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.
Cleveland Browns player No. 2 to be released: Austin Hooper
There’s been a lot of chatter about the tight-end position on the Browns. David Njoku is a free agent and will likely be looking around the league for a great deal and he will certainly draw a lot of attention. My DPD colleague, Jacob Roach wrote recently about keeping him here with a re-sign.
If Njoku were to re-sign then there might not be a need for a player like fellow tight end Austin Hooper, who isn’t yet a free agent but would be very expensive to try and keep and make this team better than a year ago.
If Cleveland were to release Hooper after June 1st this summer, they would save $9.5 million in cap space and only have to absorb $3.75 in dead cap money. That seems like an excellent idea considering none of the tight ends ran away with things offensively and Kevin Stefanski’s offense loves the tight end position.
The Browns could invest more time in this year’s NFL Draft in April trying to find a new tight end to play alongside Njoku and Harrison Bryant and not have to overpay as a team is now with Hooper in the current lineup.
Cleveland Browns player No. 3 to be released: Jarvis Landry
The biggest divide amongst Browns fans circles around Jarvis Landry, who, if released would save the team over $14.8 million in cap space and the team would only be out $1.5 million in dead cap money.
Those that love Landry will say that he’s been the difference maker and the culture changer for this team that didn’t know how to win before Landry’s leadership arrived in town in 2018, after years of struggles as an organization and having dismal seasons. Both my DPD colleagues, Eddie McDonald and Joel Cade shared their views on this culture change in recent articles they wrote about Landry that would be valuable to read at this moment, so check them out.
The team needs to find places to cut ties and can find players that want to play for the team. Landry has tried over his four seasons to give it all he’s got on the field. However, he’s had subpar seasons with the team since his days with the Miami Dolphins and now that his friend and former teammate Odell Beckham Jr. stormed out of Cleveland to play for the Los Angeles Rams, Landry’s heart just doesn’t seem to be in it anymore.
Cleveland has not established a winning culture thanks to Landry, though he’s certainly tried and at this point, it would make the most sense to release him and give both player and organization a fresh reboot.
Cleveland Browns player to be traded No.1: Kareem Hunt
Several teams around the league could use a good running back including the Miami Dolphins and Houston Texans. The Browns, according to Spotrac, will owe Hunt. $1.35 million and if he were to make the team, he’d be due $1.5 million for making the final roster. The other way that Hunt is scheduled to earn his Cleveland salary is by staying active during the season.
If he were to play in all the games and paid the $200,000 per game, he’d be due $3.4 million. So, there is definitely an incentive for Hunt to stay healthy.
The Browns other running back D’Ernest Johnson had a solid season as the backup to Hunt and Nick Chubb. He’s a restricted free agent and would likely be less expensive to bring back to the team if the Browns released or traded Hunt.
It’s been a luxury to have all three running backs on this roster. If the Browns were to trade Hunt with his value to the team very high at the moment, they could gather draft picks for April and for the years ahead or maybe there would be a team that would be willing to swamp one of their wide receivers for Hunt.
The Browns need help in that department. Would a player like Jalen Reagor, from the Philadelphia Eagles, who was a No. 1 draft pick in 2020 from TCU be a wide receiver that the Eagles would be willing to send to the Browns for Hunt? Reagor has struggled to get off the ground in Philly and maybe a change of scenery would be good for the young Eagle.
A trade of Hunt might be a very popular move but could help the Browns out moving forward.
Cleveland Browns player No. 2 to be traded: Baker Mayfield
Where are the Browns with Baker Mayfield these days? Will they keep him around on the last year of his rookie contract or are they considering other possibilities including trading him this offseason? It seems to be the biggest question mark for Cleveland this offseason and doesn’t show any signs of going away.
With the free agency window opening up soon in the league and the NFL draft just a couple of months away, many things could happen with the Mayfield. The organization says they support the quarterback. But after four seasons of ups and downs and the team and Mayfield not reaching a new contract deal yet, as Mayfield enters his fifth season, helps create these ongoing concerns.
Some teams may consider trading for Mayfield including a team like the Houston Texans, who have a new coaching staff coming in this next season. It might be considered a stretch by some, but the Browns need wide receivers next season, especially if the team were to release a wide receiver like Jarvis Landry.
The Texans best receiver is Brandin Cooks. He had a great season statistically for the Texans where he caught 90 passes for 1037 yards and six touchdowns.
However, the Texans had a terrible season last year and Cooks is on the last year of his current contract before he becomes a free agent in 2023. According to Spotrac, if the Texans wide receiver were traded after June 1, they’d save $13.7 million in cap space and only absorb $2.5 million in dead cap money.
Swapping the Browns quarterback and the Texans receiver would be an opportunity for both to start something new and give both teams a boost.
There are several other teams like the Washington Commanders or New Orleans Saints that are looking for a veteran quarterback and new beginnings for their franchises as well.
If the Browns, were to trade Mayfield to another team and couldn’t get a veteran quarterback back in return, like a Kirk Cousins, from the Minnesota Vikings, the team could also look to picking up a veteran free agent quarterback like Mitch Trubisky, of the Buffalo Bills, who was the regular starter for the Chicago Bears before going to the Bills last season in a backup role.
The decision on Mayfield and moving forward will be the biggest move by the Browns and it needs to be evaluated thoroughly. Mayfield could bounce back from a season where he was injured for much of it, or he could continue to struggle. Stay tuned Browns fans. The offseason is just starting to warm up.