Cleveland Browns: 6 players who might not return in 2023
The Cleveland Browns will have a ton of tough decisions to make in regards to the roster in the future and these six players might not return in 2023.
Expectations for the Cleveland Browns, at least to the fanbase, are through the roof with the addition of quarterback Deshaun Watson. Despite the fact that we are still waiting on a decision from the NFL about a potential suspension of Watson, the hype is still real for those that wear orange and brown proudly.
When you have an elite quarterback, they will take up a good portion of the salary cap – which isn’t real, mind you – and with that will come some difficult roster decisions down the line. That is simply the price you pay in order to field one of the top-5-or-10 quarterbacks in the game today.
The Browns already have most of their core position players under contract for the next few seasons, so over the course of the next offseason and beyond, the team will have to decide which players to retain and which players to part ways with. The middle of the roster is usually where these decisions are decided, as the top guys are already paid and the younger guys are on cheaper deals.
Oftentimes, good players are let go due to financial concerns from either the player or the organization. There are instances in the NFL Draft and free agency where some of those released or not re-signed players are replaced by younger talent. Having to make these decisions are good decisions for general manager Andrew Berry and head coach Kevin Stefanski to have to make.
Some players on the Cleveland roster, as currently constructed, will not be back in 2023, for better or for worse. These six players might not return next season.
Cleveland Browns player who might not return in 2023 No. 6: Tommy Togiai, Defensive Tackle
Last year, the Browns drafted defensive tackle Tommy Togiai in the fourth round out of Ohio State. He was always seen as a project pick, someone that the team would need to develop. He only appeared in six games in 2021, so there isn’t a large sample size of what he has done or could possibly do in the future.
He compiled ½ a sack, 16 tackles, a pass defended, and a quarterback hit in those six games. He did not record a tackle for loss, which isn’t what you want from a defensive lineman. Togiai will have an opportunity in training camp to show that he has upped his game in the offseason.
There will likely be more chances for Togiai to get in the rotation as the Browns are pretty thin at the defensive tackle position. I don’t foresee Berry signing a veteran free agent as I believe he’s going to roll with what he’s got. Don’t be surprised to see three EDGE rushers on the line at the same time in certain situations.
If he doesn’t improve his skillset to the liking of the Cleveland coaching staff and front office, then he can be released in the offseason and it won’t be a large number to move on from.