Kansas City free agent Juan Thornhill should be a candidate to fill the Browns' hole at free safety. (Associated Press)
Updating Browns roster after a one-day pause in free agency
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
The Browns didn’t add any new players in Day 2 of free agency. They finalized a one-year deal to bring linebacker Sione Takitaki and agreed to a one-year deal with cornerback A.J. Green.
According to overthecap.com, the Browns’ ever-fluid salary cap space stood at $20.1 million. That did not include the contract of defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson, which hadn’t been reported as of last night. The NFL Players Association Website listed the Browns’ cap room at $27.587 million.
Whatever the exact amount of cap room – it literally changes by the hour as new contracts are signed and then filed with NFL Management Council – it’s safe to say GM Andrew Berry still has plenty available to fill out the roster before the April 27-29 draft.
So here’s a position-by-position breakdown of needs to be addressed, listed in order of urgency.
FREE SAFETY
Under contract: Bubba Bolden.
Unsigned: None.
Needs: Experienced deep safety capable of leading team in interceptions.
Possibilities: C.J. Gardner-Johnson (Eagles), Juan Thornhill (Chiefs), Jordan Poyer (Bills), Adrian Amos (Packers), Julian Love (Giants).
WIDE RECEIVER
Under contract: Amari Cooper, Donovan Peoples-Jones, David Bell, Anthony Schwartz, Michael Woods, Jakeem Grant, Jaelen Darden, Daylen Baldwin, Demetric Felton, Mike Harley, Isaiah Weston, Marquez Stevenson.
Unsigned: None.
Needs: Experienced slot receiver with quickness or an outside receiver with over-the-top speed.
Possibilities: Mecole Hardman (Chiefs), DJ Chark (Lions), Ashton Dulin (Colts), Zach Pascal (Eagles), Parris Campbell (Colts), Marquise Goodwin (Seahawks), Darius Slayton (Giants), Braxton Berrios (Jets), Elijah Moore (Jets, trade), Hunter Renfrow (Raiders, trade), Jerry Jeudy (Broncos, trade).
DEFENSIVE TACKLE
Under contract: Dalvin Tomlinson, Jordan Elliott, Perrion Winfrey, Tommy Togiai, Ben Stille, Michael Dwumfour, Roderick Perry.
Unsigned: Taven Bryan.
Needs: Interior penetrator who can pressure the quarterback and provide leadership in the locker room.
Possibilities: Fletcher Cox (Eagles), Quinton Jefferson (Seahawks), Johnathan Hankins (Cowboys), Jerry Tillery (Raiders).
DEFENSIVE END
Under contract: Myles Garrett, Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, Alex Wright, Isaiah Thomas, Chris Odom, Sam Kamara.
Unsigned: Jadeveon Clowney, Stephen Weatherly.
Needs: Pass rusher to join a rotation at left end.
Possibilities: Frank Clark (Chiefs), Yannick Ngakoue (Colts), Clelin Ferrell (Raiders), Poona Ford (Seahawks), A’Shawn Robinson (Rams), Shaq Lawson (Bills).
LINEBACKER
Under contract: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Jacob Phillips, Sione Takitaki, Tony Fields, Storey Jackson.
Unsigned: Anthony Walker, Deion Jones, Jermaine Carter, Reggie Ragland, Tae Davis.
Needs: Veteran to add to the mix and capable of playing multiple positions.
Possibilities: Kwon Alexander (Jets), Mack Wilson (Patriots), Anthony Barr (Cowboys), Elandon Roberts (Dolphins).
CORNERBACK
Under contract: Denzel Ward, Greg Newsome, M.J. Emerson, A.J. Green, Thomas Graham.
Unsigned: Greedy Williams.
Needs: Proven nickel back who can cover slot receivers and move Newsome back to the outside.
Possibilities: Troy Hill (Rams), Isaiah Oliver (Falcons), Tre Herndon (Jaguars), William Jackson (Steelers).
QUARTERBACK
Under contract: Deshaun Watson, Kellen Mond.
Unsigned: Jacoby Brissett.
Needs: Inexpensive backup QB with some NFL experience.
Possibilities: Josh Dobbs (Titans), Teddy Bridgewater (Dolphins), Trace McSorley (Cardinals), Brandon Allen (Bengals), Jeff Driskell (Texans), Nathan Peterman (Bears).
TIGHT END
Under contract: David Njoku, Harrison Bryant, Zaire Mitchell-Paden.
Unsigned: Jesse James, Pharaoh Brown.
Needs: A third tight end who can be effective as a blocker in short-yardage, power formations.
Possibilities: Drew Sample (Bengals), MyCole Pruitt (Falcons).
RUNNING BACK
Under contract: Nick Chubb, Jerome Ford, John Kelly, Nate McCrary.
Unsigned: Kareem Hunt, D’Ernest Johnson.
Needs: A third and fourth back.
Possibilities: Johnson could return if a market for him elsewhere doesn’t materialize. Otherwise, a late-round pick or undrafted rookie could fill the bill.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Under contract: Jedrick Wills, Joel Bitonio, Ethan Pocic, Wyatt Teller, Jack Conklin, Nick Harris, James Hudson, Joe Haeg, Drew Forbes, Dawson Deaton, Tyrone Wheatley Jr.
Unsigned: Michael Dunn, Hjalte Froholdt, Chris Hubbard.
Needs: Depth.
Possibilities: Re-signing Dunn and Froholdt would complete this group.
