Cleveland Browns have reported interest in John Johnson, Trey Hendrickson

Cleveland Browns showing interest in two top free agents

The Cleveland Browns have yet to make a free agency move at this point, but the team is exploring its options, and is reportedly interested in two premier players, those being pass-rusher Trey Hendrickson and defensive back John Johnson III.

A 2017 third-round pick, Hendrickson broke out in 2020 with 13.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss. The New Orleans Saints are getting close to getting under the salary cap, but it’s come at the cost of losing nearly half their starters, and Hendrickson is just one casualty. At 26 years old, he’s an ascending player coming off his best season, but it is always somewhat concerning when players go from minimal production to elite level in their contract years.

Perhaps that will not be an issue with Hendrickson, and he will keep up that level of play with his new team. What could be an issue is his fit on the line; he played almost exclusively on the right side, which is where Myles Garrett is most effective. Maybe Hendrickson could switch sides and play just as well, but there is no guarantee of that, and that makes handing him a lot of money quite risky.

It’s what made Romeo Okwara such an attractive option, especially at his projected price point. Okwara re-signed with the Detroit Lions for $39 million over three years, which is significantly more than he was expected to get. This means that Hendrickson’s market could be even more competitive, which would theoretically drive up his price.

Johnson was also a third-round selection in 2017 and has blossomed into one of the NFL’s very best defensive backs. Whether it’s free safety, strong safety, or slot corner, he’s been fantastic, and he served as the Los Angeles Rams’ defensive signal-caller, a role he could very well reprise in Cleveland if he were to join the team. He could easily make in the $14 million per year range, which would be pricey for a safety, but Johnson would likely be worth that cost, especially in the Joe Woods defense that features three or more safeties on the majority of snaps.

He’s adept against both the run and the pass, and is only 26 years old with three excellent seasons under his belt. He’s the kind of young and productive player that teams should feel comfortable paying. Would he be an instant fix for a weak Cleveland defense? Certainly not, but he’d make a huge impact, and would give Woods a plethora of options to mix and match looks, something vital to his cover-3 scheme.

Both Hendrickson and Johnson would provide a huge boost to the Browns defense. Whether the team is willing to pay top dollar this offseason is a question that we may get an answer to very soon.