4 underrated moves the Cleveland Browns made in 2023 offseason

This has been a strong offseason for general manager Andrew Berry, who added a lot of talent to the Cleveland Browns roster. Berry was able to bring in a couple of big names in free agency, signing safety Juan Thornhill and defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson

He also made two high-profile trades with EDGE Za'Darius Smith and wide receiver Elijah Moore now wearing the orange and browns.

These moves have been good enough that four other transactions have gone slightly under the radar. Here we check out these four underrated moves from the Browns during the 2023 offseason.

4 underrated moves from the Cleveland Browns made

4. Re-signing both Anthony Walker and Sione Takitaki

The Browns had a lot of injuries at linebacker but they still liked the talent they had. The problem was, there were several players hitting the open market.

Cleveland made sure to keep two of their own as they came to terms with both Sione Takitaki and Anthony Walker. Takitaki, a former third-round pick out of BYU in 2019, started to really come on strong before an ACL ended his season.

Typically an outside linebacker, Takitaki rose to the challenge when he moved to the MIKE position. He finished with a career-high 71 tackles despite playing just 12 games.

Walker, who came over in 2021 from the Indianapolis Colts, also ended the season on IR but before he went down, he was emerging as a vocal and emotional leader on defense. He appeared in just three games but during his first season in Cleveland, he racked up 113 tackles in 13 games.

Cleveland added talent to the defensive line as well as the secondary but they were able to focus on those glaring needs thanks to first re-signing two players they know can do the job in the middle of the defense.

3. Adding Ogbo Okoronkwo

Early in the offseason, the Browns added Ogbo Okoronkwo who spent 2022 with the Houston Texans. A former fifth-round pick, he played for the Los Angeles Rams for the prior three campaigns but it was the progress he showed in Houston that intrigued Andrew Berry.

Okoronkwo had just 4.5 sacks in Los Angeles but added 5.0 to his career total last season. He finished with 44 tackles and 36 pressures as well, showing he simply got after the ball carrier. Most importantly, he seems to be just scratching the surface.

Lance Reisland of Cleveland.com was highly complimentary of Okornkwo, praising his high motor while saying he plays with a bend that allows him to get leverage on taller offensive linemen.

"He is a one-gap player who slants and angles to create incredible penetration in the opposing team’s backfield. His explosive first step and speed allow him to chase down running plays from the back side. Skillset aside, Okoronkwo plays with a relentless motor and desire to get to the football."

Reisland, Cleveland.com

While Reisland likes Okoronkwo's pass rushing, he said he needs to get better at setting the edge on the run. The good news is, he's not going to be alone now as he can rotate with Za'Darius Smith — who they added in a trade with Minnesota.

The presence of Smith means Okoronkwo can be used primarily in pass-rushing situations — and he should make the most out of thos chances.

2. Locking up Ethan Pocic

Sione Takitaki and Anthony Walker weren't the only pending free agents that Cleveland wisely kept in town — although this one felt a little less likely. Signed last year following five seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, Ethan Pocic was originally supposed to be a backup center.

However, the Browns lost Nick Harris for the year on just the second play of the preseason and that meant Pocic would take over. He wound up starting 13 games and was one of the top centers in the entire NFL. His worth was never more evident than when he missed four games and the entire line looked out of sorts.

Pocic then hit free agency and while the Browns wanted him back, there were concerns he might have priced himself out of town. That wound up not being the case since Pocic agreed to a three-year deal, for $18 million — which is an absolute steal for what he brings to the table.

In his first season with the Browns, Pocic came in third on PFF's center ranking, behind only Jason Kelce of the Eagles and Creed Humphrey of the Chiefs. He's part of an insanely talented interior line which includes Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller, who are also some of the best in the business.

Cleveland is building a potentially explosive offense and keeping Pocic will go a long way toward making sure stay on task.

1. Signing Rodney McLeod

Adding Juan Thornhill was a major win for the Browns since he should be an upgrade over John Johnson III. While Johnson is a talented defensive back, he was better near the line of scrimmage whereas Thornhill is a deep coverage safety who should help eliminate the long, uncontested touchdowns.

However, he might not wind up being the best addition at safety this year. Not long after the draft, the Browns added Rodney McLeod who has quietly been one of the best in the business for years. He also has experience with Jim Schwartz, winning a Super Bowl with him in 2017.

That knowledge of Schwartz' defense is going to help a lot but even more important will be his versatility. As pointed out by Jacob Roach of Browns Wire, McLeod played all over the field for the Indianapolis Colts in 2022.

"Versatility is king and McLeod can play at a high level all over the field. Last season alone he played 527 snaps in the box, 290 snaps as a deep free safety, and 174 snaps in the slot. He had his best season in coverage according to PFF earning a 85.3 coverage grade."

Roach, Browns Wire

McLeod's presence solidifies their backfield and gives them two safeties who are very competent in pass coverage.

Soon to be 33 years old, McLeod won't be around for much longer but he should be able to help his teammates get up to speed in this scheme and will be a factor in 2023.