Five Upgrades The Browns Can Still Make This Offseason

The Browns committed $60 million in guaranteed money during general manager Andrew Berry’s first week in charge of free agency. They added nine players via signings or trades, tied with the Lions and Panthers for third-most during free agency’s first week. 

But Berry’s job is not yet done. The Browns’ roster still has holes to fill. According to overthecap.com, Berry can still spend about 48 million dollars on further upgrades. Plus, Cleveland has seven picks in next month’s NFL draft. 

With that in mind, here are five positions at which the Browns could still upgrade via free agency, trade or the draft. 

1. Left Tackle

The player who will protect quarterback Baker Mayfield’s blindside next fall is still not on the roster. That is an obvious need, and the Browns will probably fill it with the 10th overall pick in the draft. But it’s still worth mentioning until the Browns actually acquire a left tackle in whom they have confidence. 

2. Inside Linebacker

The Browns did not solve their issues at linebacker by signing B.J. Goodson last week. Goodson has started 29 of 52 games in his career, but most of those starts came for Giants teams that finished 8-24 from 2017-2018. He started nine games for the Packers last season, but he only played greater than 50 percent of their defensive snaps three times.

So Goodson is not the Browns’ answer at inside linebacker. Assuming they spend their first-round pick on a left tackle, they’d be wise to sign or trade for a veteran. Asking a rookie to run the show for a new defensive coordinator is asking a lot. 

3. Pass Rusher (maybe) 

The Browns might keep Olivier Vernon, who could fill this need. They didn’t get to see just how destructive the Vernon-Myles Garrett pass-rushing tandem could be due to Vernon’s knee injury that caused him to miss six games. 

At his peak, Vernon was a two-time All-Pro. But he hasn’t played 16 games since 2016, and he carries the biggest cap hit ($15.5 million) of any player on the roster. More importantly, none of that money counts against the Browns’ salary cap if they release him. 

If Berry can find a more cost-effective pass-rusher, he may let Vernon go. But it’s a tough decision given the ceiling Vernon can reach. 

4. Right Guard 

Wyatt Teller was acquired in a trade by the previous front office and started last season as Eric Kush’s backup. He ended up starting nine games, but the Browns could certainly do better at right guard.

The Browns drafted right guard Drew Forbes out of Southeast Missouri State in the sixth round last season, but I don’t think that would stop Berry and Co. from making a move. 

5. Safety 

Yes, the Browns signed two starting-caliber safeties last week. But they’re both on one-year deals. Neither Andrew Sendejo nor Karl Jospeh are in the Browns long-term plans, at least not yet. 

Sendejo, while familiar with coach Kevin Stefanski and defensive coordinator Joe Woods from each coach’s tenure in Minnesota, is 34 years old. The Browns don’t want Sendejo manning their defensive backfield when he starts to decline. 

Joseph, the Raiders’ 2016 first-round pick, is talented but injury prone. He’s never played 16 games during his four-year career, and he’s coming off a foot injury that caused him to miss the final six games of 2019.

Joseph may turn out to be a worthwhile gamble for Cleveland, but it can’t count on him to be the future. The same goes for Sendejo at his age. So while it’s possible the Browns may have already signed both of their 2020 starting safeties, they also might need a backup plan at both positions.