The final stage of the Browns’ offseason program gets underway on May 27 when phase three starts. That phase, better known as organized team activities, is the closest they will get to real football until training camp.
The OTAs, which don’t include the three-day mandatory minicamp sandwiched between the second and third weeks, allows for the team to work on 7-on-7, 9-on-9 and 11-on-11 drills. However, it’s only in jerseys and helmets and without live contact.
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Still, especially for a team that has major questions, those 10 OTAs, along with the minicamp that will run June 10-12, will be crucial. It won’t answer those questions, but it will start to provide some clues to what the answers could be.
So what are the big things to look at ahead of OTAs? Here are a few, starting with the biggest of them all.
Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel, Joe Flacco, Shedeur Sanders at QB
Cleveland Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel (5) throws as quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) looks on during NFL rookie minicamp at the Cleveland Browns training facility on Friday, May 9, 2025, in Berea, Ohio.
It’s only the biggest, most obvious question for the Browns. Much like a multiple-choice question on a test, it has four potential answers: Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel, Joe Flacco and Shedeur Sanders.
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The OTAs, as well as the minicamp, are being structured in many ways to try to sort through the logjam at the position. Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said during rookie minicamp they added extra extended 7-on-7 periods in order for both Gabriel and Sanders to be able to get the amount of reps each needed.
The Browns will likely split into two separate groups, with two quarterbacks working with each group. Pickett and Flacco likely will be split up, as will Gabriel and Sanders.
That allows for the opportunity for all four quarterbacks to get somewhat equal reps. That leads into the next thing to watch.
Wide receivers, from Jerry Jeudy to Luke Floriea
Wide receiver Kisean Johnson, left, tries to hang onto a pass over cornerback Tahveon Nicholson during NFL rookie minicamp at the Cleveland Browns training facility on Friday, May 9, 2025, in Berea, Ohio.
The thing about trying to make sure four quarterbacks get as close to equal reps during the offseason is that you need people to catch their passes. The thing about the Browns is they need wide receivers to emerge to help fill a massive need at that position once you get past Pro Bowler Jerry Jeudy, which means trying to figure out a primary need could open the door to solving another need as well.
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The OTAs are voluntary by nature. However, a large percentage of the dozen wide receivers on the roster — eight, to be exact — have been in the league three years or less.
The Browns didn’t draft a wide receiver in April, but did sign Gage Larvadain as an undrafted rookie free agent and veterans Diontae Johnson and DeAndre Carter via free agency. They also added three rookies — Luke Floriea, Cade McDonald and Kisean Johnson — who were in for rookie minicamp on a tryout basis.
All of them now join a position group that is desperate to figure out a rotation behind Jeudy. Beyond that, there’s hope that a third-year jump is possible by Cedric Tillman, assuming good health, as well as someone from other past draft picks David Bell, Michael Woods II or Jamari Thrash ultimately emerges.
Mason Graham, Carson Schwesinger and other young Browns defenders
Cleveland Browns defensive tackle Mason Graham (94) tries to squeeze around center Justin Osborne during NFL rookie minicamp at the Cleveland Browns training facility on Friday, May 9, 2025, in Berea, Ohio.
It’s not just all about the offense for the Browns. There’s also some legitimate defensive issues that need to be addressed, and the answers are likely going to have to come from the youngsters on the roster.
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Start with defensive tackle Mason Graham, the No. 5 overall pick in April’s draft. The Browns are somewhat thin at defensive tackle, at least in terms of proven commodities outside of veteran Shelby Harris.
Graham, as well as 2024’s second-round pick Mike Hall Jr., are two of the main defensive tackles the Browns are focused on to fill those roles. Hall is coming off offseason knee surgery, which could limit him during OTAs, but Graham can now get a chance to show what kind of progress he’s making after rookie minicamp as he gets more accustomed to the routine.
The same holds true for linebacker Carson Schwesinger, the Browns’ second draft pick. The announcement of Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah missing all of the 2025 season, if not substantially longer, accelerates the need for the rookie out of UCLA to get up to speed to be able to contribute from the start.
Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns try to sort through QB quartet, wide receiver questions at OTAs