The Cleveland Browns perfect offseason checklist
3. Restructure the big money deals
The goal is to keep as many talented players on the Browns as possible. Some will argue that the cap in NFL is a myth, it is not. As fun as it is to make fun of the Steelers and their poor cap situation, their issues can happen to anybody. Browns fans can’t make fun of the Steelers and then pretend the cap doesn’t exist. This means the Browns are going to have some tough decisions to make on players already on their roster if they’re going to want to add more talented players in free agency.
Cleveland must get Sheldon Richardson and Jarvis Landry to restructure their contracts. Odell Beckham should be included in this group but that one is very unlikely that happens. Landry is a fan favorite and for good reason, he seems to always make the big catch and he is always available to play. Landry needs to be on the Browns in 2021, but the front office may not see his value at his current contract.
Sheldon Richardson has been a leader on and off the field for the Browns over the last few years. He has been a productive player and cutting him would leave more questions than answers on the defensive line. It would be very surprising to see Richardson play for the Browns in 2021 at his $13 million contract based on Spotrac.
Restructuring deals is easier said than done. Sometimes money can be pushed down the road or extensions can be made with more guaranteed money so the player is more willing to take a pay cut. The Browns will still be asking two very productive players to take less money in 2021.
Sometimes people forget these are some of the best athletes in the world and they have egos. If you agreed to a salary and your boss asked you to take less money one year because your production didn’t meet their payment requirements, you’d be pretty upset. You both agreed on that salary. But this is the business of the NFL and sometimes it can get messy.
Richardson is more likely to restructure purely because he only has one year left and wouldn’t be able to get what he’d be leaving from the Browns on the open market if they cut him. Giving him an extension with guaranteed money this year could be enticing enough for him to take it.
Jarvis Landry restructuring is another story, however. Landry critics will say he can’t separate and he has too many drops. Arguments can be made about Landry’s ability but you can’t argue about his availability. Odell Beckham hasn’t had a healthy season in years, so while he may have more upside, Landry knows he’s the dude in that receiving room.
If Landry and Beckham both play on their current deals in 2021, re-signing Rashard Higgins will be next to impossible. Bringing in more talented defensive starters will also be incredibly difficult. It will be difficult to get Landry to restructure but they have to try because it’s in the Browns’ best interest that Landry is apart of their title run.