Few teams have been as aggressive as the Cleveland Browns under Andrew Berry. Seen as one of the more opportunistic general managers, Berry has never been afraid to take a swing. The gambles don't pay off every time but it's hard to argue with his methods since the Browns are more relevant now than at any other point since returning to the NFL in 1999.
This offseason, he once again made several moves to bolster the roster but none that drew the attention like the Jerry Jeudy addition. Originally seen as a wise move where he landed a first-round talent for late-round picks, Berry drew criticism for agreeing to a $58 million extension with Jeudy.
We won't jump into that debate right now but instead, we will look at some of the signings we should be thankful they didn't make.
4. Gabe Davis, WR
Former Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey was hired by Cleveland this offseason to serve in that same role. They wound up signing someone he knew from his time in Western New York, running back Nyheim Hines. He wasn't the only player they were linked to, however, as the idea of adding Gabe Davis was floated often ahead of free agency.
When Cleveland traded for Jeudy that ended the discussion. Davis then hit the open market and signed a much larger contract than anticipated.
Davis pro joined the Jacksonville Jaguars on a three-year, $39 million deal. That's not as pricey as what Jeudy signed but it's hard to say Davis would have been worth that — at least not in Cleveland.
In an offense that needs great route-running, Jeudy could reach his full potential. Davis, on the other hand, can stretch a defense but he's not known as a cerebral receiver. Perhaps he winds up doing well with the Jags but it might have been a mistake had the Browns decided to go after him.
3. Patrick Queen, Linebacker
With Anthony Walker, Sione Takitaki, and Jacob Phillips all entering free agency, the Browns needed to find some help at linebacker. They did that when they signed Jordan Hicks to a two-year deal worth $8 million. That's a bargain for someone with his resume and it looks even better when you see the contract other linebackers got.
A prime example is Patrick Queen. The former Baltimore Ravens linebacker signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers for $41 million over three seasons. That's $13.67 million per season and while just $13.8 million is guaranteed, that's still an awful lot to pay for the position, especially when you throw in the fact that Cleveland needs to extend Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah very soon.
Queen wasn't alone in securing a major deal at linebacker either. Jordyn Brooks was given $26.25 million by the Miami Dolphins. Frankie Luvu was signed for $31 million over three years by the Washington Commanders and Azeez Al-Shaair was signed by the Houston Texans for $34 million over three seasons.
Each of these players deserves their money and will make their respective defenses better. Having said that, the Browns defense can do just as well by pairing Hicks with JOK and they did so without breaking the bank.
2. Calvin Ridley, WR
Another wideout that was thrown around as a possibility ahead of free agency was Calvin Ridley. A product of Alabama, he would have given them someone who runs crisp routes much in the same way Amari Cooper and Jerry Jeudy can but he hasn't really lived up to his potential.
Ridley was taken 26th overall in the 2018 NFL Draft and spent four years with the Atlanta Falcons. He had a huge campaign in 2020 when he caught 90 passes for 1,374 yards and nine touchdowns. But then, he stepped away from the league after five games in 2021.
He was then suspended by the NFL for violating their gambling policy and missed the entire 2022 campaign. He was traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars, which is where he continued his career this past season.
With the Jags, Ridley had 76 receptions for 1,016 yards and eight touchdowns. Those numbers were good but he never really took over a game. He then signed a massive four-year contract with the Tennessee Titans worth $92 million, $50 million of which is guaranteed.
This contract is exactly why several teams shy away from free agency altogether. Ridley is a very good wideout but he was just paid to be a game-changer, which he hasn't been to this point in his career.
1. Christian Wilkins, DT
On the surface, it would have made a lot of sense for the Browns to target Christian Wilkins in free agency. He was even one of the names mentioned as a player they would be willing to kick the tires on once the legal tampering period began. However, general manager Andrew Berry did the right thing by never throwing his hat in the ring.
Wilkins, who was the 13th overall pick out of Clemson in 2019, has spent the past five seasons playing for the Miami Dolphins. He's been an excellent defensive tackle with 355 tackles, 20.5 sacks, 19 passes batted down, four forced fumbles, and one interception. He's also been nearly as impactful rushing the passer as he is in run defense.
The problem isn't Wilkins' talent, but it was the contract he signed. The Las Vegas Raiders swooped in and signed Wilkins to a four-year deal worth $110 million, and $82.75 million of that will be guaranteed. As good of a player as he is, that's the type of money reserved for a player such as Myles Garrett, who can carry a defense. Actually, it's more than what Garrett received on an annual basis.
Wilkins is a very good player but the Raiders aren't exactly threatening to go to the Super Bowl now that he's there. And it's hard to say the Browns defense would see enough difference between Wilkins and the duo of Shelby Harris and Maurice Hurst to justify $27.5 million per year.