These are five free agents the Browns should consider.
The Browns don’t have a lot of holes anymore. At least none that are obvious. They have some new rookie prospects and some new veteran acquistions to add to the team, but that doesn’t mean that they’re all going to pan out. That’s why you have to continuously keep your eyes out for new players. If someone is failing to make an impact, a replacement needs to be found.
You also want to have guys on standby in case of injuries. Injuries pop up all the time and can ruin the flow of a team in a matter of moments. It’s hard to replace everyone if they get hurt but the hope is that you can replace one or two guys and still keep going.
Now some will mention all the rookie and second-year players the Browns have on their squad. That’s true, they have a lot of young players, but when pushing for a Super Bowl, you don’t want to rely on that fifth-round pick or a fourth-rounder who can’t get in the game. You want a veteran who knows what they’re doing. So that’s why we’re looking at five veteran players the Browns should consider signing at some point.
Honorable Mention – DT Sheldon Richardson
Signing Sheldon Richardson on a bare-bones, veterans minimum contract isn’t the worst idea. He knows the area, he knows the schemes, and he’s at a position the team could use some more depth at. He’s not a good starter anymore and he was way overpaid when the Browns released him, but on minimum contract for a year or two, especially if he’s a rotation guy and not a starter? Sure, bring him back.
Just don’t expect him to ever live up to his lofty draft position. He’s not that guy and never was. The Browns would be wise to use him only as a third tackle on the depth chart.
DE/OLB Melvin Ingram
Can’t have too much pass rushing.
Melvin Ingram isn’t a young man anymore and he’s coming off some major injuries recently. He didn’t really play much in 2020, only about 35% of the defensive snaps last year for the Chargers. Down from being in the high 80%. If Ingram can find something worth showing, he’d be a huge boost for the Browns defensive line. Especially since guys like Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney can rush from the inside as well as the outside. So you could presumably have three defensive edge rushers on the line with Ingram, Garrett, and Clowney.
It’s possible that’s all Ingram is at this point in his career, just a pass rusher who can’t do much outside of third-downs. That’s very possible and makes it a huge reason to not over-pay for someone of his diminished skillsets.
There’s also the chance he can bounce back to a degree to his old form and if he can, not only do you get a cheap-third rusher but someone capable of playing outside at the linebacking spot.
A veteran’s minimum contract is all you should really consider offering Ingram.
CB Richard Sherman
“I’m not afraid of the AFC North,” was what Richard Sherman said to Stephen A. Smith. Well, if that’s true, the Browns could certainly use him. It may not seem like it but there’s a lot of good reasons to go get Sherman. Firstly, the Browns cornerbacks are great; on paper. They may all end up in the Pro Bowl and fighting each other for All-Pro spots, sure. That reality exists. There’s also a reality where Greedy Williams never rebounds, the Browns’ new rookie Greg Newsome struggles, gets hurt, busts out, there’s also a chance that Denzel Ward is also getting hurt and misses time.
These are all possibilities. Not likelihoods, hopefully, but possibilities nonetheless. You can’t rule out the improbable, no matter how unlikely it is. Signing Sherman strengthens the one part of the defense that will need all the help they can get, no matter how well they play. The NFL is a run-and-gun league at the moment, and having four corners who can be one’s or two’s on your team is a boon idea.
Now, what will you offer someone like Sherman? What can you? The Browns are currently over the cap due to silly things that will clear off the books by the start of the 2021 season, at which time they’ll have about $25 million. If Sherman will take a one-year deal, you can offer him more than most. If he wants multi-years, you’re not going to want to offer him more than $4 or $5 million per year. If he’s onboard for that, make it happen.
WR Danny Amendola
The idea of signing Danny Amendola isn’t like the idea of signing Richard Sherman or Melvin Ingram (or the next guy on the list), as those would be straight-up additions for now. Amendola is someone to keep an eye on in case of injuries. It’s great to get rookies reps when you’re on a losing team. If you’re a playoff team, heck, a Super Bowl contender, you want vets who can help out. He’s played well for Miami and Detroit over the last few years, and even though he’ll be 36, his shiftiness isn’t on the decline just yet.
You’d only really reach out to him if Odell Beckham and Jarvis Landry get hurt again or if the team finally trades Beckham. Amendola would then make a nice veteran presence on the field, alongside Rashard Higgins. Donovan Peoples-Jones and Anthony Schwartz are great prospects on paper, but is anyone really excited about the possibility of Baker Mayfield being forced to throw to a third-round rookie 100 times in a season?
Amendola as an injury replacement gives the team some stability if there are injuries to the position. Like with Ingram, a veteran’s minimum would probably be all it takes to get the deal done. It’s unlikely he’s going to get man big contract offers, if any, that exceeds a $1 million, so it’d be pretty easy to get him if the Browns end up having a need for him.
His playoff experience could also be helpful for some of the younger players at the position.
DE/DT Everson Griffen
Just like Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney, Everson Griffen is someone the Browns could certainly use inside and out on the defensive line. He’s 280lbs and strong as an ox. Griffen would be a great interior pass-rusher if paired with Garrett, and when not, he can also serve as the primary third end and maybe even third defensive tackle for the rotation. Giving the vets some breath, while also filling in for the younger players in press-cooker moments.
Griffen didn’t have a bad 2020, but it was down from the expectations of previous years. He had six sacks combined across his time in Detroit and Dallas while missing two games. So it’s possible that he would’ve had more had he played all 16 games. With the NFL moving from the aforementioned 16 games to 17 games, having veterans who are experienced in long seasons would be a nice addition to the team.
Now there may be some who ask why so much help pass rushing? Well, Pass rushing is like three-point shooting in the NBA, which is to say you can’t have too much. Especially someone like Griffen, who can still play three-down defense, and he’s quick enough for the end, and strong enough for the interior.
You don’t want Griffen being your best player or even your best pass-rusher but he’s a guy you want on your team because of the versatility he brings.
He might make you pay him a bit more than the rest of the guys on this list, but if it’s a one-year deal, it might be worth it.
RB Duke Johnson
Yes, it’s Baker Mayfield’s favorite running back. Bringing back Duke Johnson may not make a lot of sense to many people, but there are justifiably good reasons to consider bringing back Johnson. Firstly, the Browns clearly still want a player like him, hence why they drafted Demetric Felton. Felton isn’t a lock to make the team, however. He’s not even a lot to be any good. He’s a sixth-round rookie for a reason.
The Browns also haven’t gotten what they wanted out of Kareem Hunt, which is why Felton got drafted. While Hunt as a runner has been as good as can be expected, the fact is Hunt was thought to be the second coming of Marshall Faulk with his versatility. Hunt was on pace for over 500 yards receiving in 2018 and would’ve topped 1,000 career receiving yards at the end of his second year. Since then, Hunt has just under 600 total receiving yards with the Browns. The point of bringing Hunt in was to get more passes his way.
Hunt’s a solid player, and for what the Browns need for him (rushing the ball), he’s a better option than Johnson. What about if someone gets hurt, though? What if D’Ernest Johnson gets cut? Duke is an upgrade over D’Ernest.
Like Amendola, this isn’t a move you make until someone proves they’re not up to snuff or get injured. Either way. You wouldn’t give Duke Johnson a hefty contract either, something of a one-year deal variety.