NFL Rumors: Browns Not Letting Freddie Kitchens Interview for OC Jobs

The Cleveland Browns aren't interested in losing offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens this offseason, according to a report from Ian Rapoport of NFL.com:

Kitchens took over as offensive coordinator after both head coach Hue Jackson and former offensive coordinator Todd Haley were fired midseason following a 2-5-1 start. With Gregg Williams at head coach and Kitchens at offensive coordinator, the Browns went 5-3 down the stretch.

Rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield thrived under Kitchens. With Jackson and Haley in Cleveland, Mayfield threw for 1,471 yards, eight scores and six interceptions in six games. Once Kitchens took over, however, Mayfield threw for 2,254 yards, 19 touchdowns and eight picks in eight games.

His completion percentage also went from 58.3 to 68.4, and while he was sacked 20 times in his first six games, that number dropped to just five in his last eight. His quarterback rating also shot up from 78.9 to 106.2.

Suffice to say, Mayfield would probably like to see Kitchens remain in Cleveland.

"If you think Freddie is the guy to be around Baker for a long time, he has to get some head coach consideration, because that's the only way to guarantee he'll be with you," Browns broadcaster Nathan Zegura told Bill Bender of the Sporting News. "It's tough. I'm glad I'm not in that seat, but I'm glad John Dorsey is in that seat."

That's the rub for Cleveland. Even if they keep Kitchens as offensive coordinator and he continues to succeed in the role, he could always depart for a head-coaching gig elsewhere in a year or two. But Kitchens also has zero experience as a head coach in his career and only had a half-season experience as a coordinator. As head-coaching candidates go, he's still pretty green.

For a Browns team looking to take the next step, promoting him to head coach would be a risk. But it's clear the team wants to do everything in its power to keep him aligned with Mayfield, and it seems unlikely he'll be coaching elsewhere in any capacity next season.