Receiver Diontae Johnson, whose signing the Browns confirmed on Monday, might not be the last veteran player added to the roster. There are still concerns at free safety, offensive tackle, receiver and perhaps kicker.
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.
The NFL calendar marches on.
After the draft comes another phase of veteran free agency. GMs turn their attention back to unsigned veteran players still looking for new teams.
Usually after they hold their rookie minicamps – most of which are this weekend -- teams review their 90-player rosters and seek to plug any remaining perceived holes or add players on the cheap.
The Browns have added one or more veterans in the month of May in each of Andrew Berry’s five seasons as GM.
* In 2020, Berry brought back wide receiver Rashard Higgins, whose rookie contract expired the year before. Higgins proceeded to have his best year and contributed to the Browns’ surprise run to the playoffs.
* In 2021, Berry signed defensive tackle Malik McDowell, a former second-round pick of the Seahawks who had been out of football for three years because of legal issues. McDowell wound up posting three sacks and starting 14 games.
* In 2022, Berry re-signed defensive end Jadeveon Clowney and running back D’Ernest Johnson. Clowney made 10 starts but his sacks dropped off to two. He gradually went through the motions and blasted the Browns and Myles Garrett on his way out the door. Johnson appeared in 15 games, mostly on special teams.
* In 2023, Berry signed safety Rodney McLeod and traded for Za’Darius Smith. McLeod became a key player on Jim Schwartz’s defense as a third safety and made five starts. Smith started 16 games and was second on the defense with 5.5 sacks.
* In 2024, Berry signed center Brian Allen as insurance for starter Ethan Pocic. Allen suffered a calf injury in training camp and eventually was released through an injury settlement.
So we definitely can expect Berry to dip into Phase 3 of free agency this month. These are the position groups he might be looking to bolster.
Wide receiver
On roster: Jerry Jeudy, Diontae Johnson, Cedric Tillman, Jamari Thrash, David Bell, Michael Woods, DeAndre Carter, Kaden Davis.
Projected starters: Jeudy, Johnson, Tillman.
Top available veterans: Amari Cooper, 30; Keenan Allen, 33; Nelson Agholor, 31; D.J. Chark, 28; Tyler Boyd, 30; Chris Conley, 32.
Analysis: Johnson’s previously reported signing was made official on Monday, qualifying him as this season’s May pickup. But Johnson’s wacky 2024 experience – he was traded by Pittsburgh and Carolina and waived by receiver-desperate Baltimore and Houston – makes him no sure thing to make it even to training camp. The Browns’ return to a multiple-tight end offensive system (hello, Harold Fannin Jr.) probably will reduce usage of three-receiver alignments. There is a glaring need, however, for a solid No. 2 receiver to complement Jeudy, the undisputed No. 1. Tillman could step up and fill the spot, but that would require a leap of faith after he missed the last five games in concussion protocol.
Offensive tackle
On roster: Dawand Jones, Jack Conklin, Cornelius Lucas, Teven Jenkins, Lorenzo Thompson, Julian Pearl, Roy Mbaeteka.
Projected starters: Jones, Conklin.
Top available veterans: Jedrick Wills, 25; D.J. Humphries, 31; Germain Ifedi, 30; Jackson Carman, 25; Andre Dillard, 29; Geron Christian, 28.
Analysis: When healthy, Jones and Conklin are a pretty good pair of starting tackles. But Jones ended his second season in a row on crutches. He suffered a fractured fibula in 2024 and an MCL injury the year before. That injury history, along with a continual battle to keep his weight under 400 pounds, and a short sample size at left tackle, makes it risky business to rely on Jones. Same could be said for Conklin. He missed a total of 25 games in 2021 and 2023 with major injuries. Conklin did make it back to play 12 games in 2024 and looked like his former All-Pro self. But a contract redo leaves him a free agent after this year, so the Browns will have to replace him even if he plays a full season. Toward that end, the Browns reportedly tried to trade into the bottom of the first round this year with the intention of drafting Ohio State tackle Josh Simmons, but were unsuccessful.
Free safety
On roster: Ronnie Hickman, Trey Dean.
Projected starter: Hickman.
Top available veterans: Justin Simmons, 31; Julian Blackmon, 26; Marcus Williams, 28; Jordan Poyer, 34; Jalen Mills, 31; Marcus Maye, 32; John Johnson, 29; Tashaun Gipson, 34.
Analysis: The Browns haven’t had a player lead the league in interceptions since Gipson had six for them in 2014. (By the way, Gipson, who played for the Browns from 2012 to 2015, is fourth among active players with 33 career interceptions. Signed by former GM Tom Heckert, Gipson was one of the greatest undrafted free agent finds in Browns history.) A free safety addition is even more imperative because of Schwartz’s desire to use three safeties in special sub packages.
Place-kicker
On roster: Dustin Hopkins, Andre Szmyt.
Projected starter: Hopkins.
Top available veterans: Justin Tucker, 35; Nick Folk, 40; Eddy Pineiro, 29; Austin Seibert, 28; Matt Prater, 40.
Analysis: After his storybook 2023 season, the Browns signed Hopkins to a three-year contract for $15.9 million. He slumped in 2024, but the contract guaranteed him $2 million in salary and bonuses for 2025. Cutting him would result in about $5.6 million in dead cap charges. The Browns seem intent on seeing Hopkins kick his way back into form. Tucker was released on Monday by the Ravens, ending a historic run that ended in disgrace. Tucker has been accused by 16 Baltimore-area massage therapists of inappropriate behavior from alleged incidents between 2012-16. Tucker has vehemently denied all accusations in two social media posts. Tucker is the NFL’s all-time most accurate kicker and holds the record for longest field goal made, but his last two seasons have shown concerted drop-offs from his career percentages.