3 low-key free agents Browns must bring back in 2023
By Randy Gurzi
With the offseason underway, much of the attention for the Cleveland Browns is centered on who they can draft to round out their roster. This makes sense considering the Senior Bowl just took place and the NFL Scouting Combine is around the corner.
But before the draft takes place, free agency will happen and the Browns are going to have some tough decisions to make. While many players will walk, these three low-key free agents should be top priorities to re-sign.
3 low key free agents Browns must bring back in 2023
3. A.J. Green, Cornerback
This one should be pretty straightforward. A.J. Green enters the offseason as an exclusive rights free agent meaning the Browns can place a tender on him and as long as they make a qualifying offer, no other team will be able to negotiate with him.
An exclusive rights free agent is much easier to retain than a restricted and the difference is that an ERFA simply has two or fewer accrued seasons in the NFL.
That’s the case for Green, who was an undrafted free agent signing in 2020 but only played two games during his rookie season. That means his only two “accrued” years were in 2021 and 2022.
In all, he’s played in 31 games and has 39 tackles, seven pass defenses, two interceptions, and two fumble recoveries. Green has developed into a quality depth piece and given the number of injuries Denzel Ward and Greg Newsome have suffered early in their careers, that depth will be needed again soon.