The Land on Demand

#Heytony: Who’S The ‘Must-Have’ Free Agent The Browns Should Target?

If the Washington Commanders don't resign defensive tackle Da'Ron Payne, he would be a logical target in free agency for the Browns. But he won't come cheap. (Washington Post)

If the Washington Commanders don't resign defensive tackle Da'Ron Payne, he would be a logical target in free agency for the Browns. But he won't come cheap. (Washington Post)

#HeyTony: Who’s the ‘must-have’ free agent the Browns should target?

As of Thursday, January 26, 2023

You must have an active subscription to read this story.

Click Here to subscribe Now!

Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.

Hey Tony: If you were the Browns GM and could choose any free agent this off-season, who is that “must have” guy for you?

-- Kayla, Shipshewana, IN

Hey Kayla: I think the priority should be at defensive tackle. We won’t know the available free agent tackles until March, but there are some intriguing names who are eligible with expiring contracts. They include Fletcher Cox and Javan Hargrave from Philadelphia, Davlin Thomlinson from Minnesota, Da’Ron Payne from Washington, and Jerry Tillery from Las Vegas. Of these, I would probably favor Payne, who is the youngest at 25 and appears to be still ascending as an interior force. I’m sure defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz’s expertise will be tapped by GM Andrew Berry to guide this important decision. I wouldn't mind Johnathan Hankins of Dallas as a secondary option. I think they need two veteran additions inside.

Hey Tony: People talk about improving the defensive line to stop the run, but teams succeeding in the playoffs can generate pressure from their tackles. Wouldn't it help free Myles Garrett more if the Browns could get a pass rush up the middle?

-- Stan, West Des Moines, IA

Hey Stan: One thing Jadeveon Clowney said that made sense to me was that the player that most benefits a defensive end is not the defensive end at the opposite side but the defensive tackle lining up next to him. I think the Browns have been deficient at the position over Garrett’s six years on the team.

Hey Tony: How much emphasis do you think the Browns will put on having Deshaun Watson be more decisive and cut down on his holding the ball so long? Is this trait something he can change at this point in his career?

-- Tim, Dana Point, CA

Hey Tim: Funny you ask this because I recently had the occasion to ask Kevin Stefanski if Watson’s propensity for sacks can be corrected. His feeling was that Watson’s sacks can be reduced, but his style of trying to extend a play will always result in a higher number of sacks than a conventional quarterback. The coach also felt that “pocket awareness” was something that would take time for Watson to reacquire after his long layoff.

Hey Tony: Looking forward to 2024, Grant Delpit and JJ3 contracts expire. Which safety will be resigned? And which safety will be let go? Or will both be replaced?

-- Curt, Canton, OH

Hey Curt: Well, that would depend on how each performs in 2023 and I can’t predict how either will fare in Schwartz’s defense. But, when in doubt, go with the player who was drafted by the present regime (Delpit).

Hey Tony: Do the Browns have a culture where people are afraid to disagree with analytics? No one disagreed with small LB and light DT? Everyone agreed with Jacoby Brissett coming off the bench and throwing a long pass on 4th down? Doesn’t seem like a winning formula to me.

-- SL, Dallas, TX

Hey SL: I think it’s a fair point to question. When I heard offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt say that all the coaches loved the Brissett pass to the end zone on fourth down, I almost choked. I understand supporting the head coach publicly, but somebody should have said, “Let’s just get the first down, coach, and live for another set of downs.”

Hey Tony: Since Kareem Hunt will be gone, how about keeping D'Ernest Johnson on the team as Chubb's backup?

-- Vincent, Makaha, Waianae, HI

Hey Vincent: Aloha. Jerome Ford was drafted to replace Hunt. I expect Johnson to leave via free agency and the Browns to find a RB3 from the undrafted ranks or among a veteran making the NFL minimum.

Hey Tony: So much has been made of Watson’s 700-day layoff since his last NFL game. How has Brock Purdy overcome a mid-season start/no NFL experience?

-- Dom, Middleburg Hts., OH

Hey Dom: This is an apples v. oranges comparison. Watson did not play a live game for 700 days. Purdy played his last year at Iowa State, practiced with the 49ers from the OTA and minicamp season, and then took over in the 49ers’ 12th game.

Hey Tony: As judged based on their respective eras (and both former Browns tackles), who would you rather have: Joe Thomas or Lou Groza?

-- AJ, Avon, OH

Hey AJ: More known to fans as the Browns’ first great place-kicker, Groza actually was inducted as a left tackle. The game was so much different in the 1940s and 50s, however, as run-blocking was the norm and pass-blocking was scarce. Thomas excelled in an era when teams routinely passed 65 percent of the time. I consulted Doug Dieken when writing a feature story on Thomas and he believes Thomas should be considered the best offensive tackle in Browns history.

Hey Tony: Please excuse this non-Browns question but I’m curious. What becomes of the partial 1st Q stats in stopped Bills/Bengals game? Never happened? Will Burrow have one less TD on the reg season?

--Kris, Tampa, FL

Hey Kris: None of the statistics in the canceled game counted.

Hey Tony: Against the Saints in Cleveland the field was covered yet there was snow in the field how did that happen?

-- Kevin, Ithaca, NY

Hey Kevin: According to the Browns, the snow on the field was the result of condensation from under the tarp being frozen when it was removed.

Hey Tony: What can be done to get Blanton Collier in the @ProFootballHOF?

-- David, Harrodsburg, KY

Hey David: In my 20+ years as a Hall of Fame selector, Collier has never reached the point of the finalist round. He would have to be presented for consideration by the senior committee. Unfortunately, there is such a deep backlog of senior nominees, I’m afraid Collier is waiting in a long line for consideration. One thing fans can do is write to the Hall of Fame to keep awareness of Collier’s deserving candidacy. That Hall welcomes input from fans.

Hey Tony: I think it’d be fun to know former Browns players who won Super Bowls with other teams.
 
-- Rick, Medina, OH

Hey Rick: For over 20 years, I kept a running list of Browns players/coaches/executives who passed through Cleveland and went on to appear in Super Bowls with other teams. I would update the list when reporting from the Super Bowl and frustrated fans essentially told me to quit “rubbing it in.” The list was long. 

More like this story