The latest news about the Cleveland Browns and the NFL in today’s edition of the Sunday Dawg Chow.

Dawgs By Nature:

• Browns Joel Bitonio speaks on Myles Garrett trade request, mulling retirement (Jared Mueller) – Cleveland Browns left guard Joel Bitinio is still weighing his options heading into the final year of his contract.
• Should the Browns ‘make the call’ about Matthew Stafford (Thomas Moore) – The Los Angeles Rams are reportedly giving veteran QB Matthew Stafford’s agent permission to talk to other teams. Will Cleveland GM Andrew Berry get in on the conversation?
• If Joel Bitonio retires, impact on Browns salary cap is probably not what you think (Jared Mueller) – The Cleveland Browns salary cap is a wild ride of accounting but Joel Bitonio retiring would not help it.
• Browns land just one player on PFF Top 101 list (Thomas Moore) – Was it the losing season? Or a sign that the Cleveland Browns roster may not be as talented as previously believed?
• NFL draft rumors: When teams and media seem to be working together (Jared Mueller) – We are just days away from the kickoff of the NFL combine and the real start of the NFL offseason. Despite that, NFL rumors have been flying since before last season even ended. As always, including with the Cleveland Browns, what is true or not about the rumors ends up not mattering when NFL free agency, the NFL draft and trades end up going down.
• Report of new Browns alternate helmet leads to some interesting fan-created options (Jared Mueller) – In the last few seasons, the Cleveland Browns have been able to toe the line between new and respecting tradition when it comes to the team’s helmets. But it seems the organization could be back with something new in 2025.

Cleveland Browns:

• What about Browns attaching Deshaun Watson to a Myles Garrett deal? (Terry Pluto) – I’ve been getting emails about the Browns attaching Deshaun Watson to any deal involving Myles Garrett. Let’s assume they do decide to deal the elite pass rusher. I’m not going to get deeply into all the details involved. Among other things, Watson would have to approve a trade. He has a no-trade clause.
• Browns G Joel Bitonio not ready to reveal retirement decision, and how Myles Garrett’s trade request impacts it (cleveland.com) – Cleveland Browns left guard Joel Bitonio has pretty much made up his mind on whether or not to retire, but he’s not ready to share it. Furthermore, he said Myles Garrett’s trade request hasn’t played a role in his decision.
• A long, long time ago, the Browns were something special (Browns Zone) – In case you were wondering, the NFL combine starts Monday in Indianapolis. That is always an exciting time of the year for football fans, who, through the magic of television, can watch the scouts from their favorite teams watching former college players as those players go through a series of sprints and drills and other types of football-ish activities while hoping they do not get drafted by the Cleveland Browns.
• Myles Garrett to the Lions? Aidan Hutchinson and Browns DE have talked about a team up (Beacon Journal) – Teams are salivating over the prospect of Myles Garrett being traded from the Cleveland Browns and so are individual players apparently. The latest: the Detroit Lions’ defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, according to a Pro Football Talk report. Hutchinson spoke to Garrett during the week prior to the Super Bowl, Hutchinson told “The Squeeze” podcast.

NFL:

• PFF 101: The top 101 players from the 2024 NFL season (Pro Football Focus) – The PFF 101 highlights the top individual performances in 2024, regardless of position, and credits the best players of the season that was.
• Can Chiefs solve left tackle, wide receiver needs in 2025 draft? (ESPN) – Following a season in which the Chiefs went through four left tackles and allowed Patrick Mahomes to be sacked six times in their Super Bowl LIX loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, there’s little doubt about where the team’s priorities lie as it prepares for this year’s scouting combine.
• Giants pass rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux ahead of crucial offseason: ‘I know the ceiling is a lot higher’ (NFL.com) – The New York Giants win total has dipped in increments of three since Kayvon Thibodeaux’s rookie year, when the surprise Giants reached the playoffs at 9-7-1. The freefall sets up a critical period for team brass to turn things around and the pass rusher to get back on track.