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.
Cleveland Browns Free-agent target No. 1: DE Arden Key
Arden Key, the former LSU Tiger was drafted in the third round by the Las Vegas Raiders back in 2018. However, he never had much success with them. He was traded to the San Francisco 49ers last year and had a nice season that included 6.5 sacks.
While he’s not been a starter, he was used off the bench and came in on late downs, and gave the 49ers some solid efforts. He’s only going to be 26 years old and would sound like the type of young player, with a big potential that Browns general manager Andrew Berry would be attracted to.
Key only had a contract last season with San Francisco that paid him a bit more than $1 million. If defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, who’s a free agent at the moment doesn’t return to Cleveland, then Key could be a nice inexpensive addition.
Cleveland Browns Free-agent target No. 2: DL Akiem Hicks
A more veteran player that could be a nice pickup by the Browns could be Akiem Hicks, who’s been a mainstay on the Chicago Bears team. Hicks is older and not exactly what Berry might be considered in his prime, but he does bring a lot of experience and that could be an appealing factor.
His highest sack total in any season was 8.5 back in 2017. He’s been pretty consistent in tackles each season. His best stretch as a player statistically was between 2016-2018 when he collected an average of 55 tackles and had 7.5 sacks. He’s still getting to the quarterback in these last few seasons and could really benefit by playing on the line along with defensive end Myles Garrett next year.
Hicks was making $12 million last year with the Bears but he’s in the twilight of his career and would be happy with half from whatever team he plays for next season. The Browns continue to need more veterans on the team to provide that experience to a relatively young Browns team and Hicks seems like a great fit.
Cleveland Browns Free-agent target No. 3: S/CB DeShon Elliott
DeShon Elliott, the former Baltimore Ravens player has performed well over the past four seasons but has had a history of injuries as well. Would the Browns be willing to look at a player like Elliott? He’d be a cheaper option than some other secondary defenders that are available in free agency.
He was drafted in 2018 by Baltimore but didn’t play because of an injury. He played a bit in 2019 but went down again. However, in 2020 he came out and made it through the season, starting all 16 games for the Ravens.
He recorded 80 tackles, forced two fumbles, and had 2.5 sacks. He got injured again last season. So, there’s an unlucky track record of staying healthy but when he did play, he was excellent.
He’ll only be 25 years old next month. The Browns need help in the secondary after cornerback and safety M.J. Stewert has left in free agency to the Houston Texans and safety Ronnie Harrison is also looking to leave in free agency.
Is the risk worth the reward because when Elliott’s been on the field, he’s been outstanding? Also, stealing an AFC North Division rival player would be a cold move by Browns general manager Andrew Berry.
Cleveland Browns Free-agent target No. 4: TE Kyle Rudolph
The Browns recently franchised tagged their tight end David Njoku keeping him in Cleveland for at least one more season. With that move, the team decided to part ways and released their other big-name tight end, Austin Hooper. The team has Harrison Bryant coming back for his third season at tight end and should continue to be a steady force on the offense.
However, with that said, they will still need to pick up a tight end or two for depth. The Browns will likely look to draft a tight end in a month when the NFL Draft takes place, but they may try and pick up another veteran tight end like Kyle Rudolph.
The former Minnesota Viking has played under the coaching of Browns coach Kevin Stefanski when he was with the Vikings. They have a history and that might be the type of extra player the Browns would look to bring in to help at the tight end position.
In his best years, like in 2016, Rudolph was catching 83 passes for 840 yards and seven touchdowns. His numbers since have all dwindled but he was still good for 26 catches for 257 yards and one touchdown last season when he played for the New York Giants. A reunion with his old coach might do the heart some good.
His previous contract was a two-year deal worth $12 million with the Giants. Rudolph was released by the Giants so the next deal he signs will be relatively cheap and the Browns might make the most sense.
Cleveland Browns Free-agent target No. 5: WR Will Fuller
Will Fuller seems to be a very popular pick by the fans of the Browns as a potential wide receiver free agent for their favorite team to target. A lot of that has to do with the fact that Fuller used to play with the Browns new quarterback, Deshaun Watson, when they were both playing on the Houston Texans.
Fuller has had a solid career though he’s had a few injuries that may be why teams are hesitating on signing him right away. He was a 2016 first-round pick from Notre Dame and the Texans put him right to work.
He made steady progress through the seasons and had his best season as a Texan with Watson in 2020 when they connected on 53 receptions for 879 yards and eight touchdowns.
That special connection can’t be overlooked. He went down to the Miami Dolphins last season on a one-year $10.6 million deal. He struggled in Miami and in the early part of the season he broke his finger and was placed on the injured reserve list for the rest of the season.
Now that Watson is in Cleveland, Fuller would have an opportunity to ignite his career again. The Browns would have to pay him that much, certainly far less than the $10 million he got from Miami.