Kevin Stefanski's Offensive Woes Blamed on the Cleveland Browns Front Office

As the Cleveland Browns’ offense continues to sputter through a season of inconsistency—ranking 22nd in total yards and 25th in points per game—criticism has shifted from head coach Kevin Stefanski to the team’s front office, led by general manager Andrew Berry. Fans and local analysts argue that Stefanski’s offensive struggles aren’t a failure of playcalling, but a result of the front office’s failure to provide him with the talent, depth, and fit needed to execute his system. From a patchwork offensive line to a lack of reliable skill-position depth, the gaps in the roster have left Stefanski stuck between adjusting his scheme and forcing square pegs into round holes. Kevin Stefanski's Offensive Woes Blamed on the Cleveland Browns Front Office isn’t just about pointing fingers; it’s about examining how roster decisions shape on-field performance, and why the front office’s choices have left the offense unable to live up to its potential.

Kevin Stefanski's Offensive Woes Blamed on the Cleveland Browns Front Office first centers on the offensive line—a unit that has been a liability all season, and one fans say the front office neglected to fix. Despite obvious issues with pass protection and run blocking last year, the Browns only made incremental changes: re-signing guard Joel Bitonio to a contract extension (a popular move) but failing to address the right tackle spot, where they’ve cycled through three players (Jack Conklin, Dawand Jones, and a practice-squad call-up) due to injuries and poor performance. The line’s struggles have been stark: Deshaun Watson has been sacked 28 times this season (12th most in the NFL), and the Browns’ rushing attack—once a staple of Stefanski’s offense—has dropped from 8th in 2022 to 18th in 2023. “Stefanski’s offense relies on a physical, dominant offensive line to run his zone scheme and protect the QB,” said local sports radio host Tony Rizzo. “The front office didn’t give him that—they patched holes instead of rebuilding, and now the offense is paying for it.” Critics also note that the Browns passed on top offensive line prospects in the 2023 draft, instead selecting a wide receiver and a defensive back—moves that have yet to pay dividends. Kevin Stefanski's Offensive Woes Blamed on the Cleveland Browns Front Office because the offensive line’s failures are seen as a direct result of the front office’s prioritization, leaving Stefanski without the foundation he needs to succeed.

Kevin Stefanski's Offensive Woes Blamed on the Cleveland Browns Front Office also highlights the lack of depth at skill positions, particularly at wide receiver and tight end. While Amari Cooper has been a consistent threat (65 catches, 890 yards), the Browns’ second and third receivers—Elijah Moore and rookie Cedric Tillman—have struggled with drops and inconsistency. Moore, acquired via trade from the New York Jets in the offseason, has just 28 catches and 320 yards, well below expectations, while Tillman has missed three games with injuries and has yet to record a touchdown. At tight end, the Browns have no clear No. 1 option: David Njoku has been serviceable (35 catches, 410 yards) but has failed to become the playmaker the front office hoped he’d be when they signed him to a four-year extension in 2022. “Stefanski’s offense needs three reliable receivers and a dynamic tight end to spread the field,” said former Browns offensive coordinator Todd Haley in a TV interview. “The front office gave him one good receiver and a bunch of question marks. You can’t run a modern NFL offense like that—no coach can.” Fans have also pointed out that the front office chose not to sign a veteran wide receiver in free agency, instead betting on Moore and Tillman to step up—a gamble that has backfired. Kevin Stefanski's Offensive Woes Blamed on the Cleveland Browns Front Office because the skill-position depth (or lack thereof) has limited Stefanski’s playcalling, forcing him to rely on predictable sets that defenses easily shut down.

Kevin Stefanski's Offensive Woes Blamed on the Cleveland Browns Front Office has also sparked debate about the front office’s handling of the quarterback position, specifically their investment in Deshaun Watson. While Watson was a high-profile acquisition in 2022 (via trade and a five-year, $230 million contract), fans argue that the front office failed to build around him properly. The Browns’ decision to allocate so much salary cap space to Watson (he accounts for 23% of the team’s cap) left little room to sign other key players, including offensive linemen and receivers. “The front office put all their eggs in Watson’s basket and then didn’t give him the pieces to succeed,” said a fan who writes for a popular Browns blog. “Stefanski is stuck with a QB who’s making record money but doesn’t have the line or receivers to help him play up to that contract. It’s not his fault—he’s working with a roster that’s unbalanced because of the front office’s choices.” The Cleveland Browns’ cap situation has also limited their ability to make midseason adjustments, such as signing a veteran receiver or lineman to fix gaps—another point of criticism for the front office. Kevin Stefanski's Offensive Woes Blamed on the Cleveland Browns Front Office because the quarterback contract’s impact on the cap has handcuffed the roster, leaving Stefanski without the flexibility to adapt to injuries and poor performance.

Kevin Stefanski's Offensive Woes Blamed on the Cleveland Browns Front Office has been amplified by the front office’s failure to address obvious needs in free agency and the draft. In 2023 free agency, the Browns focused on defense (signing defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson and linebacker Anthony Walker Jr.) while ignoring the offensive line and receiver positions—moves that fans say were short-sighted. In the draft, the Browns selected Tillman (a receiver) in the third round, but passed on offensive linemen like Paris Johnson Jr. (selected by the Arizona Cardinals) and Darnell Wright (selected by the Chicago Bears)—both of whom have become starters for their teams. “The front office has a pattern of ignoring offensive needs until they become crises,” said Cleveland Plain Dealer reporter Mary Kay Cabot. “They did it with the line last year, they did it with receivers this year, and now Stefanski is left trying to coach around those gaps. It’s unfair to him and to the fans who expect a competitive team.” The Cleveland Browns’ front office has defended its decisions, saying it “believes in the talent on the roster” and that “inconsistency is part of the NFL.” But fans and analysts aren’t buying it—they see a lack of foresight that has put the offense in a hole. Kevin Stefanski's Offensive Woes Blamed on the Cleveland Browns Front Office because the front office’s draft and free-agency choices have left the offense with too many weaknesses to overcome, even for a proven coach like Stefanski.

Kevin Stefanski's Offensive Woes Blamed on the Cleveland Browns Front Office has also raised questions about the relationship between the coaching staff and the front office—a dynamic that is critical to a team’s success. While Stefanski and Berry have publicly spoken about “alignment” between their visions, behind-the-scenes reports suggest tension over roster decisions. One source close to the team told 850 WKNR that Stefanski “expressed concerns about the offensive line depth in the offseason” but was told by the front office that “the current group was sufficient.” Another source said that Stefanski pushed for a veteran tight end in free agency but was overruled in favor of keeping Njoku. “When the coach and front office aren’t on the same page, the team suffers,” said NFL insider Adam Schefter on his podcast. “The Browns have that issue right now—Stefanski needs certain pieces to run his offense, and the front office isn’t giving them to him. The result is an offense that’s stuck in neutral.” The Cleveland Browns’ ownership has yet to comment on the criticism, but fans are calling for accountability—either from the front office for its roster decisions or from ownership for failing to resolve the disconnect. Kevin Stefanski's Offensive Woes Blamed on the Cleveland Browns Front Office because this misalignment has created a situation where neither the coach nor the players can succeed, leaving the team in a state of frustration and underachievement.

Kevin Stefanski's Offensive Woes Blamed on the Cleveland Browns Front Office is ultimately a story about accountability in the NFL. While coaches are often the first to be blamed for on-field struggles, the reality is that their success is tied directly to the roster the front office provides. For the Browns, that roster has too many gaps—gaps that were predictable and preventable—leaving Stefanski unable to execute the offense he’s built his career on. Whether the front office will take responsibility for those gaps, or whether Stefanski will continue to bear the brunt of the criticism, remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: the Browns’ offensive woes aren’t just a coaching issue—they’re a roster issue, and the front office’s decisions have played a major role in creating them. Kevin Stefanski's Offensive Woes Blamed on the Cleveland Browns Front Office because it’s a reminder that in the NFL, success is a team effort—from the owner to the general manager to the coach—and failure, too, must be shared. For the Browns to turn their season around, the front office and coaching staff need to find common ground—and fast—before the offense’s struggles sink the team’s playoff hopes.