5 Cleveland Browns needing a new contract
By Randy Gurzi
There are several players on the Cleveland Browns who need a new contract to ensure they stay in town. Here are the five most deserving players heading into 2019.
One thing that’s true about the Cleveland Browns now as opposed to just a couple of seasons ago is that the talent on the roster is vastly improved. That’s a great thing, but it also leads to the team needing to shell out a lot of cash in order to keep their key players around.
Heading into 2019, the Browns currently have 24 players scheduled for free agency in 2020. Some are players fighting for roster spots such as tight end Pharaoh Brown, wide receiver Jaelen Strong, or kicker Greg Joseph. Others are players who are expected to be key members of the team this coming season — and hopefully many more.
With all that being said, we dive into the top five players who deserve contract extensions from the Browns. Of course, narrowing it down wasn’t easy, so we begin with a couple of honorable mentions.
Honorable Mention: Jermaine Whitehead, Safety
He has just four tackles in his career with the Browns, so why should Jermaine Whitehead be considered a player to extend? Because he’s been turning heads all camp and has been called a defensive leader by coordinator Steve Wilks.
Whitehead joined the Browns midway through the 2018 season and played in the final seven games, mostly on special teams. He had stints with both the Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers but hasn’t been a regular player to this point. That could change in 2019 and if Cleveland knows he’s in the plans for several years, it would be wise to lock him up before his price tag increases.
Honorable Mention: Greg Robinson, Left Tackle
Last season, former head coach Hue Jackson tried to use Desmond Harrison as the starting left tackle. That didn’t work out and when Jackson was sent packing, the Browns moved Greg Robinson into his position.
A former No. 2 overall pick, Robinson played well for the Browns and landed a one-year deal allowing him to prove he deserves a multi-year contract. It’s tempting to say he already deserves it based on his play in 2018, but he just gets an ‘honorable mention’ here as it would be nice to see him repeat his success. Should he do that, pay the man.