5 Free agent bargains Cleveland Browns should target
By John Suchan
The Cleveland Browns have been busy this offseason and there are still several players that the team would be advised to target in free agency
The Cleveland Browns are in the middle of a very busy offseason. After making the blockbuster trade for quarterback Deshaun Watson last week, the team still has several positions both on offense and defense to fill. With the huge payout to Watson on his five-year $230 million contract, the Browns will have to balance their next few free-agent pickups.
At the moment, Cleveland has roughly $26 million available in cap space. They’re also currently looking to trade their previous starting quarterback, Baker Mayfield. However, that action has seemingly hit a snag as there haven’t been any teams reporting their interest in the former No. 1 pick of the 2018 NFL Draft. Once the Browns can find a trading partner for Mayfield, then they’ll add another $18 million to their cap space.
So, the team could have close to $44 million to manage when it comes to trying to sign a few more free agents. Many players could fit into the Browns plans. They released their center, J.C. Tretter, last week. The team also released wide receiver, Jarvis Landry. There have been rumors in social media lands that Landry could possibly return, at a discounted price.
Other spots need to be filled too because the Browns have lost a few players in the last week that were free agents. M.J. Stewert, a cornerback for the team last season moved onto the Houston Texans. Rashard Higgins just signed a new contract with the Carolina Panthers after being a free agent and tight end Austin Hooper was recently released and then just signed a new contract with the Tennesse Titans.
We’ll look at some of these positions that now need filled and discuss several free agents that, at a bargain, could be nice additions for a team that has a lot already but needs to add some stability and depth. Some of these spots can be filled via the draft coming up in April, but the Browns will need to find a few veterans that can use their experience to help the team.