Daily Dawg Chow 5/25: Browns finish OTAs, Deshaun Watson throws dime, surprise roster cuts and more

More of the latest Browns news and notes from around the web in today’s dose of the Daily Dawg Chow.

The latest Cleveland Browns coverage from Dawgs By Nature as to start Memorial Day weekend includes the end of the team’s OTAs, free agent options for Browns roster, AFC North news and analysis and more.

(Apologies for the delay Tom is out of town, as am I, on vacation. I’m also in a different time zone. No excuses, just explanation)

• Jabrill Peppers talks about his time playing “angel” in Cleveland (Chris Pokorny): “Browns fans felt that same pain, as it became a running gag about how Williams would line safeties up so far back. It was supposedly to help prevent a big passing play, but it was done so frequently and it took away the possible strengths that a guy like Peppers had for drafting him — being effective near the line of scrimmage, if necessary.”
• Ravens given huge rest advantage over rest of AFC North (Jared Mueller): “Only twice all season will the Ravens have less rest than the team they are facing and each time that is just one game. The Pittsburgh Steelers and Browns will have a rest deficit three times, only one of the six is just one game, while the Bengals have five rest deficits compared to the teams they are facing.”
• 3 Free Agent Options for the Browns 3rd Tight End Spot (Matt Wilson): “Though the tight end market isn’t as boisterous or plentiful as it was at the beginning of free agency, there are three players still available that would be fits for the team both schematically and financially.”
• Denzel Ward makes sure his first pitch crosses home plate, in a crazy way (Barry Shuck): “As Ward approached the mound, he began to play catch with himself several times. When he stepped up to the rubber, he pulled out a Sharpie, and then was seen writing something on the baseball.”

More Cleveland Browns news:

• Day 3 OTA Roundup (Cleveland.com): “If (rookie LB Nathaniel) Watson continues to make big plays in the spring and summer, he’ll get some quality playing time sooner than later. As it is, he’s slated for a key role on kickoff returns under the new rules.”
• Is the rebuild complete? (Quincy Carrier)
• Browns TE David Njoku stars in new Adidas commercial with Patrick Mahomes (BrownsWire): “Njoku is starting to gain notoriety as one of the best tight ends in the NFL after racking up 882 yards and six touchdowns, leading all tight ends in yards after the catch in 2023. That contract extension looks like a bargain now, and don’t sleep on Njoku getting yet another new deal done next offseason if he continues in his dominant ways.”
• 3 recent draft picks that could be surprise cut candidates (Dawg Pound Daily): “Despite the playing time he’s received, (James) Hudson hasn’t developed much. He still struggled in 2023 with nine penalties while giving up four sacks in just 556 snaps.”
• Za’Darius Smith says the Browns defense has unfinished business this year (Browns.com): “The culture, the chemistry with this team, man, everything,” Smith said of re-signing with the Browns. “The brotherhood, the team camaraderie. I had a chance to go other places, but I felt like I didn’t want that. I felt like we didn’t get to where we wanted to last year. And we got something that we need to finish here. Hopefully, we can get that done this year.”
• Legendary Greg Cosell says what everyone is thinking about Deshaun Watson:

What do you think about where the Browns are going into this holiday weekend?

What should be my punishment (keep it clean for the mid-40s writer over here) for being so late today (and probably tomorrow) with the Chow?

Share both thoughts in the comment section below