Browns: 8 veterans who might not make the 2021 roster
By Chad Porto
The Browns could end up cutting your favorite player in 2021.
The Browns are no different than any NFL team and are prone to cutting someone that may shock or befuddle you. It happens every year it feels like, someone shocking gets cut and one understands why until they sign with their new team and everything is clear as day.
Sometimes it’s just a puzzling move and the player still has something left after all. In other situations, the player gets cut for financial reasons and there are some of those guys on the Browns this year. Mostly, the guys who could get cut have younger, cheaper options behind them.
While the Browns don’t need to cut some of these guys, if they feel they have a prospect or two they’re high on, don’t be surprised if these names end up getting the ax in training camp. To be clear, this is anyone who’s not a rookie. So you’re going to see some “young veterans” listed here.
Jarvis Landry
Cutting Jarvis Landry seems unlikely at best, and a near impossibility at worst. He’s pretty valuable to the team and their identity, plus he’s not far removed from his Pro Bowl years. He could ascend to that level once again.
That said, it’s not like it’s as impossible as you may think. He’s got a bad hip, a big issue for receivers, especially ones who rely on their shiftiness and not speed to get open. He’s also one of the slowest pass-catcher the team has. We’re talking tight ends being faster than him. Not only that, but the Browns have a far less costly version of him, Rashard Higgins, sitting behind him.
Not just that but the Browns have a new shiny receiver option in rookie Anthony Schwartz. Landry doesn’t seem to have the same trade value that Odell Beckham has, so it’s possible (*NOT LIKELY, just possible*) that Landry could end up getting cut.
He’s also past the big portion of his contract, so the Browns would only need to pay him $1.5 million in 2021 and 2022 before they’re free of his contract completely. An unpopular option to save money but an option nonetheless.