Just like everyone expected, the Cleveland Browns are sitting on a 4-2 record and atop the AFC North after six weeks. Todd Monken's team has surprised even its own fans, and they keep trending in the right direction.
Andrew Berry and his staff have put together one of the league's most promising young cores, hitting on consecutive drafts to replenish the roster with young (and cheap) talent.
Even so, some of their key veteran players are scheduled to test the free agent waters in 2027. Some of them might be playing their way into a significant payday — either from Cleveland or another team.
Checking in on some key 2027 Cleveland Browns free agents after Week 6
Maliek Collins deserves an extension
Maliek Collins has been instrumental to the Browns' defense for two years now, and he might be playing his best football yet. He'll be 32 by the time he signs his next deal, though, so that might help the Browns retain him at a discount.
Over six games, Collins has logged 16 total tackles (six solo), five tackles for loss, eight quarterback hits, and 3.5 sacks. He's a perfect complement to Mason Graham.
Andre Szmyt's next contract is a no-brainer
Andre Szmyt has been immense for this team. His tenure in Cleveland got off to a rocky start with a botched game-winning field goal, but he's been money ever since.
Kickers are volatile, so the Browns must be wary of putting themselves in a tough spot contract-wise, like they did with Dustin Hopkins. That said, there's no reason to believe Szmyt won't be re-signed after this season. He's currently playing on a one-year deal worth a little over $1 million.
Ronnie Hickman's situation might take a turn
The Browns were able to retain Ronnie Hickman on a team-friendly restricted free agent tender, but as expected, he's outplayed his deal. He's a complicated pending free agent to read right now, as another team might be willing to pay Hickman closer to market value. He's signed through 2026 at $3.5 million.
On top of that, rookie safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren is looking like a future impact starter, so the Browns may not have as much incentive to commit to Hickman long-term. That has nothing to do with the player or his performance, though.
Deshaun Watson will likely get another contract, but where?
Are the Browns winning because of Deshaun Watson or in spite of him? He's been great in fourth quarters, but mostly terrible in the first halves of games. He can push the ball downfield in the clutch, but can't string two good short passes together. There's simply no way to tell what's going on here.
However, this is a quarterback's league, and he's playing his way into a new contract, even a short-term one. Whether the Browns will give him that contract is a different question, though, and one that will linger for months to come.
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