5 Cleveland Browns who could be gone after 2023 if they don’t step up

May 25, 2022; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) takes a snap from center Nick Harris (53) during organized team activities at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
May 25, 2022; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) takes a snap from center Nick Harris (53) during organized team activities at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 6
Next
LANDOVER, MARYLAND – JANUARY 01: Harrison Bryant #88 of the Cleveland Browns runs the ball after a catch aaginst Bobby McCain #20 of the Washington Commanders during the first half at FedExField on January 01, 2023 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MARYLAND – JANUARY 01: Harrison Bryant #88 of the Cleveland Browns runs the ball after a catch aaginst Bobby McCain #20 of the Washington Commanders during the first half at FedExField on January 01, 2023 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

Harrison Bryant

Harrison Bryant is fine, and that may be the worst thing to be in the NFL. With a bad player, you cut him, replace him and move on. With a good player, you re-sign him and continue on down the road. But an average, ‘fine’, player? What do you do with someone you know may cost more than you want to pay but may not be able to find a cheaper replacement?

These are the types of guys that kill a team. Too valuable to let walk but too mediocre to over-pay. The Browns don’t have the money on hand to pay such an average player when his contract expires. He’s not a bad player by any means but he’s not shown to be worth a second contract. Maybe he was before the team gave Deshaun Watson the worst contract in NFL history, or before the team took on the almost as bad contract involving Amari Cooper, but now?

If the Browns can get a cheaper option in the draft or in free agent Bryant may be traded or cut this offseason, if not next. Right now the only hope Bryant has in staying with the team is if David Njoku gets hurt and Bryant goes All-Pro on every defense he plays against in his absence.