Cleveland Browns stock up, stock down

With training camps two months away, teams continue to evaluate their rosters. Here are the Cleveland Browns whose stock is trending up — and down.

Stock Up

Deshaun Watson, quarterback: Watson underwhelmed in his return from suspension in 2022, throwing for 1,102 yards, seven touchdowns and five interceptions in six games. His .500 record (3-3) as starting quarterback must be better in 2023.

The team did its best to give Watson the on-field support he needs, trading for WR Elijah Moore, signing WR Marquise Goodwin in free agency and selecting WR Cedric Tillman with its first pick — a third-rounder — in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Those hoping Watson will return to his 2020 form when he led the league in passing yards (4,823), may not be realistic. However, he should be much better than his middling performance last season.

Myles Garrett, defensive end: Like Watson, Garrett may be one of the biggest benefactors from the Browns' solid offseason. Cleveland bolstered its D-line by trading for DE Za'Darius Smith, signing DT Dalvin Tomlinson and DE Ogbonnia Okoronkwo and drafting DT Siaki Ika.

Garrett, who is coming off back-to-back 16 sacks seasons, may have the best year of his career as offenses will have more to worry about on the line than just him. The Browns didn't have a player besides Garrett eclipse three sacks a season ago. With Smith and Garrett at opposite ends of the line, the Browns should bolster their sack total in 2023.

Stock Down

Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, defensive end: He signed a three-year, $19M deal with the Browns this offseason, with many believing he would be playing opposite Garrett on the line. However, Cleveland had bigger plans, trading for Smith, a three-time Pro Bowler who had 10 sacks with the Vikings in 2022.

Okoronkwo, who had a career-high five sacks in 2022 with Houston, will now likely be a rotational player, giving Garrett and Smith a breather when needed. Smith, who turns 31 this season, missed the majority of 2021 due to a back injury. He seems to have lost the starting job for now.

Jordan Elliott, defensive tackle: Elliot hasn't panned out since being drafted by the Browns in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft. The 25-year-old has just 2.5 sacks in the first three years as a pro, and Cleveland may have drafted his replacement in Ika, selected with its second third-round pick in the draft.

"Ika is your 358-pounder who can still somehow make centers and guards miss one on one. He tallied a career-high 33 pressures in 2021," Pro Football Focus wrote.

If Elliott, who is entering the final year of his rookie deal, doesn't produce in 2023, his days are numbered in Cleveland.