Tackle Quinton Jefferson is the only new addition to Jim Schwartz's defensive front four. He figures to replace Jordan Elliott as the starter next to Dalvin Tomlinson. (Getty Images)
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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.
Takeaways from Day 4 of NFL free agency …
1. Unless GM Andrew Berry has something up his sleeve, it appears the leading candidates for “most impactful new veteran player” on the 2024 roster will be tackle Quinton Jefferson on defense and wide receiver Jerry Jeudy on offense.
Jefferson, who agreed to a 1-year deal on Thursday, is the only new player added to the defensive line.
Jefferson turns 31 on March 31 and is joining his fifth team in five years. He may have been a consideration last year when Berry and coordinator Jim Schwartz rebuilt the defensive line, but the Browns wanted to see 2020 draft pick Jordan Elliott perform in Schwartz’s system.
Jefferson chose to sign with the Jets. He started 14 games and benefitted from lining up next to All-Pro stud tackle Quinnen Williams. Jefferson turned in a career-high six sacks and 18 pressures (sacks + hurries + knockdowns).
Jefferson missed the last three games with two tears of a groin muscle, each requiring surgery. At the time, Jefferson expected to be ready for OTAs in April – no matter which team he was with.
If he has a season like last year he’d be a big improvement over Elliott, who was allowed to leave and signed with the 49ers. In a comparable number of snaps – Jefferson had 469, Elliott 444 – Elliott produced 2.5 sacks and 5 pressures.
It’s doubtful there will be any more major additions to the defensive front before the draft. Jefferson joins Dalvin Tomlinson, Maurice Hurst, Shelby Harris and Siaki Ika among the top five tackles. The top five ends are Myles Garrett, Za’Darius Smith, Ogbo Okoronkwo, Alex Wright and Isaiah McGuire.
2. The Browns also added linebacker Devin Bush, who spent 2023 in Seattle after four years with Pittsburgh.
Bush is one of the few highly-drafted linebackers of the Steelers who didn’t pan out for them. The Steelers traded up from 20th to No. 10 to take Bush in 2019 out of Michigan. He seemingly justified the lofty selection as a rookie, turning in 109 tackles, 2 interceptions, 4 passes defensed, 4 fumble recoveries and a touchdown. Alas, his production went down every year after that.
The Steelers didn’t pick up his fifth-year option in 2023. Bush played mostly on special teams for the Seahawks – sinking to a career-low 27 percent of his team’s defensive snaps.
3. While Bush might assume Sione Takitaki’s role on special teams and as a reserve linebacker, Jordan Hicks moves into Anthony Walker’s role as the starting middle linebacker.
Hicks broke in with the Eagles a year before Schwartz joined them as coordinator, and then gelled in Schwartz’s defense. A blown Achilles ended his 2017 season after seven games the year the Eagles won the Super Bowl.
Hicks has been a sturdy player since that injury with Arizona and Minnesota after leaving Philadelphia. Last year he suffered a contusion in a shin that developed into compartment syndrome. He was told by doctors after emergency surgery that he could have lost his leg if not treated quickly. He returned to play five weeks later.
Besides Schwartz, Hicks rejoins former Vikings teammates Za’Darius Smith and Dalvin Tomlinson. He should pick up the leadership void left by Walker’s departure.
“It’s kind of been my role since Philly, that leadership role,” Hicks, 31, said. “But I don’t force anything. I’m just here to be me and fit in.
“I’m excited for another opportunity to play for Jim. I’m going into Year 10. I want to win.”
4. Jeudy was introduced on a Zoom conference and expressed excitement about “being wanted” by the Browns and being able to join Amari Cooper as a teammate.
It was a fairly frustrating four years for Jeudy in Denver after the Broncos selected him 15th overall in 2020. Jeudy’s best year was in 2022 when he had 67 receptions for 972 yards and 6 TDs.
“Me, personally, my ceiling is very high,” said Jeudy, who turns 25 in April. “I have high expectations for myself. The past few years wasn't exactly what I want ... because different circumstances and stuff like that. I'm here and I'm where my feet are now and I'm a Brown and I'm just ready to be the best version of myself here than I ever was before.”
Jeudy’s attitude came into question last year by NFL Network analyst Steve Smith.
On a podcast, Smith called Jeudy a JAG – just a guy – “an average wide receiver.” Later, when Smith approached Jeudy to apologize prior to a game he was covering, Jeudy blew off Smith and Smith didn’t like it.
Smith related the incident on the air and said that if teams come to him and asked about trading for Jeudy he would tell them no because “he’s mentally unable to handle constructive criticism from people who watch specifically can he be a wide receiver … He can be a wide receiver. He’s a Tier 3.”
Asked to comment, Jeudy said Thursday, “As a football player and as a coach, you know, who's a great football player. And like I always say, the eye in the sky don't lie. You just watch it. You cut on the tape, you cut on the film. Some games I didn't have my best game, but I could control what I can control.
Obviously, Berry didn’t consult Smith before he traded fifth- and sixth-round picks to Denver for Jeudy.
“I know the Browns didn't really listen to what Steve Smith had to say,” Jeudy said. “They just had to turn on the tape to see if it's really true or not. And they turned on the tape and saw it wasn't true what he said.”