Cleveland Browns: 6 players who might not return in 2023
![CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 17: Greedy Williams #26 of the Cleveland Browns reacts after a play during the second quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at FirstEnergy Stadium on October 17, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 17: Greedy Williams #26 of the Cleveland Browns reacts after a play during the second quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at FirstEnergy Stadium on October 17, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Fdawgpounddaily-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fgetty-images-2F2017-2F07-2F1347143338-1-850x560-d362c8cc5e87fd2bf2a73bcc8e4b0b24926a0312eb04b97a3a2a7fb0206c3651.jpg)
Cleveland Browns player who might not return in 2023 No. 3: Anthony Schwartz – Wide Receiver
This is the only player on the list that might not be on the roster in 2023 that isn’t like the others on this list. I don’t believe he will be released next season, as I believe Andrew Berry drafted him in the third round of last year’s draft to help add a new dimension to this offense.
So with that being said, I can see other teams calling about Schwartz should he show he can handle a bigger workload and have the luxury of playing with an elite quarterback. However, it will be hard for teams to pry Schwartz if he were to make a huge jump in 2022 as he will turn 22-years old a week before the season begins, and the fact that he has Olympic-level speed.
Speaking of his speed, Dawg Pound Daily’s own, Jacob Roach, says that due to his speed, Schwartz is the lynchpin of the wide receiver room. The Browns simply need him to make defenses alert to his speed and route-running to create more space. His speed will help with that. He will not be a deep threat that is going to get a ton of balls thrown his way, but Watson is capable of hitting him in stride down the field.
In his rookie campaign, Schwartz caught 10-of-23 targets for 125 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed six times for 39 yards while returning 15 kickoffs for 322 yards. Not a bad rookie season, but the Browns are expecting him to make a huge jump this year, or so it seems as they have yet to address a free-agent wideout.
Cleveland Browns player who might not return in 2023 No. 2: Greedy Williams – Cornerback
This is one of those difficult decisions that could come into play from the middle of the roster. I would love to see Greedy Williams flourish in Cleveland and get a chance to get an extension, but that might not be the case, no matter how he plays in 2022.
One thing that makes me believe that this will be the final year of Williams playing for the Browns is the fact that he has battled through a pretty severe shoulder injury, which caused him to miss the entire 2020 season. He was able to return in 2021 and played in 16 games.
In those 16 games, Williams showed that he is a key part of this Cleveland defense. He had two interceptions, 10 passes defended, allowed a completion percentage of 55.2, and allowed just two touchdowns. Another year with the likes of Denzel Ward, Greg Newsome II, AJ Green, and rookie Martin Emerson should prove to be a formidable unit.
The cornerback position is one that which depth is needed as there are constant injuries all over the league. Losing Williams to free agency would impact that depth, but Berry has shown that he will use the draft to find playmakers that can help slow down some of these elite passing attacks as he drafted Newsome in the first round last year and Emerson in the third round this year.
It would be tough to see him go, but in the NFL, that’s the nature of the beast.