The Cleveland Browns may be done spending this offseason

The Cleveland Browns are likely done with any significant moves, besides the NFL Draft.

The Cleveland Browns have invested considerable money into the free agency market. While they have only spent $12 million so far, the team has less than $10 million remaining. Money that is probably going to be earmarked for rookies and any emergency situations that may be coming down the pipeline.

With an estimated $9.6 million left, according to Over the Cap, the idea of landing someone like Bobby Wagner is out the window. This is a bit concerning, as the linebacking corp needs to be bolstered. Two of their three expected starters and re-signees, Anthony Walker and Sione Takitaki are coming off of major injuries that ended their 2022 seasons.

Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah has been a solid player since being drafted but he’s far more suited for coverage situations. The Browns needed a big bopper to come in, and while they could still get one, he’ll likely be a bargain player.

The Cleveland Browns didn’t help themselves by making a recent trade

The Browns acquired Elijah Moore, a player more known for his attitude problems than his play on the field, for a second-round pick. While the Browns got a third-round pick back in the deal, fans seem to forget the huge talent disparity that occurs between rounds. Think about 2022, they landed Martin Emerson, who may be a starter in this league, but just a few picks later they drafted Alex Wright and David Bell; two guys who did nothing to speak of in 2022.

Maybe unfair for 2021, but that’s the difference between Owusu-Koramoah and Anthony Schwartz (or 4th rounders James Hudson and Tommy Togiai). In 2020 it’s the difference between a potential 2023 starter Grant Delpit and cut-bait, Jordan Elliot and Jacob Phillips.

Sure, you can just say Browns’ GM Andrew Berry sucks at drafting, and that may be fair, but his second-round picks have been decent at least.

So now the Browns have to continue to upgrade their roster with eight picks ranging from the third to the seventh round? It really didn’t work out for them last year with that model. They’ll get some bodies, some special teamers, and maybe one starter but that’s a lot to ask for, considering they don’t have a great track record of drafting starting-caliber players.

They hit on obvious starters in Greg Newsome and Owusu-Koramoah, while also getting fringe guys in Donovan Peoples-Jones and Jedrick Wills. Newsome was a good get, even if the Browns passed on more important talents, and Owusu-Koramoah could have a decade-long career in the NFL.

Wills is anything but a successful pick and is a starter out of necessity. Peoples-Jones is a good value player but the Browns have tried upgrading the position for a reason. That’s it, four starters in three years.

And we’re supposed to believe that the Browns can solidify the rest of their team with seven picks across the hardest rounds to find starters?

Moore has got to produce.