If the Cleveland Browns want to remain competitive in 2022, they will have to make some difficult decisions on cutting veterans with high salaries.
For the first time in decades, the Cleveland Browns finally have a very talented roster. Unfortunately, that didn’t turn into as many wins as fans wanted in 2021, but nonetheless, the talent is there.
With talent, comes tough decisions. These aren’t the old days where general managers missed on draft picks and there was no one on the roster worth resigning. This isn’t a bad thing at all, just something that fans aren’t used to.
Andrew Berry will have a situation in the 2022 offseason where multiple starters are out of contract he will want to resign. He will have multiple starters in rookie deals who will be looking for extensions. And Cleveland will be a destination where free agents will be willing to come because of so much talent on the roster.
Just remember, there’s only so much money to go around. That means you are going to see Berry release good talent, not extend talent, and pass on talented free agents. To continue to be good in the NFL, you must keep the roster turning with young and veteran players.
A roster full of 22-year old kids won’t have any experience, but a locker room full of 30-year old veterans is far too expensive.
There is no need to stress this too much, Berry has proven he is more than capable of making tough decisions and has hardly made any mistakes to this point. Below are three players that could be cap casualties in 2022. Fans may not love it, but it will be the right decision.
Cleveland Browns Cap Casualty No. 3 – Kareem Hunt
This one may surprise folks a little bit, but I wouldn’t be shocked to see Kareem Hunt out of Cleveland after this season. This isn’t a move because he hasn’t been good or isn’t needed on the team. There are just more important positions that need to be upgraded at the moment, and Hunt is an easy one to let go of.
Easy may not be the right word but releasing him is justifiable. One, he has zero dead money on his contract for 2022 so a release would save the Browns over $6 million in cap space. Two, although a free agent after 2021, the Browns could likely re-sign D’Ernest Johnson back to the roster for a much cheaper price. Johnson may not be Hunt, but he did a heck of a job filling in this year when needed.
We also can’t forget that Hunt has been injured for seven games this season. I’m not saying it’s a trend, but it’s certainly something to be aware of. It’s hard to justify a backup running back making that much money if he isn’t available when you need him.
If the market for guys like David Njoku or Jadeveon Clowney get out of Cleveland’s league, Hunt could survive to live out the life of his contract. If Berry is able to keep one of those two guys around, Hunt could easily be disposed to create more cap.
Cleveland Browns Cap Casualty No. 2 – J.C. Tretter
I think the writing has been on the wall for over a year now that J.C. Tretter could be on the move after 2021. And the big extensions to Wyatt Teller and Joel Bitonio all but sealed that fate. Tretter has been a great player for the Browns and has been very durable.
I’m not sure he has practiced more than three times in the last five seasons (joking, sort of), but he has only missed one game that was because of COVID19.
The cap hit of $9.88 million isn’t outrageous for an above-average center, but with Nick Harris waiting to take over, look for Berry to clear up some cap by getting rid of Tretter.
Harris was the Browns fifth-round pick in 2020, and he has looked very good in his limited playing time early in his career. He has played a few games at guard and made his first start at center on Christmas Day where he held up very well.
Any game where you don’t mention an offensive lineman by name, it’s a good game.
I’m not going to argue that Tretter isn’t better than Harris, but the cost will be about $9 million less next year, and this is a scenario where it’s better to cut ties with a veteran a year early vs. a year too late. If Harris plays well next season, the Browns will likely look to extend him past his current deal of 2023.
Cleveland Browns Cap Casualty No. 1 – Jarvis Landry
I know there are a ton of people who will be disappointed to see Jarvis Landry no longer a part of the Cleveland Browns organization, but I don’t see how the relationship continues after this season.
Not only have the Browns wide receivers been extremely disappointing, but Landry will also have a cap hit of $16.6 million in 2022, making him one of the top-12 highest-paid receivers in the league next season.
He has been important to the rebuild in Cleveland, and I’ll even give him credit for helping to change the culture from losing to winning, but the guy has just over 450 receiving yards and one touchdown on the season. You just can’t justify that much money for one player that isn’t producing.
With the Odell Beckham era being a complete bust, look for Berry to completely wipe out the wide receiver room. Donovan Peoples-Jones and Anthony Schwartz will likely be the only two left standing as there is a complete rebuild in 2022.
Think of it this way, the cost of keeping Clowney will likely be $16-18 million. Would you rather keep Landry or Clowney?
If you answer anything other than Clowney, you have not been watching this team in 2021.