Browns: What a perfect free agency would look like

Which Browns to re-sign?

So the Browns have 53 main roster spots to fill, not to mention the current 15 “futures” contracts, aka the practice squad crew. That’s 68 active slots, and the Browns should leave free agency with 67 of them currently filled. Remember, this exercise started with Sheldon Richardson and Case Keenum being moved.

Now with the draft coming up, the Browns have 11 draft picks according to Spotrac. This means that it’s very likely the Browns would trade away some lower picks to move up in the draft, or cut some veteran players as happens every year. So until we know what guys on the active roster aren’t coming back, we should probably make sure we have some guys at key positions returning. None of these players are worth more than $1 million so let’s just assume all six guys will cost $4-5 million total and we’ll split the difference at $4.5. So who are we bringing back?

You want depth in the secondary and Andrew Sendejo knows the defense, plus he could be the team’s third safety as needed. Either Sione TakiTaki or Mack Wilson will get cut (or both) and there’s a good chance that the team won’t need him, but bringing back B.J. Goodson to compete is smart money.

With Chris Hubbard traded in this scenario, you’ll want Kendall Lamm and Michael Dunn back. Especially if the team moves on from Drew Forbes and Drake Dorbeck which seems like a possibility after guys like Dunn and Blake Hance stepped up in their stead. You still want depth on the offensive line. It’s always possible Forbes and Dorbeck are retained after taking 2020 off, and Lamm and Dunn are left to walk.

Rashard Higgins seems like an inexpensive option to be a third-receiver for the Browns, and with this crop, it’d be Jarvis Landry, Chris Godwin, Higgins, Donovan Peoples-Jones, and Ryan Switzer at receiver.

Finally, Porter Gustin can play defensive tackle, end, or linebacker. His versatility is too much to lose out on.

Cap Space: $17.5 million at least

Roster 52 (66 with practice squad players)