CLEVELAND, Ohio — With the Browns coming out of their Week 10 bye at 2-7 with eight more games to play, maybe the biggest goal for the team should be answering questions about the future.

With the trade deadline last week, Cleveland made only one deal: sending edge rusher Za’Darius Smith to the Lions.

But there are other pieces on this roster that the Browns have to decide the future of in the coming weeks and months, and the next eight games will help them do that.

We all know the player with the biggest question mark is Deshaun Watson. Will he have a future with the Browns in any capacity as he works his way back from a season-ending Achilles injury? GM Andrew Berry seemingly left the door open for that in his bye week presser on Wednesday.

But who are the other players with the biggest question marks about their futures? What will be important for them over these final eight weeks?

Jedrick Wills Jr. and Dawand Jones

These two go in tandem, because the question here is Cleveland’s future at left tackle.

For now, Jones has topped Wills for the starting job.

Both players have struggled at different points returning from MCL tears in 2023, and Wills aggravating his knee is what had the Browns starting Jones on the left side against the Ravens in Week 8. Even though Wills was healthy and active on Week 9, Jones still started over there against the Chargers.

Wills, this regime’s very first first-round draft pick in 2020, selected 10th overall, is now in the final year of his rookie contract — the fifth-year club option year at $14.175 million.

The Browns could extend Wills or franchise him after the season. They can also explore using him at another spot, like on the interior at guard if they don’t think his future is at left tackle.

If Jones excels over these final eight weeks and hangs onto the starting job, he could potentially secure it for the future as well.

Dorian Thompson-Robinson

Will we see Dorian Thompson-Robinson at any point over these final eight weeks?

Berry essentially gave a non-answer this week, leaving it up to head coach Kevin Stefanski.

“That’ll always lie with Kevin and the offensive staff, in terms of who to play,” Berry said. “In general, I would say we’re going to play the guys that we think give us the best chance to perform well on Sundays and beat the upcoming opponent.”

But the Browns’ questions in their QB room go beyond Watson’s future. Do they foresee a future long-term here for Thompson-Robinson, their fifth-round selection in 2023, as a backup? Do they think he could legitimately compete for the starting job?

They also have Bailey Zappe on the roster after picking him up off the Chiefs practice squad, but it remains to be seen if he’ll get a chance.

My take? The Browns would be wise to try out both guys in starts later in the season. They need to figure out just how much rebuilding will need to occur in their QB room this offseason.

Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah

What is not in question is the fact that Owusu-Koramoah is one of the best players on the Browns’ defense.

What remains to be seen is if we will see him play again this season, after he sustained a scary neck injury in Week 8 against Baltimore, in the midst of his Pro Bowl-caliber season.

The linebacker was placed on injured reserve on Nov.2, and after missing Week 9 against the Chargers, he will have to miss at least the next three games too.

But will we see him at all again in 2024? Neck injuries in general can be incredibly unpredictable, and worst-case scenario, even career threatening.

At the time of his injury, Owusu-Koramoah led the Browns with 60 tackles and was tied for second in the NFL with 10 tackles for loss. He’s also got the Browns lone interception of the season.

Cedric Tillman

With Amari Cooper gone, Tillman has gotten more opportunities and has come away with the best three individual performances of his career.

He’s gotten three touchdowns in that span, the first of his career (all three game over the last two games). He’s had 81 yards, 99 yards and 75 yards in those games, and total has caught 21 of 32 targets.

But Tillman is also getting more attention from opposing defenses now, something he talked about after the Chargers loss.

“They kind of did some stuff to me that I figured was going to come eventually,” he said. “They were kind of playing inside of me a lot hard. … I’m not going to sugarcoat. I think everybody knows I’ve been catching a lot of slants, in breakers. So simple.”

Can Tillman handle more attention and responsibility? Can he rise to the heights of No. 1 receiver? The next eight weeks could play a big role in determining his ceiling.