Cleveland Browns Free Agency: Should they stay or should they go?
By Greg Newland
The Cleveland Browns have several key free agents this offseason, and also some potential free agents. Here’s a look at if the top free agents should stay or go.
The Cleveland Browns will have many difficult decisions as 2020 free agency quickly approaches in the NFL, so what will the new analytical regime decide? It remains to be seen. Looking at three of Cleveland’s top free agents (and potential free agent) – who’s in, and who’s out?
Joe Schobert
I’ll be the first to admit I have always been a Joe Schobert homer, and here are four numbers why: 16, 16, 13 and 16. Those are the number of games Schobert has appeared in each season from 2016-2019 for the Browns. That includes 100 percent of defensive snaps in 2017 and 99.4 percent of defensive snaps in 2019.
Schobert’s 133 tackles, two sacks, seven tackles for loss and four interceptions in 2019 would have likely earned him All-Pro honors if he was playing for a contender. And don’t even get me started on Schobert’s development of Mack Wilson.
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Loaded with raw talent, Wilson couldn’t even line up the first week he was thrown in as a starter after the season-ending injury to Christian Kirksey. By the end of the season Schobert and Wilson were about the only bright spots on a swiss cheese defense.
What will it take to keep Schobert in Cleveland, the one guy you never questioned effort from in possibly the most disappointing season in NFL history? I estimate $11-13 million per year will keep Schobert put. Why not give the 26-year-old a three-year deal, giving him the opportunity for one more “big” deal in his prime?
The Browns aren’t as rich in cap space as previous years, especially with Baker Mayfield and Myles Garrett deals being inevitable. However, the Browns must keep one of your top performers and leaders in brown and orange. Browns general manager Andrew Berry did confirm he will meet with Schobert’s representatives at the NFL Scouting Combine.