The Browns still hope Jadeveon Clowney returns after testing a not-so-tepid free agent market.
Defensive end and receiver still at top of Browns’ list of needs
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland.
While the Browns continue to seek a new home for quarterback Baker Mayfield (read: unload his $18.8 million salary and cap number), other business must be addressed soon.
Let’s reset the Browns’ roster and identify areas of need that should be filled in the second wave of free agency and the draft.
Quarterback
On roster: Deshaun Watson, Jacoby Brissett, Baker Mayfield.
Subtraction: Case Keenum, Nick Mullens.
Analysis: Watson is expected to receive an NFL suspension to start the season for violations of the league personal conduct policy as a result of 22 civil lawsuits filed against him by female massage therapists alleging sexual misconduct. The league won’t give a timetable on any discipline, but the Browns have consulted with the NFL office for a general idea. Brissett will serve as Watson’s replace during suspension. Mayfield technically is still on the roster. That situation becomes untenable soon.
Need: A third quarterback to ascend to No. 2 during Watson’s suspension. Mullens should be a candidate. He currently is a free agent, and the Browns consider him a viable option.
Running back
On roster: Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt, D’Ernest Johnson, Demetric Felton, John Kelly, Johnny Stanton.
Subtraction: Andy Janovich.
Analysis: Johnson, a restricted free agent, was given the low tender (1 year/$2.43 million) that allows the Browns to match if another team signs him to an offer sheet. Johnson has until April 22 to receive an offer.
Need: A camp competitor for fullback Johnny Stanton.
Wide receiver
On roster: Amari Cooper, Donovan Peoples-Jones, Anthony Schwartz, Ja’Marcus Bradley, Jakeem Grant, Ryan Switzer.
Subtraction: Jarvis Landry, Rashard Higgins.
Analysis: Cooper, acquired in a trade with the Cowboys for a fifth-round draft pick and a swap of sixth-round picks, had his contract restructured to create $15 million in salary cap space. Grant, 5-7 and 171 pounds, was signed primarily as a return specialist. He has seven career return touchdowns and has averaged only 166 snaps at receiver per year in his career.
Need: Two receivers to round out WR1, WR2 and WR3. Cooper might be a stretch to be considered a WR1. Surely another veteran will be added. The Browns could bring back Landry, who was released but might want to come back after the Watson acquisition. Another possibility is free agent Will Fuller, who has played with Watson in Houston and with Brissett in Miami. The Browns could also add a receiver high in the draft. Then the order of who’s WR1, WR2 and WR3 could be sorted out in training camp.
Tight end
On roster: David Njoku, Harrison Bryant, Miller Forristall, Nick Guggemos.
Subtractions: Austin Hooper, Stephen Carlson.
Analysis: Njoku completed his rise from TE3 a year ago to TE1 when he was given the franchise tag (one year/$10.931 million) and Hooper was designated a June 1 release. At that time, Hooper’s dead cap charge reverts to $3.75 million in 2022 and $9.5 million in 2023. The Browns will try to sign Njoku to a longer-term deal to lower his salary cap number. Kevin Stefanski’s love of “13 personnel” should force another tight end acquisition.
Need: At least one to compete with Forristall for TE3, perhaps in the draft.
Offensive line
On roster: Jedrick Wills, Joel Bitonio, Nick Harris, Wyatt Teller, Jack Conklin, Chris Hubbard, Blake Hance, Michael Dunn, James Hudson, Drew Forbes, Alex Taylor, Hjalte Froholdt.
Subtraction: JC Tretter.
Analysis: Harris, entering his third season, has been knighted as the heir to departed center Tretter. Conklin and Hubbard are coming back from major injuries. Counting fully on both is risky.
Need: A backup center and a swing tackle as insurance for Conklin and Hubbard. These roles could be assumed by players already on the roster, but it feels like another veteran capable of flexing to multiple positions should be added.
Defensive line
On roster: Myles Garrett, Jordan Elliott, Taven Bryan, Tommy Togiai, Chase Winovich, Porter Gustin, Curtis Weaver.
Subtractions: Jadeveon Clowney, Malik Jackson, Malik McDowell, Sheldon Day.
Analysis: Winovich was brought in as a situational edge rusher. Bryan, a first-round underperformer with the Jaguars, is a candidate to replace Jackson as one of the starting tackles.
Need: Starting defensive end and developmental pass rusher from the draft. They would like to re-sign Clowney, who’s a free agent and taking his time, as usual. Unless the Browns recoup the first-round draft pick lost in the Watson trade, they may have to wait until the second or third round to find one to groom.
Linebacker
On roster: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Anthony Walker, Sione Takitaki, Jacob Phillips, Tony Fields, Willie Harvey, Montrel Meander.
Subtraction: Mack Wilson, Malcolm Smith.
Analysis: Look for Phillips to join JOK as the young-and-fast mainstays in the middle of the defense. Walker’s return for another one-year contract keeps him as the sage. The Browns hope they get more out of Fields in his second season beyond being a special team core player.
Need: Another light one with speed to join the special teams core and develop in the defense.
Cornerback
On roster: Denzel Ward, Greg Newsome, Greedy Williams, Troy Hill, A.J. Green, Herb Miller.
Subtraction: None.
Analysis: This group is deep and strong. The biggest news is when Ward gets a mega-deal contract extension. Green’s development was steady last year and will be interesting to watch in 2022.
Need: Teams always bring in defensive backs to compete in camp. But if everyone on the roster stays healthy – a big ‘if’ for this position group – any new addition to the final roster is going to have to be real good to knock off one of the top five.
Safety
On roster: John Johnson, Grant Delpit, Richard LeCounte.
Subtractions: Ronnie Harrison, M.J. Stewart.
Analysis: Johnson and Delpit go into camp as the starters. If coordinator Joe Woods wants to expand on his use of his Big Dime to get more speed on the field, then the third safety probably is not yet on the roster. Stewart was a riser at the end of the season and he signed with the Texans in free agency. Harrison is still unsigned, but it doesn’t appear a return is on the front-burner. There’s an opportunity for LeCounte, but he’s no sure thing to move up.
Need: Maybe Harrison finds his way back. Otherwise, another versatile safety to challenge for the No. 3 spot in special packages must be found.
Punter and kicker
On roster: Joseph Charlton (p), Chris Blewitt (k).
Subtractions: Dustin Colquitt (p), Chase McLaughlin (k).
Analysis: Charlton had a great year with the Panthers as an undrafted free agent in 2020, but a back injury in 2021 landed him on injured reserve and cost him his roster spot. The Browns signed him to a futures contract on Feb. 1. Blewitt bounced around three teams before the Browns signed him on Jan. 11.
Need: Certainly they have to bring in challengers at both positions. If they choose one of each in the draft they could only hope to come close to the record of the Raiders. In 2000, the Raiders selected kicker Sebastian Janikowski in the first round and punter Shane Lechler in the fifth round. They excelled as the kicking tandem for 13 seasons together. Janikowski played four more with the Raiders and Lechler punted five more seasons with the Texans.
