2023 has been a rollercoaster ride for the Cleveland Browns. When all hope seemed gone when starting QB Deshaun Watson's season ended in November, Joe Flacco emerged out of nowhere to lead the Browns to four wins in five starts, clinching the franchise's first postseason appearance since 2020 in the process.
Regardless of how the campaign ends, there's a lot to be excited about the Browns' future. At the same time, though, not everyone is guaranteed to be a part of it. After all, the offseason is just a few months away and there's no doubt that Cleveland fans will be forced to say goodbye to some familiar faces.
Here are five Browns who are likely leaving Cleveland in the New Year.
5 Browns Likely Gone in 2024
1. P.J. Walker, QB
I think I speak for most Browns fans when I say that P.J. Walker shouldn't be on the roster in 2024.
The former 2020 XFL passing yards leader just doesn't have what it takes to be an NFL quarterback. Walker has consistently come up short whenever the Browns called his number, registering a 48.6% completion percentage while throwing 674 passing yards with one touchdown to five interceptions in six appearances (2 starts).
Walker turns 29 in February, meaning he isn't exactly at an age where improvement is expected. He likely is who he is at this point and the Browns don't need to waste a roster spot on him next season — especially if they're willing to give Flacco, who's interested in playing in 2024, another contract.
I fully expect Walker to be a practice squad candidate elsewhere when he hits free agency in March.
2. Marquise Goodwin, WR
Most wide receivers tend to hit their drop-offs once they reach their 30s and that's been the exact case for Marquise Goodwin this season.
Goodwin has been a complete afterthought in Cleveland's offense throughout the 2023 campaign. He's only been targeted 13 times across a dozen games, only hauling in four passes (30.8%) for 67 receiving yards without a touchdown. He's also played just 14% of offensive snaps and owns a 9.6 passer rating when targeted.
For reference, a QB would receive a 39.6 passer rating if they only threw the ball into the ground all game, highlighting just how negative of a presence Goodwin has been.
Sometimes stats don't tell the whole story, especially over a small sample, but this is not one of those times. Pro Football Focus has also given him an overall grade of just 51.3 on the year (including 50.3 as a receiving grade).
The Browns' wide receiver room is incredibly thin, but that is true in part because of how bad Goodwin has been. His presence doesn't make things any less thin, and at 33 years old it's not like he should be expected to suddenly turn things around.
Considering how Goodwin will also become a free agent in the coming months, I highly doubt he returns in 2024.
3. Jordan Akins, TE
The Browns are facing a huge salary cap crunch in 2024. Spotrac lists Cleveland as being an estimated $12.8 million over the cap, making someone like Jordan Akins expendable.
Akins, a former 2018 third-rounder, hasn't made much of an impact in his first campaign with the Browns. After registering career highs in receptions (37), receiving yards (495), and touchdowns (5) in his final season with the Houston Texans, the 31-year-old is only up to a 12-108-0 stat line through 16 games. He also plays a bigger percentage of snaps on special teams (27%) than he does on offense (17%).
Akins is signed through the 2024 season, but the Browns can save $2 million in cap space if they cut him at any point in the New Year.
David Njoku has finally emerged as a rock-solid TE1 option, but having at least two viable players at the position is important in the modern NFL. That doesn't mean Akins is the guy, though.
Harrison Bryant is firmly ahead of Akins on the depth chart (31% of the offensive snaps for Bryant to just 17% for Akins), and Akins' contract is not at all what you want to be paying your TE3.
There's also an intriguing young (much cheaper) TE3 option on the Browns' practice squad in Zaire Mitchell-Paden.
4. Kareem Hunt, RB
The case of Kareem Hunt is an interesting one.
The 28-year-old running back, who's also a free agent in March, was signed after Nick Chubb's season-ending knee injury. On one hand, Hunt has come through in a big way, setting a new career-high of nine rushing TDs through 14 games.
On the other hand, his yards per carry continue to decline. He went from averaging 4.9 yards per attempt in 2021 to 3.8 in 2022 to 3.0 this season — by far the worst mark of his career. Additionally, Hunt has only hit the 50-yard mark once this season.
With Chubb expected to make a full recovery by the start of the 2024 campaign and Jerome Ford's emergence as a legitimate backfield option, I don't see Hunt being re-signed in the New Year.
Hunt's decline will probably continue, and even if the Browns are worried about Chubb's recovery (and long-term prospects, since next season will be the final one on his contract, there are better answers out there.
Ford is, of course, the hopeful long-term answer in the Browns' backfield. But there's also at least one more draft and free-agency period before a Chubb successor will be needed, so there's no need to rush things
5. Jordan Elliott, DL
Expectations were high when the Browns drafted Jordan Elliott 88th overall in 2020, but he hasn't come close to meeting them.
Elliott's fourth season in the NFL hasn't been anything special, tallying 21 tackles and 2.5 sacks in 16 games. He also appears to be falling out of favor with the coaching staff, made evident by his playing just 40% of defensive snaps — his lowest share since he was a rookie (29%).
It doesn't help that Elliott also hasn't been the most disciplined player. He's missed a career-high 4.5% of tackles this season and has also taken five penalties for 33 yards after only receiving one call during the 2022 campaign. Pro Football Focus has also given him a 49.0 defensive grade, which is tied for 107th out of 129 graded interior defenders.
The Browns just aren't a good fit for Elliott and vice versa, making it likely that he will explore free agency this spring. Hopefully, he reaches his potential one day — it just likely won't be in Cleveland if he does.
Of course, there's still plenty of football left for Cleveland to play in 2024 before anyone leaves. To back your Browns in their next game, FanDuel Sportsbook is offering a $150 bonus GUARANTEED just for betting $5 on Cleveland. Just register and deposit $10 or more through the exclusive Factory of Sadness link below to unlock your bonus. Sign up for FanDuel now before the promo expires!
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