3 Big Changes Browns Must Make in 2024 Offseason After NFL Playoff Loss

The Cleveland Browns were routed in the wild-card round, losing 45-14 to C.J. Stroud and the upstart Houston Texans.

While the playoff result was disappointing, It's hard not to consider the 2023 season a success for Cleveland. The Browns lost multiple key players to season-ending injuries—including Nick Chubb, Deshaun Watson, Jack Conklin, Jedrick Wills and Dawand Jones—and still managed to win 11 games.

It's a credit to head coach Kevin Stefanski and the resolve of Cleveland's roster. The Brown forged an identity as a team that won't fold under adversity, and that should serve them well moving forward.

If Cleveland hopes to be a title contender in 2024, though, it needs to make a few changes. Getting healthy will help, but so will making the following tweaks.

Keep the Deep-Passing Plan When Watson Returns

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Browns QB Deshaun Watson

Joe Flacco became Cleveland's fourth starting quarterback of the season, and he helped unlock a deep-passing attack that was rarely seen early in the year. It worked until it didn't—Flacco threw two pick-sixes against Houston—and when it did work, it helped keep opposing defenses off-balance.

Stefanski needs to note how Flacco's willingness to attack all areas of the field boosted the play of Amari Cooper and David Njoku. While Flacco and Watson are very different quarterbacks, Stefanski needs to keep those downrange throws in his playbook moving forward.

Watson has the arm strength and the deep accuracy to make many of the throws we saw Flacco make late in the season. However, Cleveland's offensive scheme was much more conservative with Watson under center. He had the occasional deep shot to Cooper or Elijah Moore, but Watson averaged a full 1.1 air yards less than Flacco per attempt.

Ideally, the Browns will have Chubb back at some point in 2024. Pairing him with an aerial assault that can back off safeties would give Cleveland the sort of balanced but potent offense it hasn't had since perhaps the 2007 season.

Find a High-End No. 2 Receiver

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Colts WR Michael Pittman Jr.

Browns general manager Andrew Berry has done a decent job of assembling a receiving corps on a relative budget. The 2022 trade for Cooper continues to pay dividends, and Cooper is still very much a quality No. 1 option. Mid-round draft picks David Bell and Cedric Tillman have shown flashes, and Cleveland got a decent return (640 yards, 2 TDs) in their trade for Elijah Moore.

However, Bell, Tillman and Moore are all mid-level complementary receivers at this point in their careers. That may change as they continue to develop, but it's time for Berry to go after a No. 2 target with more upside.

Targeting a receiver like Michael Pittman Jr., Tee Higgins or Calvin Ridley in free agency would be difficult—the Browns are projected to be $13.9 million over the cap—but not impossible.

Berry has a knack for generating extra cap room. Pairing Pittman or Higgins with Cooper would give Cleveland the perimeter targets needed to keep stretching the field.

The Browns could also target a receiver highly in the 2024 draft, which is expected to be deep at the position. The Bleacher Report Scouting Department ranked 15 wideouts among its top 100 players on its latest big board.

Be More Aggressive in the Draft

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Browns general manager Andrew Berry

Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz failed to adapt to the way Stroud and the Texans attacked his defense on Saturday, and that's a mistake from which the team can learn. However, the Browns might still be in the postseason with a healthier roster or just a bit more depth.

Cleveland truly appears to be a player or two away from being a legitimate AFC threat, and Berry must be willing to go up and get players in the 2024 draft.

The Browns have taken the opposite approach in recent years because the Watson trade significantly cut into their early-round capital. It hasn't been a disaster because Berry has uncovered gems like Jones, Martin Emerson Jr. and undrafted safety Ronnie Hickman.

However, Cleveland could use more playmakers on each side of the ball, and trading up for a prospect like Washington receiver Ja'Lynn Polk or Ohio State edge-rusher JT Tuimoloau could help address the issue.

Depth is important, but the Browns showed that they can find it in unusual places. It's time to be more proactive in addressing the biggest needs.

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*Cap information via Spotrac.