5 players the Cleveland Browns should still sign in free agency

With NFL free agency now in full swing, the hopes of Cleveland Browns fans are through the roof, as always. Particularly after a restructure of the contract of Deshaun Watson freed up $35 million in cap space, general manager Andrew Berry was expected to be as aggressive as ever.

To this point, the Browns have reached agreements with just three players, two of which were already in Cleveland in 2022. They brought back linebacker Sione Takitaki, whose breakout 2022 season ended early due to an ACL tear, on a 1-year, $2.5 million deal. The team also locked up center Ethan Pocic for the next three years with a contract totaling $18 million. Finally, they agreed to bring in former Los Angeles Rams and Houston Texans edge rusher Ogbonnia Okoronkwo on a three-year deal worth $19 million.

The team also made a move late Monday night to bring in big nose-tackle, Dalvin Tomlinson, on a four-year $57 million deal.

Tomlinson, formerly of the Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants, and Alabama Crimson Tide, is a huge man that can eat blocks in the middle of the defense. Going back to PFF, Tomlinson was the 14th-ranked interior defensive lineman for the 2022 season with an overall grade of 77.0.

While a couple of these signings should prove very important, addressing clear positions of need, Browns fans are always wanting more. The team did not sign some other potential targets such as Javon Hargrave, Jessie Bates, David Long, Tremaine Edmunds, or David Onyemata, so there are still some needs to be addressed in the coming days.

Here are 5 players that the Cleveland Browns should still target in NFL free agency this offseason.

5. Jerick McKinnon, Running Back

There has not been much movement in the running back market to this point, and I think the Browns can probably wait quite a while on a veteran like Jerick McKinnon. You may be saying... why would the Browns target a 30-year old running back with less than 300 yards last season? Well... because he is SO effective in the passing game.

In 2022, Jerick McKinnon caught 56 balls for 512 yards and ninetouchdowns. Nine receiving touchdowns — from a running back!

Sure, he was with Patrick Mahomes II in the Kansas City Chiefs offense, but Cleveland's offense under Deshaun Watson could actually end up looking fairly similar.

Kareem Hunt is destined for greener pastures where he will have more opportunities this offseason. The Browns like Jerome Ford to be the team's backup running back, but that is not the role that McKinnon would be asked to fill. He would strictly be a passing-down situation back, offering next-level receiving and playmaking ability in the passing game. He is the perfect complement to Nick Chubb and had Kevin Stefanski as his running backs coach in 2016 in Minnesota, so the familiarity is there.

4. Parris Campbell, Wide Receiver

I have slowly but surely hopped aboard the Parris Campbell back to Northeast Ohio. Not just because we are both from Akron, Ohio, but I really think the stars are aligning for this match with the Cleveland Browns.

First, Campbell would bring a dynamic that the Cleveland offense is currently lacking: speed. He ran a 4.31 forty-yard dash coming out of THE Ohio State University and, despite some injury history, that speed still shows up on tape.

Further, Campbell offers more than just speed. He is truly elusive with the ball in his hands. He doesn't just have straight-line speed, which many people are looking to add to the Browns offense.

He's more dynamic than popular targets like Mecole Hardman in free agency or Jalin Hyatt in the draft. He is shifty both as a route runner and with the ball in his hands, making him a real candidate, at 25 years old, to be the team's future slot receiver alongside Amari Cooper and Donovan Peoples-Jones.

Campbell's injury concerns are real, as he played just 15 total games over his first three seasons in the NFL. But two things would play to the favor of the Browns if they were to target him. First, the injury history should drive his price down, with his market value at just $2.5 million per year, according to Spotrac.

Second, Campbell played in all 17 games in 2022, racking up 623 receiving yards and three touchdowns. While those numbers won't blow anyone away, it is completely possible that Campbell could really just be entering his prime, at just 25 years old, back home with the Cleveland Browns.

3. Juan Thornhill, Safety

After failing to sign a rumored favorite of theirs, Jessie Bates, the Cleveland Browns are left with a glaring hole at free safety, following the release of John Johnson III. With a relatively weak safety draft class, I think it's imperative to fill the void with some sort of veteran.

Juan Thornhill was one of my favorite players coming out of the 2019 NFL Draft. At the University of Virginia, he exhibited exceptional ball skills, which is a quality that new defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz should be searching for, taking over a defense that was bottom-ten in the league in interceptions in 2022.

Thornhill displayed his incredible speed and athleticism at the Combine, ranking in the 99th percentile with both his vertical and broad jump, and running a 4.42 forty-yard dash. That athletic ability is still evident on tape for the Chiefs, with Thornhill excelling in zone coverage deep down the field.

According to Pro Football Focus, Thornhill was the 20th-best safety in the league in 2022, with an overall grade of 72.7. Further, he was top 12 amongst qualifying safeties with a 75.2 coverage grade.

Thornhill also set career highs with 71 combined tackles (4 for loss) and 9 pass deflections in 2022. This shows that he has the versatility to play as a split safety, holding his own around the line of scrimmage but still being a perfect candidate to fill that true free safety role in Schwartz's defense, with Grant Delpit primarily playing in the box in 2023.

2. Fletcher Cox, Defensive Tackle

While Fletcher Cox may or may not have a ton of fuel left in the tank on the field, signing him for a year or two (at a reasonable price) could really help the development of the Browns defense.

First, Schwartz has a history of bringing in veteran defenders that he has worked with before, and carving out a role for them. I have no doubt the he would find a way for Cox to help this defense on the field.

Where I truly think that Cox can help this defensive line is in the locker room. As I mentioned earlier, Perrion Winfrey was selected fairly early by this front office in last year's draft. The team clearly wants him to develop into an impactful player, and in order to do that, he has to keep his head on straight.

I cannot speak directly to the concerns that the team had with Winfrey last season, but the facts are that he missed multiple games at the choice of the coaching staff. Winfrey was a very promising player coming out of Oklahoma a year ago, and was one of my favorites in the draft class. But he needs some mentorship to focus on football and get his game at the forefront of his mind.

Giving Winfrey a veteran mentor like Cox could be a career-altering move for their young defensive tackle. Schwartz should be able to speak to the level of leadership and professionalism that Cox has exhibited on and off the field throughout his career.

If Cox is able to take Winfrey under his wing, while finding a role on the field, signing with the Browns could allow him to have a huge impact, late in his career, even after the signing of defensive tackle, Dalvin Tomlinson.

1. C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Defensive Back

As I stated earlier, the Browns must bring in someone to play free safety. Now, when I say that Cleveland should sign these five players, I truly think it would be smart to sign ALL five of these players.

With C.J. Gardner-Johnson, this could go one of two ways for the Browns. First, they could sign him and immediately plug him in at free safety. That is the need, and he is more than capable of filling that role. Or, if they do bring in a true free safety like Thornhill, they could still add Gardner-Johnson and allow him to play a more versatile role like he did with both the Philadelphia Eagles and New Orleans Saints.

Gardner-Johnson seems to excel when lining up over the slot receiver, or a tight end, as a nickel corner. He has the physicality and tenacity to dominate in man coverage, really getting into the head of opposing receivers. Right now for the Browns, they have three very talented cornerbacks, but none of them seem to be willing to play in the slot. If they bring in Gardner-Johnson and allow him to be a versatile piece on Schwartz's chess board, they could send a ton of different looks at opposing offenses.

Whether he plays free safety for the Browns, or is able to roam around the field doing what he does best, adding C.J. Gardner-Johnson should be a priority for Cleveland at this point in free agency.

He's just 25 years old and logged a career-high 6 interceptions and 67 total tackles last season during his Super Bowl run with the Eagles. He is the best player out there right now, and I would pay pretty much whatever it takes to get him to Cleveland.