and noted some potential growing pains. "I do think there's a lot of meat on the bone as far as his production, and we can see better production from him than even we saw, and he had outstanding production in college," Schwartz said. Advertisement "It's been an adjustment for him. We're a penetrating team that places a big emphasis on defensive linemen being able to make plays. So there have been some growing pains. He's pretty far ahead right now." Graham is expected to start in the middle of the defensive line that also includes long-time standout Myles Garrett, and Garrett noted Graham's willingness to learn. "I think he's hungry," Garrett said. "He's been pretty quiet, but I see him watching a lot. I see him learning, and he's just really inquisitive, staying near to make sure that he hears every detail and just picking up on things." When the Browns drafted Graham, general manager Andrew Berry said he fits in with the Browns perfectly. Advertisement "He is a DNA match for our defense, a disruptive interior penetrator ... we thought he was one of the more dominant trench prospects in this year's class," Berry said. If that's the case, Graham should be a serious contributor early in the season. Related: Insider Expects Nick Chubb to Return to Browns for One Reason Related: Browns Rookie Fights Through 'Puke and All' to Finish Mandatory Minicamp Strong This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cleveland Browns star Myles Garrett will have a lot of responsibility this season.
Cleveland Browns star Myles Garrett will have a lot of responsibility this season. originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Cleveland Browns have one of the best defensive players in the league in Myles Garrett, and he could have an even bigger role after his four-year, $160 million extension with the team back in March. Advertisement In an interview last week, Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz said, "with great power comes great responsibility" when talking about the team's defensive superstar. On a recent episode of the Terry's Talkin' podcast with Terry Pluto, he explained what he thought this Spider-Man reference meant. "I don't think he means so much leadership," Pluto said. "I mean, at this point, Myles' personality is not going to change a whole lot. This is what you got, but that ... he thinks that Myles is set to have his best year... (Schwartz) said he thought Myles would respond with his best season ever with the contract and all that." Garrett has been one of the best players in the league on either side of the ball the past several seasons, and his contract extension is going to be yet another motivation for him to be even better. This past season, the 29-year-old edge rusher finished with 14.5 sacks, as well as leading the NFL in tackles for loss with 22. As a result, he was named First Team All-Pro for the fourth time in the last five seasons. Advertisement It will be hard for him to improve on a season like this, but if there is anyone that can do it, it is Garrett. … and yes, that would be amazing. Related: Myles Garrett Opens Up About Departure Of Teammate Related: Browns' Defensive Trio Makes Top 10 in Latest Ranking This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 11, 2025, where it first appeared.
