Cleveland Browns: How to manage future contracts
By Clay Goodwin
Third priority: Larry Ogunjobi
Larry Ogunjobi is a rising star for the Cleveland Browns at defensive tackle. He was drafted in the third round out of Charlotte in the 2017 draft. His contract expires in 2021, so this is his last season under contract. The Browns should definitely prioritize signing the young player.
Ogunjobi will not likely require a huge payday. He is not an elite player asking for a ton of money. That’s perfect for Cleveland as he is a great contributor in the front of the defense. He has been getting progressively better and stronger during his young career.
He has had 5.5 sacks in both of the last two seasons. That is a fairly productive number from a defensive tackle, as he is also good at stopping the run. The Browns should be able to get Ogunjobi to sign for a price that is above average but below great players. It would be hard to find the production Ogunjobi brings in the draft unless it is a first or second-round selection, and in free agency, Cleveland would likely have to spend more money.
With the new front office focused on analytics, it would be wise to keep him under contract. He can be a productive Brown for a long time.