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2023 Browns Off-Season Thread II: Free Agent Marathon: Settling in for the Long Haul: Slow and Steady: Patience is a Virtue: Loose Lips Sink Ships!

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One take: I’m surprised Berry didn’t pay that price..

Two take: I’m not surprised Berry didn’t pay that price considering Cooks’ salary the next two years ($26.4M, $24.6M cap hit).. For one, Browns aren’t in a position to take on that high of cap hit at WR right now and two, I don’t think you pay the salary cap + draft capital to then have to move on from Cooper, DPJ or Cooks next year..

As I’ve said from the start: I highly doubt Browns take on a large salary WR due to current cap space and current salary construction of WR room.. Any move they make would have to be for a guy making less than ~$5M-ish AAV.. That’s why I’m expecting them to target it at Day Two of draft, trade for a guy like Elijah Moore (on a rookie deal) or wait and see if they can get Hardman on a bargain deal..
 
Another receiver was always a luxury, not a need. Akins as an upgrade over Bryant is already addressing the margins of the passing attack. The draft or the discount bin of free agency is just fine for Anthony Schwartz competition.
 
Another receiver was always a luxury, not a need. Akins as an upgrade over Bryant is already addressing the margins of the passing attack. The draft or the discount bin of free agency is just fine for Anthony Schwartz competition.
It’s almost certainly a need lmao
 
I think WR is a need. Even having Schwartz in the conversation is scary IMO. He's awful. I keep thinking how bad things will be if Cooper or DPJ miss 7-8 games with an ankle or hamstring (or, heaven forbid something worse). We would be screwed and 40% (restructures aside) through Watson's huge contract without anything to show for it. We finally have a legit FQB, let's get him some legit weapons to throw to, not Anthony Schwartz.
 
It’s almost certainly a need lmao

On paper, I don't think our WR group is bad. Cooper, DPJ, and Njoku is a solid top three, and getting Grant back this year will help as well. We're lacking in quality depth unless Schwartz shows something more or Bell has a good year, but we're far from awful.

I also wouldn't be surprised to see us use our second rounder on a WR, and free agency is far from done as well.
 
On paper, I don't think our WR group is bad. Cooper, DPJ, and Njoku is a solid top three, and getting Grant back this year will help as well. We're lacking in quality depth unless Schwartz shows something more or Bell has a good year, but we're far from awful.

I also wouldn't be surprised to see us use our second rounder on a WR, and free agency is far from done as well.
Don’t disagree with the general premise here. Will say that it’s tough to imagine Grant being useful after an Achilles injury though.
 
I think WR is a need. Even having Schwartz in the conversation is scary IMO. He's awful. I keep thinking how bad things will be if Cooper or DPJ miss 7-8 games with an ankle or hamstring (or, heaven forbid something worse). We would be screwed and 40% (restructures aside) through Watson's huge contract without anything to show for it. We finally have a legit FQB, let's get him some legit weapons to throw to, not Anthony Schwartz.

Hey, I was in favor of a veteran over a draft pick this off-season. That hasn't changed. I do believe the financial aspect of a free agent "big name" wide receiver cannot be ignored.

Do the Browns have a legitimate starting X receiver? Yes, and he is making the biggest base salary for any wide receiver in the NFL. I think Browns fans forget just how large of a cap slice Cooper earns.

And know what? I still want him on the roster and making that cash this year. However, that $20 million base pay impacts costs to the position group.

Do they have a legitimate second outside receiver? DPJ earned that respect the last two years. He comes at a smaller price this year, but as @Smooth points out, they need to secure him his bag at some point in the calendar year.

Do they have a third receiver? It's up in the air whether Bell , Jakeem Grant, or Woods can live up to that title. I see them almost like the bench for the Cavs... they provide some good traits as an entire cast but nobody is going to be the favorite to win 6th man of the year.

So yes, there is a position that is an open competition, but is it a 10+ million dollar need? I don't see it as any higher priority than the backup QB, or starting linebacker opposite JOK, starting three tech, or 3rd down pass rush specialist. Those are spots for competition or what's left of the cap space.
 
Assuming 5 linemen, 1 QB, 1 RB, 1-2 TE and 2-3 WR, Im less concerned about the WR room. Im higher than most, it would seem, on the abilities of Cooper, DPJ, Bell, Woods, Watson, Baldwin, etc. I'd absolutely love to get another guy to be WR2 or WR3, but I'm not too concerned.
 
Don’t disagree with the general premise here. Will say that it’s tough to imagine Grant being useful after an Achilles injury though.

I don't think that injury is the death sentence it used to be. And he suffered it in early August, so he'll have a little over a year to recover before the 2023 season starts.
 
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