Bengals free agent defensive end Carl Lawson could be at the top of the Browns' free agency wish list. But would his pricetag limit pickups elsewhere on defense? (Sports Illustrated)
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland.
To get a feel for what Andrew Berry might do on the first day of free agency on Wednesday, let’s review what the Browns GM did a year ago.
Berry struck early with three big-time signings on the first day of free agency – all devoted to the offense. He signed right tackle Jack Conklin, tight end Austin Hooper and backup quarterback Case Keenum.
The details of the deals came out this way:
*Conklin: three years/$42 million, $15 million signing bonus, $30 million guaranteed. First year salary cap number of $8 million.
*Hooper: four years/$42 million, $10 million signing bonus, $23 million guaranteed. First year salary cap number of $4 million.
*Keenum: three years/$18 million, $4 million signing bonus, $10 million guaranteed. First year salary cap number of $2.833 million.
The Browns entered free agency a year ago with $61.5 million in salary cap room. The three top deals ate up $14.833 million in 2020 cap space – or 24.1 percent.
If Berry intends to make as big a splash on defense this year, he will have to be creative.
Currently, the Browns have only about $24.36 million in cap room this time. That figure could grow if existing contracts are restructured or terminated.
If Berry adheres to last year’s 24.1 percent formula for 2021 cap numbers, he would have to limit three contracts to a total of $5.87 million in first year salary cap. That’s nearly impossible. One big signing would take up at least that much space.
For the purposes of this exercise, let’s suppose Berry does create more salary cap space. Even so, it’s doubtful he would be able to sign three free agents of the caliber of last year’s signings. Let’s say he can accommodate one major signing and two lesser signings on defense.
We’ve come up with three different shopping lists for Berry. Each includes a defensive end, a safety and a cornerback. But the highest-priced position varies with each list.
Which do you prefer?
Shopping list No. 1
Top price: Defensive end Carl Lawson (Bengals). Estimated deal, per Spotrac.com: four years/$35.4 million.
Medium price: Cornerback Brian Poole (Jets): Estimated deal, per Spotrac.com: two years/$12 million.
Low price: Free safety Tre Boston (Panthers). Estimated deal: one year/$5 million.
Analysis
Lawson, 25, probably is at the top of the Browns’ overall wish list. He checks several boxes: A young, ascending player at a position of need, with the benefit of weakening a divisional foe. Lawson had only 5.5 sacks last year, but reportedly was second in the NFL to T.J. Watt with 32 quarterback hits. He has not ruled out returning to the Bengals.
Poole, 28, had two productive seasons with the Jets. He conceivably could start opposite Denzel Ward on the outside or move inside as the team’s No. 1 slot cornerback.
Boston, 28, was released by the Panthers after one season into a three-year deal for $18 million. He has been a durable deep safety, if well-traveled, playing for three teams the past four years.
Shopping list No. 2
Top price: Free safety Anthony Harris (Vikings). Estimated deal, per Spotrac.com: five years/$70 million.
Medium price: Defensive end Ryan Kerrigan (Washington). Estimated deal: two years/$16 million.
Low price: Cornerback Troy Hill (Rams). Estimated deal, per Spotrac.com: two years/$12.6 million.
Analysis
Familiar with Kevin Stefanski and Joe Woods, Harris, 29, would fill out Woods’ three-safety vision and free up returning 2020 second-round pick Grant Delpit to be Woods’ movable chess piece in different situational roles. The 2015 undrafted free agent had six interceptions (one TD) in 2019 and has consistently graded highly as a deep safety.
Kerrigan has 95.5 sacks in his distinguished career. He will be 33 in August and is now a situational pass rusher at defensive end. Signing him would require drafting an end in the first or second round to supplement Kerrigan.
Hill, 29, started 16 games for the Rams last year and turned in two Pick 6’s. He could start ahead of recovering Greedy Williams in 2021.
Shopping list No. 3
Top price: Trade for cornerback Stephon Gilmore (Patriots). Present deal: one year/$7.5 million. Estimated extension: three years/$40 million.
Medium price: Defensive end Ifeadi Odenigbo (Vikings, restricted free agent). Estimated deal: three years/$15 million.
Low price: Safety Will Parks (Broncos). Estimated deal: two years/$4 million.
Analysis
Gilmore, 30, missed five games with the Patriots last year and became increasingly disenchanted with the state of the team post-Tom Brady. In 2019, he was the NFL defensive player-of-the-year after leading the league with six interceptions and 20 pass breakups. At his best, he’d be the Browns’ No. 1 cornerback. At worst, he’s a close second for two seasons.
Odenigbo, 26, was a seventh-round pick of the Vikings in 2017. He spent time with the Browns in 2018, then returned to the Vikings. He blossomed in 2019 with seven sacks in part-time duty and then had a team-high 42 pass pressures in 2020, if only 3.5 sacks. The Browns likely would be interested only if the Vikings gave him the low RFA tender, which would return them a seventh-round pick in compensation if he left.
Parks, 26, played three seasons in Denver under Woods as defensive coordinator. He signed with the Eagles last year, but fell out of favor and returned to the Denver, where he’d been a fan favorite. He is versatile enough to cover slot receivers as a nickel back and would fit nicely in Woods’ three-safety scheme.
Takeaways as the negotiating period begins Monday for free agents …
*If I’m the Browns, I’d stay away from players coming off major injuries in 2020. These include Bud Dupree, Von Miller and Jadeveon Clowney. I would also be wary of forcing a 3-4 outside linebacker in the 4-3 defensive end position. These include Dupree, Miller, Matt Judon, Melvin Ingram, and Haason Reddick.
*Gilmore’s cost in a trade with New England would be at least a third-round pick.
*Another defensive end of interest for the Browns should be Romeo Okwara of Detroit. He is projected to have a market value of three years/$30 million.
*David Njoku’s $6.05 million salary for 2021 becomes guaranteed on Wednesday. On Friday, $2 million of Case Keenum’s $6 million salary becomes guaranteed, and Austin Hooper’s $4.5 million salary is guaranteed.