The Cleveland Browns went from the 6th best team in the regular season, with a record of 11-6 in 2023, to being tied for the worst team in the NFL with a 1-4 record to start the 2024 season. Although it is early in the season, they have lost to the Cowboys (10th in the NFL), the Giants (23rd in the NFL), the Raiders (20th in the NFL), and the Commanders (4th in the NFL). They have played one good team and a semi-decent team while getting their only win against a Jaguars team that is tied with them for last place. This may just be another Browns season that can be over by Halloween if they can’t turn some important things around.

Bench Deshaun Watson and put in Jameis Winstson

Watson has done nothing to help the Browns ever since they traded for him in 2022, with multiple legal accusations and arm injuries. While he is actually on the field, he apparently wants to spend more time scrambling in the backfield on plays that are meant to last 5 seconds. He has only thrown 5 touchdowns in 5 games while throwing 3 interceptions, proving that he is way out of his prime, and the Browns should take him off the field immediately. Although Jameis Winston isn’t my first choice for a QB, the Browns should at least give him a chance to do something. I would say that a possible option would be trading some draft picks to get Bryce Young, who has no weapons on the Panthers, but setting him up with Amari Cooper and Jerry Jeudy would be elite. But Cleveland has no early-round draft picks for the next 2 years because they gave them all to the Texans for, you guessed it, Deshaun Watson.

Limit injuries altogether 

I know this is mainly out of their control, but they have been battling injuries all last season and this season. They have their center and right tackle both doubtful going into week 6, along with their ace left guard Joel Bitonio as questionable. In total, 4 of their backup linemen are on the IR and won’t be back anytime soon. This is the only reason I’m giving Deshaun Watson some wiggle room; he has zero time to get the ball anywhere. The injuries aren’t only on the offense though. 2 of their linebackers are questionable going into week 6, including Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, who has proven to be a key linebacker on the Browns D this season, and losing him is a big loss. Our secondary has mostly been able to stay healthy, but Grant Delpit and Denzel Ward are both doubtful for next week and have been some of the best players on the Browns roster this year. As I said, avoiding injuries is completely out of their control, but the amount of injuries has led to a significant increase in penalties that have cost them way too many yards and free points for their opponents.