5 trade or releases Cleveland Browns could make this offseason

The Cleveland Browns will likely be very active this offseason and several players may be released or traded

The official start to the new NFL season starts is in a couple of weeks when the free agency window opens, and players can negotiate new deals with teams. The Cleveland Browns have several free agents that will be in the mix and looking at either returning to the team or signing elsewhere.

Those Browns free agents include defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, wide receiver Rashard Higgins, and linebacker Anthony Walker among many more. The Browns have around $37 million in cap room to sign potential free agents.

That looks like it increased a bit over the weekend as it was reported by numerous sports outlets including ESPN’s Field Yates, who said the Browns offensive lineman Jack Conklin, renegotiated his deal with the team, where he’s now guaranteed $8 next season. The original deal had him making $12 in non-guaranteed money next season, so that should help the team with extra funds for new players the Browns bring in.

There are several other current Cleveland players that, either through a trade or a release, could help the team out financially. Let’s first take a look at a few players that could very well be released and then we’ll tackle a couple of trades that would certainly draw a lot of attention around the league.

Cleveland Browns player No. 1 to be released: Case Keenum

Case Keenum has played the role of backup quarterback well these last two seasons. He’s someone that Browns coach Kevin Stefanski was familiar with when they both moved over from the Minnesota Vikings team two seasons ago. He’s filled in a time or two as the starter and played well.

This past season he stepped on the Thursday Night game against the Denver Broncos when starting quarterback Baker Mayfield had been sidelined with a shoulder injury. The Browns won that game as Keenum did just enough to manage the game and lead them to a victory.

However, as a backup quarterback, his contract is very expensive. He’s due over $7 million if he makes the roster this season. If he were to be released the team would save those millions and they’d only lose out on $1.3 million in dead cap money.

Several other quarterbacks could fit the bill for the Browns from free agency including Mitch Trubisky and Marcus Mariota, who wouldn’t nearly be as pricey to bring to Cleveland in the backup role.