Welcome to the calm before the NFL offseason kicks into high gear.
All across the league, general managers, coaches and scouts are packing their bags and finalizing their travel plans for Indianapolis and the annual NFL Scouting Combine, which takes place February 23 through March 2.
Free agency will follow a week later, with the “legal tampering period” open from March 9 to March 11, with free agency official opening at 4 p.m. on March 11. Offseason programs can begin as early as April 6, and then the 2026 NFL Draft takes place from April 23 to April 25 in Pittsburgh.
It is going to be a busy time, and we will have everything you need to know as the Browns continue on their 120-day improvement plan to right the ship.
In the meantime, let’s get the weekend off to a proper start with today’s edition of the Saturday Dawg Chow.
Dawgs By Nature
- Browns lose out on coveted analytics coaching candidate (Thomas Moore) – Head coach Todd Monken wanted to bring Daniel Stern with him from Baltimore, but Stern has opted for the Seahawks.
- Hypothetical trade reshapes Browns offense in one draft (Thomas Moore) – A trade with the Dallas Cowboys brings in another first-round pick, allowing GM Andrew Berry to get to work on the offense.
- Browns Free Agency: TE Isaiah Likely to replace David Njoku, bring Todd Monken familiarity (Barry Shuck) – The upcoming loss of tight end David Njoku in free agency leaves a huge opening for the Cleveland Browns to fill, with Isaiah Likely a possible candidate.
- Browns coaching staff tracker: Todd Monken’s staff comes into focus as reports fly (Jared Mueller) – Tracking Todd Monken’s new coaching staff with the Cleveland Browns as filling Jim Schwartz’s DC spot lingers.
- Browns GM Andrew Berry needs to adjust NFL draft guardrails (Abby Mueller) – College football is changing and the Cleveland Browns need to catch up to this new world in the 2026 NFL Draft.
- Browns 2026 NFL draft options might have hit a snag after court ruling (Barry Shuck) – A hit for the Cleveland Browns 2026 NFL Draft options as Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss was granted extra year of college eligibility.
Cleveland Browns
- David Njoku’s exit is another reminder of where Browns are in their rebuild (cleveland.com) – The writing was on the wall most of this season for David Njoku and the Browns, even when he said repeatedly in a rare locker room interview midseason that he wanted to be a Brown for life.
- Browns embrace youth movement as they prepare for 2026 season (Browns Zone) – The messaging wasn’t subtle.As Todd Monken was introduced as Browns head coach, general manager Andrew Berry and owner Jimmy Haslam used the occasion to repeatedly discuss the youth of the roster.
- Shedeur Sanders could begin 2026 season as Browns’ starter. Should they still draft a QB? (The Athletic) – It’s time to start your mock drafting. And be ready to dig in on your quarterback stances.
NFL
- NY Giants NFL free agency 2026: Could Browns’ lineman find home in New York? (Big Blue View) – Wyatt Teller is a veteran right guard. Would he provide an upgrade for the Giants?
- The nine story lines that will define the 2026 NFL offseason (The Ringer) – Can the Patriots return to the Super Bowl, or will the AFC roar back? Is the NFL draft really that bad? And will someone please trade for A.J. Brown?
- NFL wins grievance against NFLPA regarding report cards (ESPN) – The NFL won its grievance against the NFL Players Association, effectively banning the union from conducting and publishing future player report cards, according to a memo distributed to all 32 NFL teams and obtained by ESPN on Friday morning.
- GM Jon Eric-Sullivan says Dolphins ‘getting close’ to decision on QB Tua Tagovailoa’s future in Miami (NFL.com) – The Miami Dolphins’ decision regarding quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is coming. Speaking at a fan event, the first question general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and coach Jeff Hafley received was about Tua’s standing in the organization.