CLEVELAND, Ohio – NFL free agency doesn’t officially start until the start of the league year on March 17, but the frenzy started early when the Texans released three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year JJ Watt Friday afternoon.
The Browns wasted no time jumping into the Watt sweepstakes, calling his representatives shortly after he was officially released and doing their best. The Browns are one of about a dozen teams that inquired about Watt on day one, and they will have plenty of competition for his services.
For starters, he would like to play in Pittsburgh with his brother TJ, a fellow player, and Derek, a fullback. If the Browns don’t land it, they will chase some of the other leading edge rushers to hit the market.
But a replacement for Olivier Vernon is just one of the many big selection decisions facing the Browns in the coming months. Here’s an insider look at some of them:
1. Why Cleveland would be a good fit for Watt
If the Steelers can’t find the money for Watt – they are currently running a shortfall of nearly $ 30 million – the Browns would be a great landing spot for him. For starters, he played opposite Myles Garrett, who draws most of the doubles teams and frees Watt to go back to double-digit pockets. In addition to Garrett, the No. 4 edge-rusher in the NFL per profootballfocus.com, the Browns Pro Bowler has Sheldon Richardson on the defensive, and Andrew Billings is back from his COVID-19 opt-out.
Watt, the No. 7 edge rusher in the NFL per pff.com, would also be spelled by Adrian Clayborn and Porter Gustin, and wouldn’t have to be playing 100% of the snaps at age 32. If Watt can play with his brothers, play against them twice a year and be close might be the next best thing. He also wants to play for a contender, and the Browns made the last eight in 2020.
They also have the space to sign him (they’re currently 11th with over $ 21 million), and he would thrive in Joe Woods’ pocket-focused defense.
He also has strong ties with other teams who are interested, so the competition will be fierce. Born in Wisconsin, he grew up as a Packers fan and apparently would love to play for them. The Bears are ahead because Watt’s wife, Kealia, plays for the Chicago Red Stars of the National Women’s Soccer League. In Tennessee, he would be reunited with his former Texan defense coordinator Mike Vrabel.
But the Browns tick off most of the boxes on Watt’s list and will be right in the mix: cap space, Super Bowl potential, great supporting cast, great culture, and Midwest locale. Watt, who is now free to sign with any team, will review his options this week and would like what he sees in Cleveland.
2. Odell Beckham Jr. storms back from his torn ACL
Beckham said on his Instagram story this week that he had his three-month follow-up appointment after ACL surgery with Dr. James Andrews, and that Andrews told him he is either recovering faster than anyone he’s ever seen, or that he’s up there.
Beckham, who regularly posts videos from his drug addiction clinic to social media, also tweeted Friday that “I’m more motivated than ever before.”
At his current clip, Beckham could be ready at the start of the 2021 season. The Browns are excited to get him back, but from a business standpoint, they will also have to consider trading him off-season. His limit is $ 15.75 million, and they have to decide whether to pay him as much as they pay Jarvis Landry $ 14.753 million as well. Beckham also has to decide if he wants to keep trying to develop chemistry with Baker Mayfield, or if he might not be doing better elsewhere.
The Browns also need to ask themselves if there are any footballs to invest more than $ 30 million in two receivers – in a year when the cap could hit the Covid-hit floor of $ 175 million, more than $ 22 million less than this season . .
Again, the Browns really love Beckham and would love to have him back. But if someone makes them an offer they can’t refuse, they’ll be more likely to listen out of season than they were last year.
3. They won’t say goodbye to David Njoku easily
Njoku’s national radio interview with Jim Rome, in which he declined to answer the question of whether Cleveland is the right place for him, has no bearing on the Browns’ decision whether or not to let him go. They love Njoku and feel he is a valuable part of Kevin Stefanski’s two-tight end heavy plan.
In addition, Njoku is entering its option year at the relatively cap-friendly salary of $ 6.013 million, which is fully guaranteed on March 17. Njoku, who wanted the Browns to trade him last season, still sounds like he wants to go somewhere and be a No. 1 tight end.
But the only way the Browns will deal with him is if it makes them a better team. They won’t let him out of town talk, and they have no plans to give him away. One thing in Njoku’s favor is that his agent Drew Rosenhaus has the ability to find a suitable trading partner if the Browns give him permission.
Rosenhaus got the Texans to send a fourth-round conditional pick to the Browns for the disgruntled walk-back of Duke Johnson, who improved to a third when he was active for 10 games.
4. Richard Sherman probably won’t be on the radar
The Browns are willing to pay Watts, but they are not expected to heavily pursue five-time Pro Bowl cornerback Richard Sherman, 32, who played for Joe Woods in San Francisco.
The Browns are counting on starting cornerback Greedy Williams to return from the nerve damage in his shoulder, and they will likely try to re-sign his 2020 replacement Terrance Mitchell and closing corner Kevin Johnson. In addition, they will try to add other corner backs, either through the concept, free agency, trade. In the case of the latter two, they will likely look for a younger cornerback than Sherman, who turns 33 next month.
This could disappoint Canton-born CJ McCollum, the Portland Trailblazer security guard who lobbied for Sherman on Twitter.
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