Browns: Sheldon Richardson never lived up to his lofty contract

The Browns have finally released Sheldon Richardson, ending his tenure with the team with one year left on his contract. The release will save the Browns $11 million against the cap and will give the team cap flexibility going forward. The decision wasn’t unexpected nor unwarranted, especially after the signing of Jadeveon Clowney.

For Browns fans, Richardson never lived up to his contract. In two seasons he had 77 tackles, 7.5 sacks, and four forced fumbles. If he had been paid a quarter of what he was, this would’ve been perfectly acceptable, and even could argue he was outperforming his contract. He wasn’t being paid $3 or $4 million, however. He was being paid $11 million and was among the highest earners on the team.

With that salary, you expect him to produce and be a Pro Bowler, and he was anything but that.

During the 2019 season, PFF graded him at 73.9, and in 2020 PFF graded him at 71.1. In his lone Pro Bowl season, he graded out at 84.6, a stark difference from where he was and where he was expected to be in 2020.

The Browns will see a brand new set of interior starters after the release of Richardson. He wasn’t the only starter who was let go, as Larry Ogunjobi was also let go and subsequently signed with the Cinncinati Bengals.

Andrew Billing will more than likely get the start inside this year, after sitting out 2020 due to the coronavirus. 2021 free agent Malik Jackson will also be another tentative starter, with Jordan Elliot and Sheldon Day going to be names that will push the veterans for playing time.

Jackson was one of the names recruiting Clowney to join the team, and the hope is that Jackson and Billings will be able to generate pressure up the middle against the rush and pass, which would be a huge upgrade over the last two starters.