Kevin Stefanski happy with direction of offense after free agency

Stefanski is pleased with the offseason additions so far.

Speaking for the first time since NFL free agency began,  head coach Kevin Stefanski had good things to say about the direction of the offense for the Cleveland Browns. Talking about the veteran additions of Marquise Goodwin and Jordan Akins it was clear that Stefanski was happy to have those two weapons added to his arsenal. Not to mention the trade for wide receiver Elijah Moore.

But the most important part of his media availability was his talking about confidence in Deshaun Watson. Stefanski spoke about giving Watson the freedom to change plays at the line of scrimmage and it sounded like a head coach that is in step with his franchise quarterback. Let’s take a look at some of the highlights from Stefanski on Monday.

Podcast: The wide receiver debate and Browns free agency recap show

How does free agency so far grade out?

It has been about a week since NFL free agency kicked off and the Cleveland Browns have been hard at work trying to fill roster holes. In this episode, we discuss the great wide receiver debate and how good we think the group on the roster is.

We recap the Juan Thornhill signing and what it means for the team as well as Jordan Akins and the special teams help the team has got for Bubba Ventrone. You can listen to the episode here for the audio version or watch it here for the video version of the show, hope you enjoy this episode!

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Browns sign former Texans tight end Jordan Akins

The Cleveland Browns have signed former Houston Texans tight end Jordan Akins, who helped beat the Indianapolis Colts in Week 18.

The Cleveland Browns have signed the tight end who was responsible for the Houston Texans losing the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft.

The Browns signed Jordan Akins to a two-year contract worth $5.2 million on Friday.

Akins caught a desperation fourth-and-20 pass from quarterback Davis Mills to score a 28-yard touchdown to pull the Texans within one point with 50 seconds to go in Week 18 at Lucas Oil Stadium. Houston beat the Indianapolis Colts when Akins also caught the ensuing two-point conversion to push the Texans ahead 32-31. As a result of the win, and the Chicago Bears losing to the Minnesota Vikings, the Texans weren’t able to secure the top pick in this year’s draft.

The former 2018 third-rounder from Central Florida had a career year with 37 catches for 495 yards and five touchdowns through 15 games, three of which he started. Akins’ efforts made him the first Houston tight end since C.J. Fiedorowicz in 2016 to log 425 receiving yards and three touchdowns in a season.

Then-tight ends coach Ben Berbenich praised Akins on Dec. 29, 2022, for his ability to take over the tight end role despite returning to the team at the end of preseason when Houston was making its roster moves to finalize its 53 and practice squad.

“Jordan has been great since we got him in the building late in training camp. He’s done everything we’ve asked him. He’s given us a spark. When he has the ball in his hands, Jordan can be a special player.”

Akins did not play the first two games of the season, and was eventually signed to the active roster on Oct. 12.

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Browns make another quality move signing TE Jordan Akins to 2-year deal

The good week of free agency continues as the Browns reunite Deshaun Watson with former Texans TE Jordan Akins.

As the first week of NFL free agency continues into the weekend the Cleveland Browns continue to make quality moves.

Looking to upgrade the depth behind David Njoku after a bad season from Harrison Bryant, the team has signed former Houston Texan tight end Jordan Akins. Akins agreed to a two-year contract worth a maximum of $5.2 million.

This will reunite Akins with his former quarterback Deshaun Watson after the pair played together for three seasons in Houston. Akins is coming off his best season as a pro with 37 catches for 495 yards and five touchdowns earning a 72.4 overall grade from Pro Football Focus.

Akins is a big target in the red zone at 6-foot-4 and 243 pounds with reliable hands only having one dropped pass in 49 targets for a terrible Texans team last season.

The team continues to address needs without handing out massive deals taking up loads of space, the really nice week of free agency continues as the Browns look to be contenders in 2023.

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Former Deshaun Watson target and tight end Jordan Akins visiting the Browns

A former target of Watson is visiting the Browns

As NFL free agency continues into the weekend former Houston Texans tight end Jordan Akins is visiting the Cleveland Browns. Akins played with quarterback Deshaun Watson in Houston and provides a reliable red-zone target option. Reports already indicate that the Browns are looking to upgrade the tight end depth and this would be just that.

Last season for Houston Akins had 37 catches for 495 yards and five touchdowns with a 72.4 overall grade from PFF. For comparison, last season Harrison Bryant had a 59.3 overall grade and struggled to get open consistently. Adding someone with familiarity with Watson should help the offense overall as well.

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4 free-agent TEs the Panthers should consider signing

As far as finding a TE this offseason, the draft is where it’s really at. But if the Panthers decide to dip into the open market, here are four free agents who are worth a look.

Over the last three seasons, all Carolina Panthers tight ends have combined for 1,073 receiving yards and six touchdowns. Yes, all tight ends over three seasons.

By comparison, Travis Kelce—by his lonesome in 2022—recorded 1,338 yards and 12 scores. So, uh, yeah . . . the Panthers need some help.

And honestly, they shouldn’t really be looking for tight end help through free agency, especially with the upcoming draft being so rich at the position. But if they are gauging the open market, here are four players they should consider.

Which pending free agents could make the Browns offense more potent?

Who should the Browns target in free agency?

The Cleveland Browns experienced highs and there were lows when talking about the 2022 season. Early on in the season, they exceeded expectations but as the season went on and Deshaun Watson returned to the field, they left something to be desired on the field. If they want to improve and be one of the league’s best they have to find a way to get more explosive. While there are certain changes to be made defensively in free agency, the offense is not perfect either.

All season long the team struggled to be able to overcome negative plays and penalties on drives. If they were behind schedule and had a third and long there wasn’t a good chance they could convert. Here is a look at some pending free agents that could make the offense more consistent in 2023.

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Texans QB Davis Mills admits game-winning TD pass to TE Jordan Akins was ‘lucky’

Houston Texans quarterback Davis Mills says his game-winning touchdown pass to tight end Jordan Akins had an element of being “lucky” in Week 18.

The Houston Texans were in a familiar place down by a touchdown and facing a fourth-and-20 from the Indianapolis Colts’ 28-yard line.

The Texans trailed 31-24 to the Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. Houston had lost six games by one score. How was Week 18 going to be any different?

“We’re motioning to empty and everyone is basically running down the field and getting in the end zone,” quarterback Davis Mills said. “I’ve got to buy enough time to find somebody who’s open. I felt like everybody was pretty much covered.”

Mills threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jordan Akins, his second scoring grab of the game. The touchdown pulled Houston within one of the Colts, 31-30, with 58 seconds left in the game.

“They did a good job defending it, dropping a lot of guys deep, and kind of just threw one up to Jordan, and he ended up making a play,” said Mills. “It was awesome.”

Mills, who went 22-of-38 for 298 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions, knew that the end zone was going to be crowded on what was presumably the Texans’ last offensive play of the game.

“I think they covered him, there might have been two or three guys around him, but I thought he was my best guy to go up and make a play right there and trusted him to do that, and he scored,” Mills said. “It was awesome.”

Mills admitted that the last play had an element of fortune to it along with some skill.

“Sometimes it boils down to that,” Mills said. “You’ve got to get lucky.”

The desperation touchdown was followed up by a two-point conversion from the Texans. Mills found Akins, and the Texans ended up winning the game 32-31, and giving the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft to the Chicago Bears.

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A miraculous Texans TD on 4th and 20 gave the Bears the No. 1 overall pick, and NFL fans couldn’t believe it

An unbelievable play that meant EVERYTHING to Justin Fields and Chicago.

The last matchup of the 2022 season between the Houston Texans and the Indianapolis Colts had a lot riding it on for the futures of all three teams.

With a Colts loss, the Chicago Bears — who already have the brilliant Justin Fields — would secure the No. 1 overall pick, Houston would settle in at No. 2, and Indianapolis would guarantee a position in the top five. And for a while, thanks to Sam Ehlinger, it looked like this reality would come to pass.

But with just 50 seconds remaining, the Texans trailed the Colts 31-24 and faced a seemingly impossible 4th and 20. The Bears’ dream of sitting atop the NFL Draft pecking order looked washed away. That is until Davis Mills launched a desperate Hail Mary into the end zone … that Jordan Akins came down with.

Uh … WHAT??

Of course, the Texans still had to either tie the game with an extra point or see Lovie Smith elect for the win instead. Smith and Co. decided to leave it all on the field with a dynamite two-point conversion:

My goodness. What a barn-burning thriller of a finale for a matchup between two teams with a combined seven wins. And with the Bears now officially holding the No. 1 overall pick with Justin Fields already in tow, what a potentially very significant outcome for part of the NFL’s future.

WATCH: Texans QB Davis Mills throws TD pass to TE Jordan Akins against the Colts

Houston Texans QB Davis Mills threw a touchdown pass to TE Jordan Akins in the third quarter in Week 18 against the Indianapolis Colts.

Davis Mills may be replaced as starting quarterback in 2023, but he continues to show his development and growth as an NFL quarterback.

The Houston Texans’ starter threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jordan Akins on third-and-8 with 3:57 to go in the third quarter against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium in Week 18.

The touchdown catch was Akins’ fourth of the season, continuing to extend his single-season high. The former 2018 third-rounder had two catches for 34 yards and a score after that play.

Akins had 33 catches for 425 yards and three touchdowns through 14 games, three of which he started, coming into Week 18.