Cleveland’s descent into all-too-familiar irrelevance can be traced directly to the franchise’s decision to trade three first-round picks for quarterback Deshaun Watson, immediately signing him to a five-year, fully guaranteed $230 million contract. The move also forced the Browns to part ways with former No. 1 overall pick Baker Mayfield, who has since resurrected his career in Tampa Bay, where he is now considered the Buccaneers’ starting quarterback at 30 years old. To top it off, Watson’s massive contract has become a financial albatross that will affect the Browns’ position after the contract expires after the 2026 season, which calls for smaller caps in 2027 and 2028.
With Watson only listed as a huge financial commitment, the Browns’ decision makers have had their hands full. Thus, they have ended up cycling through a number of backs and spending the majority of the 2025 season starting two rookies under center.
It might also explain why they are still employed. As Bitonio noted, Cleveland’s defense has proven itself to be one of the best units in the NFL in 2025. The same cannot be said for the Browns’ offense, but a productive 2025 draft added up-and-comers Carson Schwesinger, Quinshon Judkins and Harold Fannin Jr.
Some may believe that another similarly effective draft could lift the Browns out of the mire of mediocrity. That could be what convinces management to keep Stefanski.
“Where we are now, we don’t want to be there,” Bitonio said. “But I think if we do the right things and continue to improve, I think that’s a guy you can build around. Two-time coach of the year, he respects his peers. He’s even-keeled. I think you saw that last week. The team is motivated to play. We’re trying to win games. I think he respects the locker room around you and I think you keep that around you. I was in charge of it.”
If anyone knows what a successful coach looks like, it’s Bitonio, an All-Pro guard who played for the likes of Mike Pettine, Hue Jackson, Gregg Williams (interim) and Freddie Kitchens before Stefanski arrived. Bitonio was instrumental in helping the Browns reach the postseason for the first time since 2002 and was on the field when Cleveland narrowly lost to the AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs in the 2020 Division Series.
Even if he doesn’t decide to play a 13th NFL season, he knows what the Browns should do and believes they are on the right track.
“I mean, I think there’s history, too,” Bitonio said. “Some of the other coaches I’ve played for did that, they won three. They didn’t win 11. They didn’t win in the playoffs. They didn’t play in the playoffs. They didn’t have a six-year sample. We’re not where we want to be. We expect to be higher.
“But if you want to go back to the preseason, I think everybody was with us at 31 or 32 years old, and that’s not what we’re looking for or want. When you talk about expectations and reality and things like that, I have the utmost respect for him. I just think you continue to let him coach the Browns, I think we’ve got a good future.”