Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns' vertical passing game didn't really take off until quarterback Deshaun Watson (shoulder) was already out for the year with a shoulder injury in November of last year. Cleveland feels good having receiver Amari Cooper and tight end David Njoku leading their pass-catching group, but the rest of the bunch has plenty of question marks. The Athletic's Zac Jackson suggests that the Browns need more speed, and probably more size and consistency, at the position. They will almost certainly add to their receiver room in both March (in free agency) and in April (in the draft). Veteran slot man Elijah Moore certainly didn't make as much of an impact as the front office expected him to when they acquired him from the New York Jets.

The Cleveland Browns want to keep running back Nick Chubb (knee) around, but he's also recovering from two surgeries on his injured knee this offseason and is due to carry a salary cap charge of just under $16 million in 2024, the final year of his contract and his age-28 season. The Browns would take on around $4 million in dead money if they were to cut Chubb. The Athletic's Zac Jackson points out that Chubb's contract was structured long before his injury. When healthy, Chubb has been one of the league's best RBs, but the Browns also need to account for every penny on their salary cap now and into the foreseeable future. Chubb will mostly likely be back in 2024, but he'll be a risk/reward fantasy selection coming off a gruesome knee injury early last year.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (shoulder) is on track in his rehab schedule from shoulder surgery and may even be a little bit ahead, and he will begin throwing in March, according to a league source. Watson had surgery on Nov. 21 to fix a fractured right shoulder socket. It's great news for his participation at least on a limited basis for the team's offseason workouts, which begin on April 15. Watson has started working out and has talked with some of his receivers about working out together in the offseason. The 28-year-old fractured his right shoulder in Week 10 and only played in six games in his second year in Cleveland, throwing for 1,115 yards, seven touchdowns and four interceptions. It was surely a disappointing season for Watson, but with better health, he has clear rebound potential while working with new offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey in 2024.

New Orleans Saints quarterback Jameis Winston, who will become a free agent in March, said he "would love to stay in New Orleans forever." Winston has spent the last four seasons with the team and would remain ticketed for a backup role yet again in 2024 behind Derek Carr if he chooses to re-sign. The Saints are currently projected to be well over the salary cap this year, which is nothing new for the organization, but it could prove difficult for them to get something done to keep Winston around as QB insurance. The 30-year-old veteran has made 10 starts for the team in his four-year run with them and went 25-for-47 for 264 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions in seven appearances when Carr was banged up in 2023.

Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry said the intention is to bring running back Nick Chubb (knee) back for the 2024 season despite his contract situation and serious knee injury. The Browns have an out in Chubb's contract this offseason for only a $4 million dead salary cap hit, and he would carry a $15.8 million cap hit for 2024. If the two sides are intent on running it back, it's likely they'll come to an agreement on a contract restructure for next season. The 28-year-old suffered a torn left ACL early in the 2023 campaign but is no longer using crutches and could be ready to go for the start of the 2024 regular season, barring any setbacks this offseason. If Chubb is ready to go for the start of next season, he'll be a bit more risky as an RB1 in fantasy coming off his serious knee injury.