The Cleveland Browns weren’t really interested in ex-Pro Bowlers DeAndre Hopkins and Ezekiel Elliott

Turns out the Cleveland Browns were never really in on DeAndre Hopkins or Ezekiel Elliott

The Cleveland Browns, like the rest of the league, are back at practice. They’re doing their summer workouts, getting ready for the season, and doing the typical things teams do at this point in time. Just because they were back at work, getting the squad ready for the upcoming season, they were done making moves. The move to get Za’Darius Smith just a month ago had many, myself included, believing the team was far from done making moves.

Then with the release of Ezekiel Elliott and DeAndre Hopkins, rumors started popping up at the Browns had a real interest in both men. After all, the Browns running back and receiver rooms are not considered the deepest in the NFL according to PFF. So it made sense that the team would consider Elliott and Hopkins; for the right price.

So the rumors made sense at first. Now, however, the tune has changed. Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com went on the Chico Bormann Show a few days and revealed that the Browns never had an interest in Hopkins. At least, not a real one. Cabot has also revealed that the team is not interested in Elliott or fellow veteran runner, Dalvin Cook.

Both stories should be considered for their accuracy, as the Browns often leak information to Cabot. So, that’s it; no more major moves for the Browns.

But is this the right move?

The Cleveland Browns are making the wrong move by not going after Ezekiel Elliot and DeAndre Hopkins

In 2020, I would be wholly against these moves. The Browns were young, had plenty of cap space, and had an expected decade to compete. Now, in 2023, the team is older, with more key guys closer to 30 than 22, and with a shrinking championship window. There’s no reason to be cautious anymore.

The Browns made a deal with the devil to land Deshaun Watson, and will likely only have a year or two to compete with him under contract. Eventually, the team is going to have to gut their roster and move on from certain players due to his enormous contract.

The team may not be able to compete in 2025, let alone 2024 due to Watson’s contract. It makes all the sense in the world to capitalize on 2023, go for broke, and try and win a Super Bowl. This may be the last-best year for them to do that.

Sure, they may keep competing, but the team is as good as it’s going to be over the next few years, and they need to capitalize on this while they can. Otherwise, what’s the point of the chaos they kicked up the last few years?

• Published on 06/19/2023 at 20:25 PM
• Last updated at 06/20/2023 at 17:57 PM