Will the Browns be able to woo Kirk Cousins as their bridge quarterback in free agency? Or will they target Carson Wentz or Joe Flacco?
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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 approach free agency next week with one obvious priority – sign a veteran quarterback to “bridge” the time it takes their expected drafted rookie quarterback to be ready to play in 2025.
Unlike recent years, the Browns are severely limited in free agent action because of their tenuous salary cap situation.
The fourth consecutive redo of Deshaun Watson’s contract on Thursday created about $36 million in cap room, allowing the Browns to comply with the $279.2 million salary cap by Wednesday. The Watson move alone moved the Browns to about $12.8 million under the cap.
GM Andrew Berry will have to do more contract gymnastics, however, to fill some holes with bargain-basement additions in free agency. A conversion of Denzel Ward’s contract is a possibility, along with the release of a veteran, or two.
The Browns have to reserve $8.64 million in cap room for their rookie draft picks. Also, if they ultimately decide to trade Myles Garrett, they’ll have to create another $36 million to accommodate the dead cap charge of the trade.
All of these constraints point to a very conservative approach to free agency in Berry’s sixth season as GM.
The quarterback they sign figures to be a low-budget journeyman (i.e, Kirk Cousins, Carson Wentz or Joe Flacco). Other additions probably will come from the “one year, prove-it deal” bargain bin.
But what if the Browns weren’t on a low budget and had the capacity to spend freely this free agent season? Who might be the best targets to fill obvious needs?
Here are a few that would be good fits:
Defensive tackle Milton Williams (age 25)
The Eagles are so loaded at defensive tackle that they can’t afford to re-sign Williams, who rotated behind first-round picks Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis for most of his four seasons in Philadelphia. Williams, a third-round pick in the 2021 draft, burst into free agency after a forceful postseason. In the Eagles’ run to the Super Bowl title, Williams had 2 sacks, 2 tackles-for-loss, 2 quarterback hits, a forced fumble and recovery. He will be in demand.
Offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas (33)
The prototypical swing tackle, Lucas has 54 career starts in 11 seasons with Detroit, New Orleans, Chicago and Washington. He would be insurance against Dawand Jones recovering in time from recent off-season scope knee surgery and lessen the pressure on the Browns drafting an offensive tackle high.
Defensive end Chase Young (25)
The Browns will need two young edge rushers to take major steps up in 2025 – Isaiah McGuire and Alex Wright. If they decide to trade Garrett for multiple draft assets, they’ll need a veteran to step in immediately at right end. Young’s NFL career has been sidetracked by injuries (torn right ACL and patellar, neck), but he made it through 2024 with New Orleans on the rebound and finished with 5.5 sacks.
Linebacker Jamien Sherwood (25)
With Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah’s future uncertain because of a neck injury and Jordan Hicks likely not to return, the seemingly annual void at linebacker is as large as ever. Sherwood is an ascending talent who emerged in 2024. In his fourth season with the Jets, the fast and aggressive Sherwood made 16 starts and led the team with 98 solo tackles, including 10 for loss.
Tight end Juwan Johnson (28)
Kevin Stefanski is expected to return multiple-tight end formations to the offense and scrap the spread formations that were abysmal failures last year. The only tight ends under contract are David Njoku, Blake Whiteheart and Brenden Bates. Johnson entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent receiver from Penn State. He converted to tight end in his third season with New Orleans and had his best season in 2024 with 50 catches on 66 targets for an 11.0-yard average and three touchdowns. He would be a nice No. 2 behind Njoku, but may gravitate to his former Saints coach now in Denver, Sean Payton.
What about these positions?
Running back: It’s a banner year in the draft for running backs, and that’s where the Browns should find their new feature back.
Free safety: After swinging and foul-tipping on John Johnson (four INTs in 2021-22) and Juan Thornhill (zero INTs in 2023-24) in free agency, Berry should bequeath the starting job to 2023 undrafted free agent Ronnie Hickman and groom one from the draft.
Wide receiver: Yes, there’s a big void between No. 1 Jerry Jeudy and No. 3 Cedric Tillman. It would be nice if past draft stabs David Bell, Michael Woods and Jamari Thrash stepped into larger roles. Berry has had more success trading for wideouts (Jeudy, Amari Cooper, Elijah Moore). More likely is he takes another whack in the draft.