According to sources, the Cleveland Browns have signed Ken Dorsey, the former Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator, as their new offensive coordinator.
Dorsey succeeds Alex Van Pelt, who was Cleveland’s offensive coordinator for the previous four seasons. Kevin Stefanski, the Browns’ head coach, has been calling the offensive plays since taking over in 2020.
The Browns and Van Pelt, who also served as quarterbacks coach, parted relations earlier this month as the franchise sought a fresh voice to work with Deshaun Watson to ensure his future success.
Following a 5-5 start, the Bills fired Dorsey on November 14. However, many believe Dorsey was blamed for Josh Allen’s poor play around that time. Buffalo rallied under temporary offensive coordinator Joe Brady and won the AFC East championship. The Bills have removed Brady’s temporary tag.
Dorsey was Cam Newton’s quarterback coach in Carolina, when he won the MVP in 2015. Newton and Dorsey had a positive relationship, with Newton saying, “He’ll bring a newness and spark to FIU.” Not only is he a diligent worker, but he also has a strong killer instinct. He’s a renowned, established winner throughout the years.”
In 2019, he became the Buffalo Bills’ quarterbacks coach and developed a trusting relationship with Josh Allen. After several years of teaching Allen, he was promoted to offensive coordinator, succeeding Brian Daboll, before being sacked midway this year.
The move makes a lot of sense because Newton and Allen are both dual-threat quarterbacks who thrive off-schedule. Newton and Watson are very close friends, and we can presume Newton would have spoken nice things about Dorsey to Watson.
PLAY-CALLING
I believe Kevin Stefanski will continue to call the plays for the Browns. The modifications made on the offensive side of the ball were intended to incorporate new innovative minds and voices in the collaborative process of shaping this offense in a way that allows Watson to be as successful as possible.
Dorsey, who directed plays for the NFL’s second-best offense in 2022, has only had the duty for a season and a half in his career. While I’m confident he could do the job, I see no need for Stefanski to relinquish play-calling. He is a superb play-caller and sequencer, and he continues to improve.
These decisions were never about play-calling, but rather about establishing an operation at the cutting edge of offensive concepts and philosophies that is best suited to a dual-threat quarterback like Watson.
The Wide Receiver Market
While Watson recently expressed his desire for Tee Higgins to visit Cleveland on his podcast with quarterback trainer Quincy Avery, this is unlikely.
Higgins will most likely be tagged in Cincinnati, and they will do everything they can to keep him.
With that stated, wide receiver is undoubtedly on the to-do list in what should be an offensively focused offseason. Here is a list of the top wide receivers available on the free agent market this offseason.
- WRÂ TEE HIGGINS, CINCINNATI BENGALS
- WRÂ MICHAEL PITTMANÂ JR., INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
- WR MIKE EVANS, TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
- WRÂ MARQUISE BROWN, ARIZONA CARDINALS
- WRÂ CALVIN RIDLEY, JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
- WRÂ DARNELL MOONEY, CHICAGO BEARS
- WRÂ GABRIEL DAVIS, BUFFALO BILLS
- WR ODELL BECKHAM JR., BALTIMORE RAVENS
- WRÂ TYLER BOYD, CINCINNATI BENGALS
- WRÂ CURTIS SAMUEL, WASHINGTON COMMANDERS
- WRÂ KENDRICK BOURNE, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
- WR D.J. CHARK, CAROLINA PANTHERS
- WR MICHAEL THOMAS, NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
- WRÂ JOSH REYNOLDS, DETROIT LIONS
- WR NICK WESTBROOK-IKHINE, TENNESSEE TITANS
- WR K.J. OSBORN, MINNESOTA VIKINGS
- WR NOAH BROWN, HOUSTON TEXANS
There are some intriguing names, but they all tumble off the cliff rather shortly. Of course, Pittman would look fantastic in orange and brown, but I don’t see him leaving the Colts.
I’m especially interested in Ridley, Mooney, Boyd, Reynolds, Osborne, and Brown. While some gamers are in different payment tiers, they all would improve the current room.
Looking at the Browns’ current wide receiver room, I assume the depth chart would look like this:
- Amari Cooper
- Elijah Moore
- Cedric Tillman
- David Bell
- Michael Woods
It’s understandable that the Browns would want to improve their high-end room. I like Tillman’s ceiling, and once the Browns realized Moore isn’t a gadget player and is more suited for running routes down the field, he was good.
In a perfect scenario, the addition of a real number two wide receiver would move everyone up the depth chart before the NFL draft. Ridley, Mooney, Boyd, and Osborne are the candidates I like best for that position. At the very least, this room requires a sense of depth.
How Deshaun Watson’s decision affects Matt Ryan, Jameis Winston, and NFL quarterback free agency.
According to Adam Schefter, the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints have moved to the forefront of the Deshaun Watson sweepstakes, although trading for the Houston Texans quarterback challenges both organizations’ salary limit situations. The Falcons would need to move on from Matt Ryan, who is still under contract, while the Saints would no longer consider re-signing free agent quarterback Jameis Winston.
“Deshaun Watson will make a decision here that will affect the franchises for years to come,” Schefter stated Friday during an appearance on SportsCenter. “Not only will he play for one of those NFC South clubs, but he’ll also be playing against the other team for the foreseeable future. This decision will have an impact because other players want to follow Deshaun Watson. He will help tilt the balance of power in the NFC South with a simple decision.
“This is all going to happen as soon as Deshaun Watson agrees to waive his no-trade clause, which could could literally any minute now.”
The Falcons and Ryan agreed to postpone the $7.5 million roster bonus that was due in his contract Friday until next week, giving the team additional time to try to acquire Watson once his no-trade clause is removed.
“It looks like the Atlanta Falcons are getting prepared to move on from Matt Ryan one way or another whether or not Deshaun Watson goes there,” Schefter said on Thursday.
“So, it’s quite intriguing to see. If Watson signs with Atlanta, the Falcons will be forced to almost simultaneously trade Watson to Atlanta and Ryan from Atlanta for salary cap concerns. Those two appear to be linked together. Even if Watson chooses New Orleans, Ryan may still be traded to another team.
According to Spotrac, Ryan is currently under contract with the Falcons for five years, which will end in 2023. According to Spotrac, his base salary for 2023 is $20.5 million, however he could opt out of the contract in 2022.
Watson, 26, would take a major step back in age at quarterback, since Ryan, 36, is likely nearing the conclusion of his playing career.
If Watson chooses the Falcons, New Orleans will re-sign free agent Jameis Winston for the 2022 season, according to Schefter.
“Winston doesn’t want to commit to a team until Watson commits to a team, as is Marcus Mariota, Andy Dalton and the other quarterbacks waiting on Watson,” according to Schefter.”
The former Clemson star’s trade value increased over the weekend after a grand jury failed to indict the Texans quarterback on 22 sexual assault claims. Watson has been investigated for sexual assault charges since March 2021, when many women came out with their claims. Dane Schiller, a spokesman for the Harris (Texas) County District Attorney’s Office, issued a statement after the grand jury declined to charge Watson Friday afternoon.
Schiller stressed in the statement that the procedures were confidential by law and that no information about them will be shared.
“After a Harris County grand jury was presented all the evidence and had the opportunity to hear from all witnesses, grand jurors declined to indict Deshaun Watson,” Schiller said in a statement. “Grand jury hearings are private by law, thus no information about their investigation may be published.
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According to Schefter, the Texans previously denied the Indianapolis Colts’ request to talk with Watson. According to Schefter, the Texans are not happy with Watson playing for an AFC South foe. The Colts recently traded quarterback Carson Wentz to the Washington Commanders after just one season, joining a number of teams looking for a new starting quarterback in 2022.
