Browns Rumors: 'Tear-Down' Roster Rebuild Not Planned Despite 3-13 Record

The Cleveland Browns are entering Week 18 with a 3-13 record after a disastrous 2024 season, but the team reportedly isn't planning to make major changes to the roster this offseason.

According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler and Daniel Oyefusi, team sources "insist a tear-down rebuild is not coming."

The sources also noted that Browns general manager Andrew Berry is "a measured yet aggressive general manager, which has historically yielded plenty of offseason activity." He's handed out big-money deals that made multiple players some of the highest-paid free agents at their respective positions. He's also made major moves on the trade market, such as acquiring star receivers Amari Cooper and Jerry Jeudy and defensive end Za'Darius Smith.

A personnel source told Fowler and Oyefusi that the Browns will be "opportunistic" in improving the roster this offseason as well. It was also noted that the team internally considers this to be "a pivot year," as it will have to make decisions on eight big-money contracts that become non-guaranteed in 2025. Cleveland has 11 picks in the 2025 NFL draft and will be picking in the first round for the first time since 2021.

"We have a lot of flexibility," a front office source said. "We'll be fine from a cap standpoint. That's the last thing I'm worried about."

Of course, a major hurdle for the Browns is quarterback Deshaun Watson's massive contract, which has a $72.9 million cap hit. Fowler and Oyefusi noted that restructuring his deal to convert his $46 million 2025 salary to a bonus and spread over multiple years "could give Cleveland more breathing room."

The Browns will end the 2024 season on Sunday in a road game against the Baltimore Ravens before turning the page to focusing on preparing for the 2025 campaign.