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3 players the Cleveland Browns should consider moving on from in 2020

By Dan Justik

CLEVELAND, OHIO - AUGUST 08: Outside linebacker Christian Kirksey #58 of the Cleveland Browns during the first half of a preseason game against the Washington Redskins at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 08, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OHIO - AUGUST 08: Outside linebacker Christian Kirksey #58 of the Cleveland Browns during the first half of a preseason game against the Washington Redskins at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 08, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – OCTOBER 27: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots looks to pass during the third quarter of the game against the Cleveland Browns at Gillette Stadium on October 27, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – OCTOBER 27: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots looks to pass during the third quarter of the game against the Cleveland Browns at Gillette Stadium on October 27, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images) /

Defensive end Olivier Vernon

Olivier Vernon is a contested figure in Cleveland for a multitude reasons. Not only was he in a controversial trade last offseason that may have hindered the Browns, but his impact on the stat sheet may not have reflected his actual performance on the field.

The Browns acquired Vernon last offseason in a deal with the New York Giants. In order to acquire Vernon, the Browns traded right guard Kevin Zeitler, who was one of the best offensive guards in football in 2018.

Vernon did not have the type of impact that the team hoped for. Vernon started 10 games, missing six due to a knee injury, and made 26 total tackles, four tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and 11 quarterback hits.

Although Vernon did not fill up the stat sheet, he was consistently making the fundamentally right play and helped the entire unit make the necessary play. His play dwindled at the end of the season, as he struggled with the knee injury.

Vernon will have the highest cap hit on the Browns roster in 2020 at $15.5 million. Because the Browns acquired Vernon in a trade, his contract no longer carries dead cap for the Browns, so Cleveland would save $15.5 million by cutting or trading Vernon.

It is the final year of Vernon’s contract and they may feel there is not an upgrade they can acquire or they do not need the additional cap space in 2020. But Vernon’s injury history and his performance not matching his contract makes him a candidate to not be on the Browns roster in 2020.

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