Safety Marcus Williams was a player of interest of the Browns three years ago. After Williams bottomed out in Baltimore, could the Browns revisit their interest on a much cheaper prove-it deal?
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.
Takeaways from Browns offseason transactions (so far) …
Two weeks into the NFL free agency season, transactions league-wide are slowing to a crawl. Which is normal.
The next milepost of the “offseason” is the annual league meetings next week in Palm Beach, FL. A minimum of four league meetings take place each calendar year, but this is the only one GMs and head coaches attend. So trade and agent talk planted at the NFL Combine in February often is revisited. Trades involving changes in the draft order can germinate at this meeting.
Prior to the meetings, however, some notable college pro days should be highly attended this week.
These include Miami (Cam Ward) and North Carolina (Omarion Hampton) on Monday, Louisville (Tyler Shough) and Texas (Matthew Golden, Kelvin Banks, Isaiah Bond) on Tuesday, Boise State (Ashton Jaenty) and Ohio State (too many to list) on Wednesday, Notre Dame (Riley Leonard) and Texas A&M (Shemar Stewart) on Thursday, and Penn State (Abdul Carter, Tyler Warren) and Ole Miss (Jaxson Dart, Walter Nolen) on Friday.
These pro days – followed by Colorado (Travis Hunter, Shedeur Sanders) on April 4 – should occupy GMs’ attention and perhaps pause additional free agent signings.
So it’s a good time to assess what the Browns have done so far this offseason.
ADDED
Quarterback Kenny Pickett: Acquired in trade with Eagles for 2025 fifth-round pick and quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson.
He said the Browns told him he can compete for the starter’s role. Right now, he’s the only QB under contract. Who’d have thunk it?
Offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas: Signed (2 years/$10 million).
A veteran swingman capable of beginning the season as the starting left tackle if Dawand Jones isn’t ready.
Edge rusher Joe Tryon-Shoyinka: Signed (1 year/$4.75 million).
Joins Ogbo Okoronkwo, Isaiah McGuire and Alex Wright in the end rotation after Myles Garrett.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins: Signed (2 years/$20 million).
He’s probably the most impactful defensive addition so far.
Offensive lineman Teven Jenkins: Signed (1 year).
If he’d received a multi-year deal, I’d consider him a new starter at guard. As it is, he’s OL6 or OL7 if he can stay healthy.
Linebacker Jerome Baker: Signed (1 year).
Joins Jordan Hicks, Devin Bush, Mohamoud Diabate, Nathaniel Watson, and Winston Reid in a LB room probably missing Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah in 2025.
Wide receiver/returner DeAndre Carter: Signed (1 year).
This year’s veteran candidate to fill the cursed returner role. He has one career TD return in seven seasons.
RETAINED
Edge rusher Myles Garrett: Extended (4 years/$160 million).
Putting out this brushfire with an epic contract extension eliminated a major distraction. It also wiped out an opportunity to collect much-needed extra high draft picks through 2026.
Right tackle Jack Conklin: Restructured (1 year/$9 million guaranteed with incentives).
Agreed to a $6 million pay cut for a $9 million guarantee and an invite to leave via free agency in 2026.
Linebacker Devin Bush: Signed (1 year/$3.25 million).
In JOK’s absence, he’ll compete to start alongside Hicks.
Cornerback Tony Brown: Signed (1 year).
A mainstay special teams core player.
SUBTRACTED, OR LEFT VIA FREE AGENCY
Free safety Juan Thornhill: Signed with Steelers (1 year).
Defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson: Signed with Cardinals (2 years/$29 million)
Long snapper Charley Hughlett: Signed with Eagles (1 year/$1.422 million)
Cornerback Mike Ford: Signed with Falcons (2 years/$4 million).
Quarterback Bailey Zappe: Signed with Chiefs (1 year).
Offensive tackle James Hudson: Signed with Giants (2 years/$12 million).
Quarterback Jameis Winston: Signed with Giants (2 years/$8 million).
Safety D’Anthony Bell: Signed with Seahawks (1 year).
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson: Traded to Eagles with fifth-round draft pick for quarterback Kenny Pickett.
VOIDS TO FILL IN FREE AGENCY
1. Quarterback: Do they want to pay for an undisputed bridge starter, a low-cost temp starter, or a QB3 and mentor?
Possibilities, depending on role: Russell Wilson, Carson Wentz, Joe Flacco, Teddy Bridgewater.
2. Tight end: Other than starter David Njoku, there’s only Blake Whiteheart and Brenden Bates on the roster. Even if they address this position in the draft, there’s a need for another veteran.
Possibilities: Jordan Akins, Gerald Everett, Mo Alie-Cox, Irv Smith Jr.
3. Safety: With Grant Delpit and Ronnie Hickman projected as starters, the only backups on the roster are Chris Edmonds and Trey Dean.
Possibilities: Justin Simmons, Julian Blackmon, Marcus Williams.