If the Browns want to add another veteran linebacker to their room, Philadelphia's Nigel Bradham would be a natural. (cbssports.com)
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland.
Because they have the salary cap room, and because new GM Andrew Berry has proved his aggressiveness, and because their roster still has a few holes, the question arises:
Do the Browns have one more veteran signing to make?
Yes, they do lead the NFL with $38,450,174 in 2020 salary cap room, according to overthecap.com.
Their rookie salary cap pool for 2020 draft picks is $8,739,537. The effective 2020 cap expense for their seven picks (minus seven players they would replace) would equal $4.469 million. So that means after getting their seven draft picks under contract – a formality – the Browns would still have approximately $29.71 million in cap room.
That’s plenty room to sign any available veteran player they want.
They will want to reserve a nest egg to roll into 2021, however.
If nothing happens on new deals for Myles Garrett and David Njoku, their fifth-year options increase their salary cap figures substantially. Garrett goes from $9.676 million in 2020 to $15.124 million in 2021. Njoku jumps from $3.03 million to $6.013 million.
Also, the three biggest contracts Berry gave to 2020 free agents have huge built-in salary cap increases in 2021.
Jack Conklin increases from $8 million to $13 million, Austin Hooper from $3.5 million to $8.25 million and Case Keenum from $2.8333 million to $7.333 million.
Some of that is offset by Olivier Vernon ($15.5 million in 2020) coming off the books in 2021.
The bottom line is they have the room and flexibility to make another signing, even though it is somewhat late in the transaction season.
In 2019, the latest veteran signing of note they made was safety Morgan Burnett on April 5.
In 2018, they signed linebacker Mychal Kendricks on June 5 and offensive tackle Greg Robinson on June 19.
In 2017, they signed cornerback Jason McCourty on May 17.
So will they or won’t they add another veteran player? If so, he might come from the following list.
Defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, 27
Clowney had three sacks for the Seahawks in 2019 and had core muscle surgery after the season. The difficulty in ascertaining his health is one problem. Other concerns are his reported contract demands ($18 million for one year) and durability and consistency issues. He has missed 20 games in six years and never has posted 10 sacks in a season. The Seahawks, Titans and possibly Jets may retain an interest in him.
Defensive end Everson Griffen, 32
Griffen had eight sacks in his 10th season with the Vikings and then said “goodbye” in an Instagram story. The Vikings haven’t ruled him out from returning on a one-year deal, however, and the Seahawks may consider him a replacement for Clowney. The connection to former Vikings-turned-Browns coaches Kevin Stefanski and defensive coordinator Joe Woods makes Griffen a natural option for the Browns.
Linebacker Nigel Bradham, 30
Bradham has been a mainstay in the middle of the Eagles’ defense the past four years, averaging 86 percent of the team’s defensive snaps, though his time on the field has decreased each year. If the Browns feel another veteran in the linebacker room is needed, this is the guy. Bradham has called plays as the defensive player with the helmet wired to the coaches. Berry is familiar with Bradham’s locker room respect from his one season in Philadelphia last year.
Offensive tackle Jason Peters, 38
This potential Pro Football Hall of Famer reportedly believes he can play into his 40s. Despite 205 career games, Peters can still play at a high level and move laterally well enough to execute the Browns’ zone scheme. The Eagles haven’t ruled out re-signing him. Why would the Browns be interested after drafting Jedrick Wills and vowing he is their left tackle of the future? A one-year deal for Peters would postpone Wills’ transition to left tackle and move him to right guard for his rookie season. Hey, Jonathan Ogden played guard his rookie season before embarking on a Hall of Fame career at left tackle.
Offensive guard Larry Warford, 29
After his third successive Pro Bowl berth at right guard, the Saints cut Warford last week rather than pay him the $7 million due in the last year of his contract. The Saints had committed $23 million guaranteed in a new contract with left guard Andrus Peat and then drafted Michigan interior lineman Cesar Ruiz in the first round. Warford’s pass protection was said to have taken a dive last year and, at 332 pounds, he is not exactly a good fit in the Browns’ mobile zone scheme.