The future of the Cleveland Browns arrived with a Post-it note, a relentless lobbying campaign, and a sun-soaked groundbreaking ceremony that has the organization buzzing with anticipation for both the immediate season and the grand opening of a new stadium in 2029. In a revealing and energetic episode of the Best Podcast Available, Browns safeties coach and pass game coordinator Ephraim Banda detailed the unconventional yet effective strategy he used to ensure the team landed his top target in the NFL Draft, safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren.
Banda admitted to leaving handwritten Post-it notes, complete with a heart, on the light switch of General Manager Andrew Berry’s office. The notes simply bore McNeil-Warren’s name, a daily reminder of the coach’s conviction. “You just got to find a way to reach the people that are busy,” Banda explained, noting that Berry would see the note every time he turned on his office lights. The tactic, borrowed from his wife’s playbook, was a love letter to a player Banda believed was a perfect fit for the Browns’ defense.
The campaign worked. After selecting wide receiver Denzel Boston with the 39th overall pick, the Browns traded up to secure McNeil-Warren at 58th overall. Banda described the anxious wait between picks, hearing rumbling in the hallway and praying the Toledo standout would not be taken. “I knew how much we valued him in this building,” Banda said. “It fell exactly how we kind of hoped it would.” The coach praised McNeil-Warren’s length, ball production, and elite ability to force fumbles, calling the nine career forced fumbles a hidden talent for a safety.
The conversation quickly pivoted to the broader, transformative moment for the franchise: the groundbreaking of the new Huntington Bank Field. Co-host Andrew Siciliano reflected on the magnitude of the event, which featured Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, and owner Jimmy Haslam. “In the moment, you’re just hoping your hotspots don’t go down,” Siciliano said, describing the technical challenges of broadcasting from a pile of dirt. “But then afterwards, you sit back and say, ‘Okay, yeah, I can’t wait for 2029.’”
Co-host Jason Gibbs echoed the sentiment, calling the new stadium a “palace” built by the same architects behind SoFi Stadium and AT&T Stadium. “You’re going to walk in there and go, ‘This is the best thing in the NFL,’” Gibbs declared. He acknowledged fan concerns about the location and the lack of a roof but insisted the experience would be transformative. “Change is hard,” he said. “But you’re going to love it.” Siciliano noted the poetic timing of the sun breaking through the clouds during the ceremony, saying, “Browns fans, we are staring directly into the sun, and I mean that in a positive way.”
Banda, who was part of the coaching staff during the groundbreaking week, also provided insight into the team’s voluntary mini camp held just before the draft. He praised the culture in the safety room, noting that players like Grant Delpit and Ronnie Hickman require little prodding. “It’s a special group of guys,” Banda said. “They understand how to work.” He highlighted the collaborative approach of new defensive coordinator Rudy, who Banda said took the time to learn the existing system before adding his own wrinkles. “Most coordinators don’t come in and do that,” Banda said. “He wanted to do what’s best for the players first.”
The conversation then turned to the upcoming rookie mini camp, which begins this week. Siciliano and Gibbs outlined the key storylines, including the debut of first-round pick Spencer Fono, the intriguing potential of sixth-round quarterback Taylen Green, and the under-the-radar battle at center. Fifth-round pick Parker Braillesford, Siciliano argued, could push veteran Elton Jenkins for the starting job. “There is a shot if this fifth-round pick plays well that he could be the starting center week number one,” Siciliano said, calling Braillesford the low-key story of the draft.
Gibbs emphasized the first-day-of-school feel of rookie mini camp, where players often wear name tags on their helmets. He recalled past examples of undrafted free agents like Gage Larvadin and Luke Florier using the weekend to earn a roster spot. “This is where you start to see maybe who the training camp darlings are,” Gibbs said. Siciliano added that there is always a bit of anxiety for front office executives, comparing it to ordering something on Amazon and seeing if it matches the description. “Teams generally know when they’ve got a guy,” Siciliano said. “Ronnie Hickman was one of those players.”
Banda, who has already scouted McNeil-Warren since his high school days at Lakewood, said the rookie’s versatility will be a major asset in a defense that increasingly uses three-safety looks. “When you have a human like that, your ability to play multiple coverages and disguise really helps Rudy call the defense,” Banda said. He noted that the league’s valuation of safeties is shifting as offenses deploy more 12 personnel packages. “The flexibility of having those guys is creating value again for the safety position,” Banda said.
The podcast also touched on the relentless nature of the NFL calendar. With rookie mini camp, OTAAs, mandatory veteran mini camp, and the schedule release all on the horizon, the offseason offers no respite. “The NFL has found a way to plant a flag in every month of the season,” Siciliano said. Gibbs agreed, noting that the groundbreaking ceremony was months in the making and required coordination across multiple departments. “Everybody had a hand in pulling off one of the best events of the year,” Gibbs said.
Siciliano closed the segment by reflecting on the legacy of the new stadium, comparing it to the opening of Jacobs Field in 1994. “Remember when you walked in there the first time and you went, ‘This is ours and this is the best,’” he said. “You’re going to walk into Huntington Bank Field in 2029 and go, ‘This is ours and this is the best.’” The hosts then shifted focus to the immediate future, with rookie mini camp serving as the first opportunity to see the new draft class in action.
Banda, when asked if he would deploy the Post-it note strategy again for future targets, laughed and said he has a few notes in mind but has not yet committed them to paper. “I got them written down on my iPad because I can still erase those pretty easily,” he joked. “But I better write one to my wife next.” The coach’s lighthearted approach belied the serious impact of his lobbying, which helped secure a player he believes will be a cornerstone of the defense for years to come.
As the Browns prepare for the next phase of their offseason, the energy is palpable. The groundbreaking has provided a tangible symbol of the franchise’s future, while the draft class offers hope for immediate improvement. For Banda, the combination of a new stadium and a new safety is a dream scenario. “I just saw a player that I felt would fit great in this attack-style defense,” he said. “And now we get to see it all come together.”
