What free agents should the Browns bring back for 2022
By Chad Porto
Should Not Be Brought Back
DE Takkarist McKinley
At no point in 2022 did Takkarist McKinley live up to his $4.5 million contract. He only registered two sacks in 11 games and wasn’t a force against the run on any consistent basis. A mid-rounder in the draft could do his job for a fifth of the cost.
DT Malik Jackson
Like with McKinley, Malik Jackson put in poor performances week in and week out for a guy on his salary. The Browns would have been better off cutting him in training camp with how much of a cap space-waste he ended up being.
WR Rashard Higgins
Rashard Higgins may not be an “issue” but he’s certainly no longer a fit. The Browns need to be faster at his position and he’s just not the game-breaker he needs to be, plus he appears to be unhappy with the situation in Cleveland.
LB Malcolm Smith
For his age and cost, Malcolm Smith has been fine, but you could find a rookie who can produce as well as he can at a third of the cost.
P Dustin Colquitt
Talk about a mistake. Dustin Colquitt was awful. He had one good game and Andrew Berry overreacted and cut Jamie Gillan for Colquitt, and that went on to bite the Browns in the rear to close out the season.
DE Ifeadi Odenigbo
The former Viking, Ifeadi Odenigbo had zero sacks in nine games for the Browns. He’ll be 28 this year and frankly, the Browns should follow the trend; draft someone younger and less expensive.
S Ronnie Harrison
For Ronnie Harrison, he had potential but the Jacksonville Jaguars traded him for a reason and we all should’ve seen why. He makes mistakes and can’t control his attitude on the field. He’s just not a long-term option.
K Chase McLaughlin
He started off the season so well. Chase McLaughlin kicked himself out of Cleveland with a stretch of bad games and missed kicks. Maybe find a kicker in the draft as the Bengals did?
DT Malik McDowell
Turns out, signing the guy with a huge grocery list full of issues was a bad idea. Who saw that coming? His play was nearly as bad as his reputation and his latest arrest should be the end of his career.