Grading the Cleveland Browns first wave of free agency
By Greg Newland
Case Keenum, Quarterback: B
The last signing of day one was backup quarterback Case Keenum who Berry inked to a three-year $18 million with $10 million fully guaranteed deal. With Kevin Stefanski so familiar with Keenum after their fairy-tail 2017 season in Minnesota and the injury to Drew Stanton last year, this deal makes total sense. Keenum can be a tremendous teacher for Baker and hopefully bring him out of his year two funk.
There are a couple of things not to love about this signing. The first being the dollar amount. $6 million per year with $10 million guaranteed could have gone a long way helping to rebuild the defense. Keenum is an asset, but possibly not a necessity at backup, and it feels like the Browns may have overpaid.
Additionally, having a former starter who worked under Stefanski could make it too easy to throw Keenum on the field at the first signs of struggle from Mayfield. For this to work, Mayfield must stay on the field when healthy, Cleveland needs to know what they have.
Andy Janovich, Fullback: A+
Although he wasn’t a free agent, Andrew Berry also traded a seventh-round pick for Andy Janovich, a dominant fullback that fits the Stefanski scheme perfectly. Janovich is under contract through 2022 making $1.1-1.6 million the next three years, with no dead money after 2020.
It’s hard to believe a fullback is such an important signing in 2020 NFL, but it certainly is for a Stefanski offense. We all remember the goal line issues last year and punching it in near the goal lin. Janovich can be a guy to get you a yard when the defense knows what is coming. Don’t forget what happened the last time a fullback from the Denver Broncos came to Cleveland. A guy name Peyton Hillis.