Browns Look Ahead: Contracts And Implications for Team's Future
ByJARED MUELLER Apr 30, 1:27 PM
https://247sports.com/nfl/cleveland-brow...47/#146625547_1The NFL just completed the 2020 NFL Draft. Due to the pandemic, teams won't get a live look at their players for some time still. The 2020 offseason isn't quite over, with a number of quality names still available as well as the trade market remaining wide open.
The Cleveland Browns have continued their overhaul this offseason bringing in a number of free agents to start and drafting at least two players, Jedrick Wills and Grant Delpit, who should start for the team next year.
The Browns seem under the constant status of chance for the past two decades and, sadly, that state of change has not led to many wins. Maybe it is the change that has caused so many losses.
While the team is getting ready for the 2020 season, in whatever manner it may be, this is also a good time to look farther ahead. It is why 2021 mock drafts often have a very high click rate, we always wonder what is ahead, what is next.
For the Browns, all the years of change have often led the "next" to be a teardown and rebuild but, so far, Andrew Berry has been the opposite of the past. While Berry did jettison a few players and didn't re-sign Joe Schobert, the Browns roster hasn't made a drastic change. Instead, Berry has just added to the foundation that was already present.
He's also added some continuity with picking up the fifth-year options for Myles Garrett and David Njoku which keeps them signed through the 2021 season while also bringing back Rashard Higgins on a one year deal.
While 2020 was the offseason of additions, what could the 2021 offseason look like?
In the first article in this mini-series, we look at what contracts the Browns will have to deal with after the season.
2020 OFFSEASON ADDITIONS
While this offseason added a number of players under long-term contracts, the Browns also added quite a few players that could once again be free agents during the 2021 season. It is possible that the team, and player, will be willing to extend those contracts during the year if everything goes well, but it is also possible that the Browns saw them as stopgap players.
Either way, a few of the offseason additions could be subtractions next year:
Rashard Higgins - Higgins has had a rollercoaster career which included him being waived by the Browns, going unclaimed, and signing to the team's practice squad. He seemingly didn't draw much interest after a terrible 2019 campaign and signed for one year to hope his quality relationship with Baker Mayfield can manifest itself on the field once again and lead to a payday in 2021.
Andrew Billings - The 25-year-old defensive lineman fits the profile of a player the Browns could want to keep around for a while but only signed for a season. While the Browns drafted Jordan Elliott to help on the interior, the team's long-term depth chart could become scarce relatively quickly. Billings could be an extension candidate during the year if he plays well enough.
Kevin Johnson - The former first-round pick has bounced around over the last couple of seasons and found a one year home in Cleveland with many expecting that he could slide in as the team's slot corner. With Denzel Ward and Greedy Williams drafted high, the Browns may not be willing to pay Johnson long-term, even if he has a great year.
Karl Joseph - The 27-year-old is another player, like Billings, that the Browns could want to keep around for a while but he has to prove he can stay healthy. Another former first-round pick, the Browns would have to feel very good to extend him beyond this season but did not draft or sign a young strong safety who could replace him in the future.
B.J. Goodson - A two-down linebacker, Goodson could have the inside track at a starting linebacker job as the Browns waited until late in the third round to add someone to the position. With a few young guys locked in and Goodson's limitations, he seems to fit more as a stopgap measure for the team.
Andrew Sendejo - At 33 years old, Sendejo will compete for a roster spot and bring his physicality to the roster. He is a year to year player at this point and is unlikely to sign long-term with any team.
Jojo Natson - The lightening fast Natson was signed to return kicks primarily but then the Browns drafted Donovan Peoples-Jones who has ability there as well. Natson is a surprising 27 years old and would have to be electric for the team to sign him to a long-term deal.
Donovan Olumba - Based on his years of service, Olumba will be an exclusive rights free agent. The Browns can bring him back if they choose to with little trouble.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
Not only do the Browns have quite a few of their 2020 additions becoming free agents but they have a number of their own players that can be free to go to the highest bidder, if not extended during the season:
Olivier Vernon - Vernon's future with the Browns has seemed up in the air all offseason since the team could cut him and save $16 million against the cap. Berry seemed to try to squash that notion after the draft but Vernon is scheduled to be a free agent after the season and has struggled with injuries most of his career. On the wrong side of the 30, Vernon does not seem to be a part of the team's long-term future after the season.
Kareem Hunt - An interesting name on the list is Hunt. He is helpful as a player to spell Nick Chubb but has much more value as a starter somewhere. If he doesn't have any off the field issues his price tag will be huge and he will move on from the Browns. If he struggles off the field, the Browns will probably not want him back. Odds are high that Kareem Hunt is somewhere else in 2021.
Terrance Mitchell - Another player brought in by the previous regime that has seemed to be on the roster bubble, Money Mitch has played well in spurts for the Browns but not enough to keep the team from adding players to his position in the last three offseasons. If he makes it through the season, Mitchell may be off to different pastures in 2021.
Larry Ogunjobi - While Berry has extended or brought back Garrett, Njoku, and Higgins, he also let Schobert walk in free agency. Another player drafted when Berry was around the first time, Ogunjobi, can also hit free agency next year. The big man had flashes of good play followed by going missing on the field. He'll need a big year for the team to consider extending him for the kind of money that young big men get in the NFL.
Kendall Lamm - A swing tackle, Lamm is a backup for the Browns this season and likely doesn't carry enough value for the Browns to bring him back for anything more than a one year contract unless a serious injury takes place.
Others - Taywan Taylor, Eli Ankou, Tae Davis
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
Not a ton of huge names in this list but the Browns have a few restricted or exclusive rights free agents that the team will need to make decisions on:
Restricted Free Agents
Garrett Gilbert - Already 30 years old, Gilbert is a restricted free agent due to his limited amount of years in the league. While Case Keenum is Mayfield's primary backup, Gilbert has a comfort level with the starter that could help. With additional roster spaces, the Browns are likely to keep three quarterbacks. Gilbert will fight for that spot and could be back for one more season.
Tavierre Thomas - A name that isn't mentioned much, Thomas is an important part of the Browns special teams and will be a restricted free agent.
Khadarel Hodge - Much like Thomas, Hodge's contributions are on special teams and he played well in his first year in Cleveland.
Dontrell Hilliard - A player who got a lot of hype the last offseason, Hilliard didn't produce much for the Browns in limited opportunities. With Hunt likely gone following the 2020 season, the Browns could keep Hilliard around for one more season to backup Chubb.
Pharaoh Brown - Kevin Stefanski likes tight ends but Brown could be out just based on the numbers game.
Justin Zimmer - At 28, Zimmer seems unlikely a part of the Browns future but anything is possible with a new defense in place.
Exclusive Rights Free Agents
The following players can be brought back cheaply for the Browns if they want them:
Johnny Stanton
Stephen Carlson
J.T. Hassell
Porter Gustin
Daniel Ekuale
Willie Harvey Jr.
Robert Jackson
Robert McCray
Colby Gossett
CONTRACT DECISIONS
While the first few lists have an overwhelming number of players who are expected to produce for the team this season, they are not the only ones who could be let go. The Browns have a couple of contracts where they could move on from the player without a large-cap hit.
This is not to insinuate that they would but only to note the cap savings if they did for players that have the slightest chance of the team moving on from:
Sheldon Richardson - Richardson would be going into the final year of his contract in 2021. Richardson turns 30 during the 2020 season and has taken punishment on the inside of the defensive line for years. If the Browns move on from him, they save $12 million off the cap with only a little over $1.5 million in dead cap hit.
Jarvis Landry - Landry has played well for the Browns but is coming off an injury and going into an offense that uses tight ends to a high level. The team has a lot of money invested in Landry and Odell Beckham Jr. and could decide to move on from one of them after the season. Landry being moved would save the Browns over $11 million in cap space with $3 million in dead cap money.
Chris Hubbard - While Hubbard restructured his contract this offseason, he could still be on the chopping block next year and save the Browns almost $4 million off of the cap in 2021.
David Njoku - While the Browns picked up his fifth-year option, it is important to note that the team can cut him without a salary cap hit as long as he is healthy. His option is only guaranteed for injuries. Based on how Berry has talked about him, this is unlikely but important to note.
Others - Important to note that Myles Garrett, Odell Beckham Jr. and Joel Bitonio have no dead money associated with their contracts. None are likely to be moved but should be noted here.
EXTENSION DISCUSSIONS
Any of the players noted previously could be up for contract extensions, those we believe the Browns will want to keep around for longer have been noted.
The Browns also have a few players whose contracts will be up after the 2021 season and could be in discussions for extensions. Richardson and Njoku are two that were just noted as a part of the contract decisions but both could play well enough in 2020 to instead be discussed for an extension.
Others with contracts coming up to end by the 2022 season and could be up for an extension sooner rather than later:
Myles Garrett - The Browns will likely try to extend Garrett's contract sooner than later to prepare for extensions for Baker Mayfield and Denzel Ward. Garrett is seen as a foundational piece for the team's defense and there will likely be extension talks later this offseason.
Nick Chubb - Drafted a year after Garrett, Chubb is set to be a free agent after the 2022 season as well. The Browns will have an interesting decision with him as they've seen very few running backs live up to their second contracts. While Chubb has shown no signs of it being a concern, his knee injury in college could also play a role.
Chad Thomas - The former Hurricane hasn't found his footing in the NFL and is more likely to be gone sooner than later if he can't put it together quickly.
Wyatt Teller - Added last year, Teller is said to have a fan in Browns offensive line coach Bill Callahan. If he can win the starting right guard position, the Browns may look to lock him up to a team-friendly extension during this season.
Jamie Gillan - The Scottish Hammer was undrafted so the Browns control his rights for a little while longer than 2022 but they could try to sew him up as well.
Others - Damion Ratley, DJ Montgomery, D'Ernest Johnson
THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT BUT...
The Browns have a solid foundation of young players surrounded by just enough veterans who can still play. Their immediate future looks bright but there are a lot of players whose contracts are coming up sooner than later.
The Browns will have to find a delicate balance of keeping "their" guys while balancing the salary cap and wanting to continue to bring in young talent. Older players are more expensive and tend to get hurt more often. They also are proven in the league.
If nothing changes, the Browns are expected to once again have a ton of salary cap space next season including rolling over a significant amount from this year. While the numbers can be quite large (estimates are around $60 million in space next offseason), the team will have quite a few players coming up on second contracts quickly.
Are the 2020 additions just stopgap measures?
Will young guys, drafted players, and undrafted free agents step up to fill roles in 2021 and beyond?
8
COMMENTS
Who will Berry and company consider a part of the team's long-term core?
Will an extension with Garrett get done quickly and set the tone for Mayfield and Ward?
What do they do with Nick Chubb given the history of the running back spot?
Will 2020 be the last season where the team is big spenders in free agency as they turn to keep their own players?
These are all 2021 questions. How the 2020 season goes could answer most of them easily but they are all something to keep an eye on as the season progresses.
What future contract decision concerns you the most?