The 2022 Cleveland Browns have fallen well below expectations.
That makes everything up for review in the offseason.
Some of the decisions are more critical than others.
Here are three critical decisions, defined by position group, that the Browns need to make before 2023.
1. Linebackers
The Browns seemed to be deep in the linebacker room in 2022 until the injuries started coming, and they would not stop.
They lost Anthony Walker Jr., Jacob Phillips, Sione Takitaki, and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah to season-ending injuries.
Walker and Takitaki will be free agents at the end of the season.
Reggie Ragland and Deion Jones were both added midseason but will become free agents this offseason, and practice squad player Jordan Kunaszyk has also seen playing time but will be a free agent in 2023.
@Browns can you please tell Andrew Berry that interior linemen and linebackers are important.
— Matt Grieves (@Matt_Grieves) December 17, 2022
2. Wide Receivers
Amari Cooper is locked in for the long term, but 2023 is the final year of Donovan Peoples-Jones‘s contract.
Will the Browns negotiate his extension in the offseason, or will they wait and pursue a more veteran WR2?
The team could use a big-name, rock-solid receiver to play alongside Cooper and DPJ.
@Browns we have to get some play makers wr's this off season nobody can get open on this core
— Kobra tha Don (@216kobraEli) December 24, 2022
3. Offensive Line
Though Jack Conklin‘s future is now known, there are other questions lingering on the offensive line.
The Browns had five centers this season since three of the four had major injuries.
Nick Harris, rookie Dawson Deaton, Michael Dunn, and Ethan Pocic were injured.
Harris and Deaton’s injuries were season-ending and suffered in the preseason.
Hjalte Froholdt did well in relief of Pocic.
Pocic and Froholdt are free agents at the end of the season, and Dunn is a restricted free agent.
#Browns placed center Ethan Pocic on injured reserve. That’s three centers lost this season to injuries — Nick Harris, Pocic, Michael Dunn.
Cleveland also signed veteran center Greg Mancz. He’s been with Dolphins and Bills.— Tom Withers (@twithersAP) November 22, 2022
Will the Browns keep any of these players if there is uncertainty with Harris or Pocic?
There is also the issue of Jedrick Wills Jr.’s fifth-year option which would need to be exercised before the 2023 season to keep him with the team on his rookie deal through the 2024 season.
Are we sure Jedrick Wills is the #Browns left tackle of the future?
— Nick Pedone (@NickPedone12) December 23, 2022
All of these storylines are worth keeping an eye on as the Browns progress through the offseason.
NEXT: The Next 2 Browns Players In Line For Contract Extensions
