The hype of free agency has come and gone and now it’s time to look at what teams have gained and lost since March 16th and where they stand as they prepare for the upcoming draft. Let’s talk about my disappointment in the Cleveland Browns.
Cleveland Browns
Key acquisitions: QB Deshaun Watson, WR Amari Cooper, DT Taven Bryan, OLB Chase Winovich, WR Jakeem Grant, C Ethan Pocic, QB Jacoby Brissett, DE Stephen Weatherly, DE Isaac Rochell, WR Javon Wims, P Corey Bojorquez, QB Josh Dobbs
Re-signed: TE David Njoku (franchise), LB Anthony Walker, S Ronnie Harrison, OT Chris Hubbard, DT Sheldon Day
Departures: WR Jarvis Landry, C J.C. Tretter, TE Austin Hooper (Titans), WR Rashard Higgins (Panthers), LB Mack Wilson (Patriots), S M.J. Stewart (Texans), QB Case Keenum (Bills)
Remaining free agents: DE Jadeveon Clowney, DT Malik Jackson, DE Takk McKinley, LB Malcolm Smith, DE Ifeadi Odenigbo, FB Andy Janovich, P Dustin Colquitt, DT Malik McDowell
Analysis: The Browns acquired quarterback Deshaun Watson from the Texans in exchange for three first-rounders, a third, and a fourth. He also signed a five-year $230 million fully guaranteed contract. I’ll get into my thoughts later, I just want to get the other moves out of the way beforehand.
This move has really flown under the radar because of all the trades this year, especially with this team, but the Browns acquired wide receiver Amari Cooper from the Cowboys for a fifth and a swap of sixth-round picks. This preceded the Jarvis Landry release, so Cooper is now the leader of the receivers, joining young guys Donovan Peoples-Jones and Anthony Schwartz, and veteran returner and speedster Jakeem Grant, who signs with the team on a three-year deal. Rashard Higgins signed with the Panthers after six seasons in Cleveland.
They also gave the franchise tag to tight end David Njoku after his five-year contract expired, which led to the release of Austin Hooper, who didn’t live up to his three-year contract he signed in 2020. The former first-round pick had been the topic of many trade rumors, and it was looking like they were gonna happen after the Hooper signing, but Njoku stuck it out and ultimately gets to stay and maybe be the starter alongside Harrison Bryant, if he gets a long-term deal.
The Browns also made ANOTHER trade, this time a player-for-player, acquiring pass rusher Chase Winovich from the Patriots for linebacker Mack Wilson. Winovich is a former third-round pick who’s shown flashes, and even led the Pats in sacks in 2020, but fell down the depth chart. Similar situation with Wilson, who was turning into a starter, then fell down the depth chart, going from 88 to 35 to 17% of defensive snaps the last three seasons, so this move works out for both players who get fresh starts on new teams.
Couple more moves on defense are defensive tackle Taven Bryan, who signs a one-year deal after four years in Jacksonville as a first-round pick, but was at the bottom of the depth chart. Stephen Weatherly and Isaac Rochell are also signed as depth guys on the edge. The team also brought back starting safety Ronnie Harrison and starting linebacker Anthony Walker, both on one-year deals.
There are a lot of defensive starters still free agents and it’s unclear if they’ll be brought back or sign elsewhere. They could be without Jadeveon Clowney (14 starts, 9 sacks), Takk McKinley (2.5 sacks), Malik Jackson (16 starts) and Malik McDowell (14 starts, 3 sacks).
A big change on the offensive line came after the release of veteran center J.C. Tretter, who had been the starter the last five seasons. His apparent replacement is former Seahawk Ethan Pocic, who has started at guard and center, and was the starting center the last two seasons. The team also has former fifth-round pick Nick Harris on the roster who could compete for the spot.
The final key move was signing of veteran backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett. One of the best backups in the league with 37 career starts could be making a lot of starts in 2021 with a potential Deshaun Watson suspension looming.
Conclusion: I’m disappointed. I was becoming a big fan of the Browns these last few seasons, seeing them rise from the bottom of the league to finally make the postseason in 2020 and win their first playoff game since 1994. They took a step back in 2021, so I guess the front office felt they needed a change. They were following a draft and develop formula since 2017 with Myles Garrett first overall, then Baker Mayfield with the same pick a year later. Watching Baker develop was exciting to watch, and you could see the Browns developing with him and that got the entire NFL fanbase excited, and everyone was rooting for the Browns. Then the whole Odell Beckham debacle kinda affected our view of this team, and they were no longer the darlings of the NFL. There have always been questions surrounding Baker Mayfield on whether or not he was the franchise quarterback, and injuries definitely played into those doubts, but no matter how hard he tried, the Browns were always hesitant to commit to Mayfield.
Then the offseason came and those doubts really started to heat up. With the recent quarterback movement with Tom Brady and Matthew Stafford and Carson Wentz the previous two seasons, many pointed to the Browns as a possibility to be in that market. Then Russell Wilson was traded, and Wentz was traded again, and then one of the biggest storylines over the last year-plus was finally coming to a resolution. The week before free agency, Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson had all criminal charges dropped by a grand jury from the 22 women who accused him of harassment and sexual assault during massage sessions. That was the biggest hurdle for Watson as teams could now work to trade for him. Throughout the process, the Falcons, Panthers, Saints, and Seahawks showed a lot of interest, then teams started backing out, and the Browns weren’t high on the list. There were reports that the team was willing to commit to Mayfield and they told him that straight to his face. Turns out they were lying. On March 18th, Watson officially waived his no-trade clause to be traded to Cleveland.
My biggest issue with the whole Deshaun Watson situation is what teams were willing to do and give up for a guy who didn’t play last year because of a gripe with the team while dealing with a lot of serious legal issues, almost went to prison, and could be serving a lengthy suspension from the league. The last year really put a massive blemish on Watson’s reputation after being one of the most likeable and exciting players in the league. He’s no longer a fan favorite, and might be the most despised player in the league now, and that affects the view on the Browns as a franchise. You are no longer a team that non-Clevelanders can root for because you are no longer an underdog team that rose from the bottom to have success. You gave in to Deshaun Watson and gave him everything, putting an outside player ahead of the development and team-building you had been doing for years. And the fact that this team was willing to trade THREE FIRST ROUND PICKS, plus some mid-rounders, and guaranteeing a 230 MILLION DOLLAR CONTRACT to go along with this massive risk of a trade is absolutely insane to me. Why give in to Watson, selling off your top draft assets for the next three years and agreeing to give this guy the most guaranteed money in NFL history without playing a snap for your team after not playing at all in 2021 while dealing with a serious legal battle. This completely changed by opinion of the Browns and I refuse to root for this team in any capacity. Your image is tarnished and you’ve lost a lot of your loyal fanbase because you gave in to your own desires of success in exchange for the respect of not only your fanbase, but the entire NFL.
Football Nerds 