Browns offseason priorities: 3 key players to re-sign, avoid roster holes

2. Harrison Bryant, TE

Heading into the 2023 offseason, it seemed as though Harrison Bryant could be on the roster bubble. He struggled in the TE2 role the previous year and the draft class was loaded with promising players at the position. Cleveland never wavered though as they reworked his contract to lower his cap hit but pay him more guaranteed money — essentially locking in his spot on the roster.

Bryant wound up playing well, even if his numbers were lower than we've seen throughout his career. In 17 games, with nine starts, he had just 13 receptions for 81 yards. While that might not be the most impressive stat line, he did have three touchdowns as he proved to be a reliable target in the end zone. He also ran the ball five times from under center on short-yardage situations. Those runs resulted in four first downs.

Those plays were important since it meant the quarterback wasn't taking the hits on the sneak, which matters in a season where five different signal-callers started games. But the real reason Bryant needs to come back is the fact that they need someone behind David Njoku they trust.

Jordan Akins was signed to a two-year deal but he didn't play up to the level the Browns expected, making him a potential cap casualty. Even if they were to keep Akins, having three good tight ends is a necessity in this offense. With holes on other spots of the roster and draft picks limited, it would be wise to keep Bryant and address other concerns.