The Cleveland Browns are facing an uncertain cap-future in 2021 and because of that, cuts may be in order. These are just four of the likeliest names.
The Cleveland Browns have a lot of cap space to their name. While they could’ve used a lot of it in 2020 on one-year deals (Clay Matthews Jr). they opted to not use any of it and instead let it sit there. In 2021, that money may be all gone. Not because they spend it, mind you, but because there are those concerned that the salary cap will take a huge hit and that teams will have less money to spend come 2021.
So there are going to be cuts. Cuts to guys with big contracts and cuts to guys with little contracts. There will be cuts for cap flexibility and cuts done for roster space. You may not agree with these selections but they stand out as the most likely of all the players.
That doesn’t mean they aren’t the only ones on the bubble, but it seems unlikely that the Browns would cut someone like Odell Beckham Jr. when they could get a draft pick for him. At this rate, a late-pick may be all you can get for him, but that’s stuff for another list.
Let’s get to the names.
M.J. Stewart
M.J. Stewart has not played well, hell most of the cornerbacks not named Denzel Ward haven’t played well, but Stewart makes the list for one reason; Terrence Mitchell is a free agent in 2021. If Mitchell wasn’t, he’d be on this list instead. That’s not the case though, so Mitchell is here instead. As a nickel/dime cornerback not much was expected of him and yet Stewart can’t even deliver that. The Browns’ pass defense, especially with the corners, has been atrocious. The team will surely look to improve the cornerback spot in the offseason and that means a roster spot needs to be freed up.
Sheldon Richardson
If Sheldon Richardson returns to the Browns in 2021 with his current salary, I’ll be shocked. Legitimately, no sarcasm intended. Richardson hasn’t played well since he landed with the Browns and his entire career can be summed up by saying “missed by *THAT* much.” Yeah, he had one year where he went to the Pro Bowl. Last decade. Since then he’s been on three other teams after being drafted by the Jets, and no one else has wanted him to stick around. For a reason.
He’s played beyond poorly in his year-plus seasons with the Browns, only ever showing any glimpse of talent when playing against the worst of the worst offensive lines in the league. That’s fine if you’re a fourth-string defensive tackle who mostly just plays garbage time, but Richardson is making $12 million next offseason. Or another way to look at that number, the total amount Andrew Berry put into the defense in 2020…
That $12 million isn’t a deal-breaker, but with the cap the way it is, and the fear of it shrinking, combined with Richardson’s poor play, there’s no way to justify bringing him back as is. Sure, a Chris Hubbard-like restructuring of his deal would save him but would he even accept that?
The Browns can save a flat $12 million by cutting him as soon as the 2021 offseason starts and they should absolutely do just that.
Greedy Williams
This one might anger and confuse some but there are a few good reasons why this is very possible. Firstly, Greedy Williams underperformed as a rookie. There’s no denying that, he just did. Secondly, he’s missed significant amounts of time in his rookie year as well, missing four games due to injury. Williams also missed two games in college due to injuries as well.
He’s quite injury prone. He’s missed the entire 2020 season up until this point, and is on the IR at the moment, a place he’s expected to be out the rest of the year. The reasoning? Nerve issues in his shoulder. That’s a horrifying injury, because it may never truly heal. If he has nerve damage in his shoulder, then his career is likely over.
That means that Williams will need to be replaced. Even if it’s not a career-ending injury, it’s one that could flare up again at any time. The Browns can save more than half of Williams’ remaining contract by cutting him after the June 1, 2021 deadline.
That’s nearly about $2 million saved. It might be a bit of a rush to judgment about Williams’ health, but considering the severity of it already, it has to be considered. Especially considering how often one uses their shoulders to do that thing called “tackling”.