3 takeaways from the Cleveland Browns adding Amari Cooper
By Greg Newland
Cooper trade takeaway No. 3 for Cleveland Browns – Cap Space is needed
With the Cleveland Browns taking on the $20 million contract of Amari Cooper, the team is now only left with just over $3 million to spend in the 2022 offseason. With major holes at defensive line still existing, and a rookie class to sign, there is no way Berry can get this done.
Not to worry, the Browns have plenty of cap casualty candidates that can instantly open some money. These guys have been contributors to the organization, but likely won’t be worth the major cap hits moving forward.
Jarvis Landry and J.C. Tretter are likely the two easiest to consider. Landry would open up $14 million, and Tretter another $8.2 that could be extremely valuable especially to keep a guy like Jadeveon Clowney for another season.
Some believe Landry may restructure (which would actually have to be a new contract altogether), I honestly don’t see it, I think he is good as gone. Tretter likely has another year or two in him, but with Nick Harris ready to take over, there’s no need to carry the contract for another season.
Other easy targets may be Austin Hooper and Kareem Hunt. Hooper has been a disappointment from the beginning, he will save the Browns $19 million over the next two years (post-June 1), but he will still cost them over $10 million in dead money.
No one wants to see Hunt go, but let’s be realistic, no team in the NFL pays two running backs, and the Browns may be in a situation of paying three with the tender on D’Ernest Johnson. The $6.3 million that Hunt would free up could go to another hole on the roster that is far more important.
If all of these moves were made, the Browns can create another $38 million in cap space, before adjusting any current salaries on the roster into bonuses.