After pulling the plug on Joe Flacco and Greg Newsome II, Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski thought that the team would start addressing its offensive struggles. Trading a quarterback and a cornerback seemed to be a move that could make the Browns’ offense relevant in the league. However, Stefanski’s ambitions to alter the offense seem far from fulfilled. Now, after two unsuccessful starts with rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel, he is considering waiving another veteran.

According to CBS Sports, the Browns may trade veteran guard Joel Bitoni this summer. Bitoni’s trade news has come shockingly to many. Flacco, who could not put numbers on the board despite consecutive opportunities, ended up being traded to the Cincinnati Bengals. Before stepping into the Bengals camp, Flacco racked up just 1034 yards in his 5 appearances for the Browns, with just 122 of 205 passes. He also could not use his running game, as he was sacked 10 times and intercepted 6 times.

Meanwhile, in his last year of his contract with the Browns, Bitonio not only fortified his quarterbacks well but also recorded a solo tackle. With an impressive resume of a potential Hall of Fame, Bitoni has 161 career starts, 6 short of Hall of Fame Joe Thomas for most by any Brown (post 1999). He is also the longest tenured Brown by 4 seasons. But Stefanski feels that the offense isn’t showing much promise in protecting its QB.

“We have to find ways to be explosive on offense, and that can come via the run or the pass. And, you know, explosive passes can happen in a variety of different ways, but it really comes down to our ability as an offense to, put those guys in position, protect the quarterback, and then when those opportunities come, we got to let it rip. But I think that can come in a variety of ways,” Kevin Stefanski said.

Will it make sense for Kevin Stefanski to take Bitonio off?

The Browns already have a shaken-up center with Gabriel rolling in as the starter and not showing much promise. And with fellow rookie Shedeur Sanders now as the backup QB, it’s clear that Cleveland is going all in for its youth development. But even with a first-year quarterback taking charge for the rest of the season, removing Bitonio doesn’t seem to be making sense. The Browns need stability up front, and Bitonio gives them exactly that.

Sure, Cleveland has been stockpiling draft picks. They already have two first-rounders in 2026 (their own and one from Jacksonville). This adds more mid-round capital through deals involving Kenny Pickett and Joe Flacco. Trading away a cornerstone of the offensive line, the Browns are likely to lose their veteran protections against the already struggling QB.

If Gabriel and his playmakers start finding their rhythm, the Browns might finally see more points. But Stefanski isn’t pointing fingers at his starter alone. “The quarterback position gets a lot of scrutiny, and we understand that. But we, collective we, have to be better. There are things that we’re doing that are good, things that we have to build off of, and there are things that we have to get better at, but it’s never going to be about one person,” Stefanski said.

With such takes, Stefanski points out the need for everyone to step up, but does that mean he is making Bitoni the “fall guy”? Well, even if Bitoni departs, other franchises are open as potential buyers for his talent. The Detroit Lions can use his elite guard talent if anyone from their offensive line sustains an injury within the next two games.