CLEVELAND, Ohio – The free NFL agency doesn’t officially start until the start of the league year on March 17, but the frenzy started early when the Texans threw NFL defensive player of the year, JJ Watt, on Friday afternoon. -market.
The Browns wasted no time in taking part in the Watt draw, calling their representatives shortly after he was officially fired and doing his due diligence. The Browns are one of about a dozen teams that asked about Watt on the first day and will have a lot of competition for their services.
For a start, he would love to play in Pittsburgh with his brother TJ, a fellow pass-rusher, and Derek, a quarterback. If the Browns fail to do so, they will pursue some of the other pioneering pioneers who will hit the market.
But a replacement for Olivier Vernon is just one of the many important roster decisions the Browns face in the coming months. Here is a privileged view of some of them:
1. Why Cleveland would be a great option for Watt
If the Steelers cannot find money for Watt – they currently have a maximum deficit of almost $ 30 million – the Browns would be a great landing point for him. To begin, he would play against Myles Garrett, who would tie most of the double teams and free Watt to return to the double-digit bags. In addition to Garrett, number 4 in the NFL by profootballfocus.com, the Browns have Pro Bowler Sheldon Richardson on the defensive tackle, and tackle Andrew Billings is returning from his COVID-19 cancellation.
Watt, the NFL’s seventh top scorer for pff.com, would also be spelled by Adrian Clayborn and Porter Gustin, and would not need to play 100% of the snaps at 32. If Watt couldn’t play with his brothers, playing against them twice a year and being close might be the next best thing. He also wants to play for a candidate, and the Browns reached the final eight in 2020.
They also have room to hire him (currently 11th, with more than $ 21 million), and he would flourish in the defense of Joe Woods.
He also has strong connections with other interested teams, so the competition will be fierce. A Wisconsin native, he grew up a Packers fan and apparently would love to play for them. The Bears have an advantage because Watt’s wife, Kealia, plays for the Chicago Red Stars of the National Women’s Soccer League. In Tennessee, he met with his former Texan defensive coordinator Mike Vrabel.
But the Browns mark most of the boxes on the Watt list and will be in the right place: maximum space, Super Bowl potential, good support cast, great culture and Midwestern locality. Watt, who is now free to sign with any team, will dive into his options this week and may like what he sees in Cleveland.
2. Odell Beckham Jr. recovering from his torn ACL
Beckham said in his Instagram story this week that he had his three-month follow-up consultation for ACL surgery with Dr. James Andrews, and that Andrews said he is recovering faster than anyone he has seen, or that is up there.
Beckham, who frequently posts videos of his rehabilitation on social media, also tweeted on Friday that “I’m more motivated than ever. ”
In his current clip, Beckham may be ready at the start of the 2021 season. The Browns are excited to have him back, but from a business point of view, they will also have to consider changing him this off-season. Their maximum number is $ 15.75 million, and they must decide whether they want to pay him as much when they are also paying Jarvis Landry $ 14.753 million. Beckham must also decide if he wants to continue trying to develop chemistry with Baker Mayfield, or if he will not do better elsewhere.
The Browns should also ask themselves if there are soccer balls to have more than $ 30 million invested in two receivers – in a year when the limit could reach the floor impacted by Covid’s $ 175 million, down more than $ 22 million on this season.
Again, the Browns are very fond of Beckham and would love to have him back. But if someone makes them an offer that they can’t refuse, they’ll be more inclined to listen in this off-season than they did last year.
3. They will not be separated from David Njoku easily
Njoku’s national radio interview with Jim Rome, in which he refused to answer when asked if Cleveland is the right place for him, will not affect the Browns’ decision to let him go or not. They like Njoku and think he is a valuable part of Kevin Stefanski’s two-pointed scheme.
In addition, Njoku is entering its options year with a relatively friendly salary of $ 6.013 million, which is fully guaranteed on March 17. Njoku, who wanted the Browns to trade him last season, still looks like he wants to go somewhere and be the No. 1 tight end.
But the only way the Browns are going to deal with him is if it makes them a better team. They will not let him leave town for speaking and have no plans to report him. One thing in favor of Njoku is that his agent Drew Rosenhaus has the ability to find a suitable business partner if the Browns give permission.
Rosenhaus had the Texans send a conditional choice in the fourth round to the Browns for the disgruntled running back Duke Johnson, who improved to a third when he was active for 10 games.
4. Richard Sherman is not likely to be on the radar
The Browns are willing to pay Watt, but they are not expected to strongly pursue Pro Bowl five-time cornerback Richard Sherman, 32, who played for Joe Woods in San Francisco.
The Browns are counting on cornerback Greedy Williams to return from a nerve injury in his shoulder, and they will likely try to re-sign their 2020 replacement, Terrance Mitchell, and Kevin Johnson. In addition, they will seek to add other cornerbacks, either through the draft, from the free agency, from an exchange. In the case of the latter two, they are likely to look for a younger cornerback than Sherman, who will turn 33 next month.
This may disappoint Cantonese native CJ McCollum, the Portland Trailblazer guard who lobbied for Sherman on Twitter.
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