In this daily series Jack Duffin & the OBR team will be taking a look at every single free agent and if/how they fit the Cleveland Browns upcoming needs this offseason.
In this daily series we will look at all of the 633 unrestricted free agents that are set to hit the market on the 11th March at noon ET, this is when teams can begin negotiating with them. Despite this, many deals will be negotiated before that time, with the combine seen as the kick off of the unofficial tampering period. There will be some that don’t make it there due to either being franchise tagged before the 4pm ET deadline on the 5th March or being extended by their current team.
Before anyone throws their toys out the pram and moans why are we covering x position when we don’t need a player there. It is important to look at every area of a roster as what you can get in free agency easily shapes what you do with extensions, trades and the draft.
A team like the Cleveland Browns are using free agency and trades to fill any starting spots on the roster as they are competing to win now and not looking to develop a starter as the season goes along. They are going to use their backup and depth spots to develop starters for the future, so when Andrew Berry is making draft picks later in the offseason keep an eye on who they might replace next year.
We will be discussing all the unrestricted free agent names across all the different positions and explaining why we believe players are targets or not and some that are in the grey area that intrigue us. Players who are restricted free agents and exclusive free agents aren’t included because they are unlikely to make it to free agency this is because they regularly return and this shouldn’t be a focus.
How these articles will be written as we will look at all the starting quality players day by day: Quarterbacks, Running Backs, Wide Receivers, Tight Ends, Tackles, Guards, Centers, Edges, Defensive Tackles, Linebackers, Cornerbacks & Safeties.
Then we will move to the rotational/backup players releasing these day by day: Quarterbacks, Running Backs, Wide Receivers, Tight Ends, Tackles, Guards, Centers, Edges, Defensive Tackles, Linebackers, Cornerbacks & Safeties.
Then we will release two articles a day for the final set:
The depth/special teams options: Quarterbacks, Running Backs, Wide Receivers, Tight Ends, Tackles, Guards, Centers, Edges, Defensive Tackles, Linebackers, Cornerbacks & Safeties.
Plus a VIP set of articles where the OBR team will all add what they would do this offseason position room by position room: Quarterbacks, Running Backs, Wide Receivers, Tight Ends, Tackles, Guards, Centers, Edges, Defensive Tackles, Linebackers, Cornerbacks & Safeties.
Then I will do one bonus article to end covering specialists since I have promised to look at all 633 players.
Luke Wypler
2024 – $915,000 (no guarantees)
2025 – $1,030,000 (no guarantees)
2026 – $1,145,000 (no guarantees)
Nick Harris
Unrestricted Free Agent
How Many In 2024
The Cleveland Browns are likely to head into the 2024 season with two centers on the final 53-man roster and based on previous years they will have one interior offensive linemen on the practice squad, this could be a guard or center.
They won’t be signing any of these players this year but could they be looking at a center next offseason if they decide to move off of Pocic’s $6m salary for 2025.
WHO ISN’T INCLUDED
Exclusive Free Agents
These are players with less than three accrued seasons (6+ games on the roster) which means the team can retain them for the league minimum with no guarantees. These players can either sign it or retire, they have no negotiating power.
Texans – Dieter Eiselen
Falcons – Ryan Neuzil
Restricted Free Agents
These are players with three accrued seasons which means a team can tender them, the money isn’t guaranteed, other teams can then offer them contracts. The team owning their rights can match the deal to retain them or get the selected pick below by letting them walk. It is rare for teams to ever bid on these players.
Here are Over The Caps’s projections:
First Round – $6,464,000
Second Round – $4,633,000
Right of First Refusal – $2,828,000
Cardinals – Keith Ismael
Jets – Jake Hanson
CONNOR WILLIAMS
Current Team: Dolphins
Old Contract: $14m/2
PFF C Rank – 2nd out of 40 (20% snap minimum)
Snaps – 497
PFF Pressures Allowed – 6
PFF Sacks Allowed – 1
Jack’s Estimate: $4m a year
Jack: He would be cashing in this offseason but a torn ACL in week 14 ruins that, such a shame for him.
ANDRE JAMES
Current Team: Raiders
Old Contract: $8.65m/2
PFF C Rank – 9th out of 40 (20% snap minimum)
Snaps – 963
PFF Pressures Allowed – 19
PFF Sacks Allowed – 4
Jack’s Estimate: $7m a year
Jack: I would have him at a higher number but considering Andre James was an undrafted free agent it impacts his free agency value. While that isn’t right it is the way the NFL operates as a players draft value and the way teams viewed him in the initial process sticks with them.
LLOYD CUSHENBERRY
Current Team: Broncos
Old Contract: Rookie Deal
PFF C Rank – 10th out of 40 (20% snap minimum)
Snaps – 1,070
PFF Pressures Allowed – 14
PFF Sacks Allowed – 1
Jack’s Estimate: $10m a year
Jack: Spend that much on a starting center, that is an easy pass for me. I thought Pocic’s $6m was rich so anything in this range is far too much in my eyes unless you maybe had two cheap guards to pair him with. It is also why I thought going for someone like Tyler Linderbaum at pick 25 is a terrible idea for the Ravens. Keep your money and resources in premium positions. Center has a nice market of mid tier guys every year and then try and draft someone.
AARON BREWER
Current Team: Titans
Old Contract: 2nd Round RFA Tender
PFF C Rank – 11th out of 40 (20% snap minimum)
Snaps – 1,050
PFF Pressures Allowed – 34
PFF Sacks Allowed – 6
Jack’s Estimate: $6m a year
Jack: He is this years Pocic, failing to show much the last few years and then produced one really nice year and should allow him to cash in.
TYLER BIADASZ
Current Team: Cowboys
Old Contract: Rookie Deal
PFF C Rank – 14th out of 40 (20% snap minimum)
Snaps – 1,028
PFF Pressures Allowed – 25
PFF Sacks Allowed – 3
Jack’s Estimate: $6m a year
Jack: He is going to give you a good standard of play, nothing special but he is also isn’t going to be the problem. This is the kind of player it is ideal to target in free agency and then pair with a day three rookie pick as you prepare for the future. You should never have a player like this run out of contract on your team without trying to draft someone a year before and be ready to transition. That way you can build a succession plan and have a shot at replacing them on the cheap, meaning money can be spent in more premium positions.
COLEMAN SHELTON
Current Team: Rams
Old Contract: $4.75m/1
PFF C Rank – 17th out of 40 (20% snap minimum)
Snaps – 1,113
PFF Pressures Allowed – 34
PFF Sacks Allowed – 2
Jack’s Estimate: $6.5m a year
Jack: A former UDFA who has shown he can play all across the interior will be a really nice option for a team as you can get away with only needing a four on the interior. If someone goes down he could slide across but it is down to do you want to make a switch at center during a game
EVAN BROWN
Current Team: Seahawks
Old Contract: $2.25m/1
PFF C Rank – 31st out of 40 (20% snap minimum)
Snaps – 955
PFF Pressures Allowed – 27
PFF Sacks Allowed – 3
Jack’s Estimate: $2.5m a year
Jack: He spent some past time with the Cleveland Browns in 2020 but a reunion isn’t on the cards.
LUCAS PATRICK
Current Team: Bears
Old Contract: $8m/2
PFF C Rank – 33rd out of 40 (20% snap minimum)
Snaps – 953
PFF Pressures Allowed – 28
PFF Sacks Allowed – 0
Jack’s Estimate: $2.5m a year
Jack: The league has lots of veteran centers that keep getting jobs, Patrick for me is one that should be replaced and the Bears should be looking for an upgrade
CONNOR MCGOVERN
Current Team: Jets
Old Contract: $1.9m/1
PFF C Rank – 36th out of 40 (20% snap minimum)
Snaps – 371
PFF Pressures Allowed – 18
PFF Sacks Allowed – 1
Jack’s Estimate: $2m a year
Jack: The Browns don’t need to add someone now but in a years time if they want to move off of Pocic and give Wypler a chance at the starting gig while bringing in a veteran backup like they did with Harris/Pocic a couple of years ago then this is the sort of player worth looking at.