Every free agent will be examined in this daily series by Jack Duffin and the OBR crew to see whether and how they suit the Cleveland Browns’ future needs this offseason.
The 633 unrestricted free agents who are scheduled to reach the market on March 11 at noon ET—when teams can start negotiating with them—will all be examined in this daily series. Even yet, a lot of agreements will be worked up prior to then, with the combine serving as the unofficial start of the tampering window. Some won’t make it there because they were either extended by their current team or franchise tagged before the deadline of March 5 at 4 PM ET.
It’s crucial to consider every aspect of a roster before someone tosses their toys out of the pram and complains, “Why are we covering “X” position when we don’t need a player there?” What you can obtain in free agency greatly influences what you do with trades, extensions, and the draft.
A team like the Cleveland Browns, who are fighting to win now rather than developing a starter as the season progresses, uses free agency and trades to fill any starting places on the roster. They will develop future starters from their backup and depth positions, so pay attention to Andrew Berry’s draft selections later in the offseason.
It’s crucial to consider every aspect of a roster before someone tosses their toys out of the pram and complains, “Why are we covering “X” position when we don’t need a player there?” What you can obtain in free agency greatly influences what you do with trades, extensions, and the draft.
A team like the Cleveland Browns, who are fighting to win now rather than developing a starter as the season progresses, uses free agency and trades to fill any starting places on the roster. They will develop future starters from their backup and depth positions, so pay attention to Andrew Berry’s draft selections later in the offseason.
We will go over every name of unrestricted free agents at every position and explain why we think certain players are targets and which ones are intriguingly in the gray area. Since they frequently return, players who are restricted free agents and exclusive free agents are not featured because it is doubtful that they will reach free agency and this is not something that should be the focus.
The format for these pieces will change daily as we examine every starting quality player, including wide receivers, tight ends, tackles, guards, centers, edges, defensive tackles, linebackers, cornerbacks, and safeties.
The rotational/backup players—quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, tackles, guards, centers, edges, defensive tackles, linebackers, cornerbacks, and safeties—will then be introduced, one by one.
Quarterbacks, Running Backs, Wide Receivers, Tight Ends, Tackles, Guards, Centers, Edges, Defensive Tackles, Linebackers, Cornerbacks, and Safeties are the possibilities for depth or special teams.
What would the OBR Team do at the VIP Roundtable beginning on February 28? Safeties, cornerbacks, linebackers, running backs, tight ends, tackles, guards, centers, and edges are among the positions held by quarterbacks, wide receivers, and tackles.
Since I have committed to looking at all 633 players, I will then write one more bonus post to wrap up my coverage of specialists.
Prior Position: Room
2020: Keenum Mayfield
2021 – Keenum Mayfield
Brissett, Dobbs, and Mond in 2022
2023 – Thompson-Robinson, Watson
Present Room Position
Deshaun Watson
$46,000,000 in 2024 (completely guaranteed)
$46,000,000 in 2025 (completely guaranteed)
$46,000,000 in 2026 (completely guaranteed)
Dorian Robinson Thompson
$915,000 in 2024 (no assurances)
$1,030,000 by 2025 (no assurances)
$1,145,000 in 2026 (no promises)
Unrestricted Free Agent Joe Flacco
Unrestricted Free Agent PJ Walker
Unrestricted Free Agent Jeff Driskel
How Many Will There Be in 2024?
Based on past performances, the Cleveland Browns are probably going to enter the 2024 season with two quarterbacks on the final 53-man roster and one on the practice squad. As you want the cover from someone who is familiar with the squad and plan because if a quarterback goes down hurt, teams will typically have three in total.