At this point, it's safe to say the first wave of free agency is over as the majority of the high-priced free agents have found their homes. The Cleveland Browns were active during that period, landing some potential game-changers such as Dalvin Tomlinson, Juan Thornhill, and Ogbo Okoronkwo.
They also landed some depth pieces including Jordan Akins, Trysten Hill, and Maurice Hurst, Jr. With all the news faces, it's time to look at the current members of the roster and see which three players might now be on the bubble.
3. Harrison Bryant, TE
On Friday afternoon, the Browns agreed to terms with Jordan Akins, who spent the past five seasons with the Houston Texans (he was signed by the New York Giants in 2022 but went back to Houston when he didn't make the 53-man roster).
For three of those years, Akins worked alongside current Cleveland quarterback, Deshaun Watson. The familiarity the two have with one another will be a great addition to the offense but it could hurt the standing of Harrison Bryant who currently occupies the No. 2 spot behind David Njoku.
A fourth-round pick in 2020, Bryant is coming off a frustrating campaign and could find himself in danger of not making the roster. It's clear with Akins' $5.2 million deal over the next two seasons that he's not going to be the third tight end.
That means Bryant will be battling for that role and with only one year on his rookie deal and a loaded class coming up in the 2023 NFL Draft, Cleveland might decide to go in a completely different direction.
2. Tommy Togiai, DT
While the majority of the moves Andrew Berry has made this offseason, there are two that stand out as the most impactful.
One is the addition of Juan Thornhill, who fills the spot that was left vacant when John Johnson III was released. And not to knock JJ3 in any way, but Thornhill is a much better fit in this defense as a true centerfield-type safety.
The other incredibly impactful move was adding Dalvin Tomlinson. A 324-pound monster in the middle of the line, Tomlinson can stuff the run and will help everyone around him play better due to the attention he commands.
However, he wasn't the only addition made at D-tackle. Cleveland also added Trysten Hill, a former second-round pick for the Dallas Cowboys, and Maurice Hurst, Jr. who came into the league with a lot of talent but just as many concerns about health.
Hurst is a shot in the dark as they're hoping to strike gold with very little investment. As for Hill, he offers some experienced depth which would allow them to move on from an underperforming youngster such as Tommy Togiai.
While it's true Hill never lived up to his draft status in Dallas, he does offer a ton of power and athleticism. He might not be the most refined player but he won't get bullied on the line.
Sadly, the same can't be said for Togiai who finished with a 37.8 grade against the run according to PFF — and a 37.3 overall. Compare that to Hill, who had his most efficient season as a pro while splitting time with Dallas and Arizona last year and earned an overall grade of 62.8 with a 56.9 run defense grade.
None of that is elite by any means but he's been graded better than Togiai. That's why the former Ohio State Buckeye could be in trouble this year.
1. Anthony Schwartz, WR
This one might not seem as obvious but believe it or not, the fact that the Cleveland Browns have yet to sign a free agent wide receiver doesn't necessarily bode well for Anthony Schwartz.
After two seasons in the league, it's clear that Schwartz isn't the player they hoped he would be when they drafted him out of Auburn. And instead of improving, he actually took a step in the wrong direction this past season.
Due to his struggles, there were expectations that Cleveland would go out and try to land a replacement for Schwartz but so far, it's been quiet. The Browns have been linked to players such as Jerry Juedy but with Denver's high asking price, no trade has happened.
They've also reportedly had internal discussions about Mecole Hardman and one of their newest players, Juan Thornhill, is actively recruiting his former teammate. Again, all has been quiet on that front as well.
Even so, it's not looking good for Schwartz for two reasons.
One, the wide receiver market isn't cold, it's frozen. Last year, players such as Christian Kirk were getting overpaid but in 2023, teams haven't broken the bank for mid-tier receivers. This opens the door for Cleveland to land a No. 3 wideout at an incredibly affordable rate. There are still options out there and it wouldn't be surprising to see them pull the trigger, especially if prices continue to slide.
Reason two, the Browns have filled almost all of their holes. With Dalvin Tomlinson, Ogbo Okoronkwo, Juan Thornhill, and Jordan Akins all signed, they have addressed everything other than wide receiver. This means they can focus on the position with pick No. 42 and it's another solid class.
With that being the case, it's hard to see Schwartz being a top four option in 2023 and if he's not, the Browns really don't need to hang on any longer.