There will be at least 5 more Cleveland Browns players becoming unrestricted free agents in 2023 and potentially playing their last season with the team
The Cleveland Browns are entrenched in this offseason, making trades, signing free agents, and releasing other popular players. They are trying to build a championship-caliber team. Their trade for quarterback Deshaun Watson is still making waves around the NFL.
As wiith any organization, they are usually looking at projections and planning for the future. It’s always important to be proactive rather than reactive. So, the Browns, while fully involved in this year’s transactions has to also be looking at which current players on the team will likely be on the move in a year’s time.
The Browns have several players that could become unrestricted free agents a year from now. That list includes several prominent names.
One of those names is their quarterback Baker Mayfield who has been in a holding pattern to potentially be traded for over three weeks now after the Browns traded for Watson. The speculation is that other NFL teams are just waiting the Browns out, in hope that they simply release Mayfield.
The Browns likely will have to pay a bit of the $18.8 million due to the quarterback if they want to find a trade partner. They will also have to wait until the draft in a couple of weeks to make the deal because no one is burning the midnight oil to land Mayfield now.
Several other players will certainly make headlines a year from now. Let’s first look at a player that still could be dealt this offseason.
Cleveland Browns player No. 1 in last season with team: Kareem Hunt
Kareem Hunt is going into the last year of his current contract with the Browns. Cleveland has recently retained D’Ernest Johnson, the third running back on the team. There had been speculation that the team would let Johnson go in free agency, but they decided to bring him back.
This has added to the speculation that Hunt could be involved in some potential trade deal in the near future.
Cleveland’s run game has been outstanding over the last couple of seasons with No. 1 running back Nick Chubb leading the way as Hunt has had moments of excellence as well. Hunt however was injured this past season and struggled at times to get on the football field. Johnson was able to step in several games this season and had outstanding performances.
Regardless of what the Browns decide to do this offseason with Hunt, he’ll be an unrestricted free agent and I suspect he will be looking to close out his career with a big contract. Chubb is the main back, but Hunt has been able to help the team in many different ways including in the passing game.
If the Browns return to the playoffs after having acquired Deshaun Watson, then maybe Hunt would want to try and return. He did grow up in Cleveland and sticking with the home team might still be in the cards, but I believe that chance is low at this point.
Cleveland Browns player No. 2 in last season with team: Denzel Ward
Denzel Ward is another player, like the previously mentioned Mayfield, who is going into the final year of his rookie contract. There still hasn’t been any significant news of any kind suggesting the two sides are close to a new deal.
Maybe the team will simply have Ward play out the season and allow him to become an unrestricted free agent in a year. It seems from afar, that due to any number of things, the team just isn’t sold on Ward right now or they would have negotiated a deal well in advance.
Ward hasn’t made it through a season without some type of injury and that track record might be playing into the Browns current thinking. Cleveland could also be looking at using Ward in some potential trade offer as we get closer to the draft.
If Ward played out this season, he certainly would be in line to get a very attractive next deal with some team in the league.
Cleveland Browns player No. 3 in last season with team: David Njoku
Cleveland put the franchise tag on David Njoku a few weeks ago, bringing him back to the team for at least one more season. Will the Browns and Njoku try to work out a longer-term deal?
Time will tell, but again nothing has been done yet as there have just been days of rumors. If there isn’t a deal made, then Njoku will be an unrestricted free agent again in 2023.
Njoku will go into this season as the team’s No. 1 tight end. Former Browns tight end Austin Hooper was released a few weeks ago and signed a new deal with the Tennessee Titans. Having the title of No. 1 for Njoku could mean big things for the Browns 2017 first-round pick.
Last season he finished with 36 catches for 475 yards and four touchdowns. He’s never had more than four touchdowns in any season. Maybe next season he’ll break that barrier.
With Watson now as the quarterback too, Njoku should probably benefit and hopefully return to producing a season as he did in 2018 when he pulled down 56 receptions for 639 yards. The Browns offense certainly won’t have any excuses for not scoring points next season with Watson behind center.
Cleveland Browns player No. 4 in last season with team: Jack Conklin
One of the bigger Cleveland Browns pickups in free agency before the 2020 season was getting Jack Conklin, who had been a member of the Tennessee Titans. Conklin has been an outstanding right tackle in his career and has been pretty reliable too. He hadn’t missed too many games in any prior seasons until last season when he was injured a couple of different times and only played in seven games.
He’s only 27 years old and the former first-round pick out of Michigan State will be looking for a nice payday next spring as his contract can be voided out in 2023 and he could be a free agent again.
This upcoming draft will be interesting to pay attention to as well, especially if the Browns draft a couple of offensive linemen in preparation for the departure of a player like Conklin.
Cleveland Browns player No. 5 in last season with team: Greedy Williams
Greedy Williams was drafted in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft out of LSU. The cornerback’s contract is up after this season, and he could become an unrestricted free agent. His time in Cleveland was filled with anticipation.
He was going to team up with Denzel Ward on the corners and be those stoppers on the outside. That, however, hasn’t been the case as Williams has struggled to stay on the football field due to injuries. He sat out the entire 2020 season due to a nerve issue with his shoulder. There was concern that Williams would never return to the game, but he did have some nice moments in his return to the team in 2021.
Those highlights included two interceptions, one of which should have secured a win for the Browns back in December when they lost to the Las Vegas Raiders.
With the drafting of new cornerback Greg Newsome II in last year’s draft by the Browns, the team decided to use Williams in more of a backup role. This upcoming season should be one where Williams will be playing for that new and improved second deal that will be more profitable for the young man.
Time will tell if the Browns actively pursue trying to sign Williams to a second contract. He’s got a lot riding on this next season, and I suspect he will add a few more highlights to his game tape.