4 contracts holding Cleveland Browns back right now
4 contracts holding Cleveland Browns back right now
A one-game playoff run wasn’t what the Cleveland Browns hoped for after going 11-6 this season but it was still quite the accomplishment. They overcame some serious injuries on both sides of the ball — although their offense was hit the hardest. They not only lost Nick Chubb but also Deshaun Watson and Jack Conklin.
Cleveland continued to fight and find a way to win, even pulling off four in a row to lock up a playoff spot. The fact that they won with reserves should give them hope going forward. Even so, they’re going to need to fill in a few holes and find some game-changers on offense.
That’s easier said than done since the Browns are low on capital. Not only are they without a pick in Round 1 yet again, but they also enter the offseason nearly $17 million over the cap. With that being the case, here’s a look at four contracts that are currently holding the franchise back.
4. Amari Cooper, WR
You would be hard-pressed to find a more avid fan of Amari Cooper than this writer but that doesn’t mean his contract isn’t an issue heading into 2024. Cooper is second on the team with a cap number of $23.77 million. That puts him ahead of Denzel Ward and Myles Garrett who are each younger — and Garrett is an NFL Defensive Player of the Year candidate nearly every year.
Cooper, who is the first player in Cleveland history to record back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving campaigns, is a major weapon. He’s been able to record 2,410 yards on 150 receptions despite inconsistent quarterback play but he’s also going to be 30 next year and has had some injury concerns.
In 2023, he missed Week 17 and 18 — although Week 18 was a meaningless game where many starters sat. Then in the playoffs, he finished with just 59 yards on four receptions as he was noticeably banged up. As good as Cooper is, Browns fans should remember how quickly things fell off for Jarvis Landry when he started to get banged up.
This isn’t to say Cooper needs to be cut, but they need to do whatever they can to re-work his deal. They’ll never be able to fix the weapons on offense while paying him nearly $24 million.
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Cleveland Browns Draft Prospect: WR Xavier Worthy
The 6-foot-1 wide receiver from Texas could be a great fit for the Cleveland Browns in the 2024 Draft.
Through three seasons with the Longhorns, he racked up 2,755 receiving yards and 26 touchdowns on 197 receptions. Worthy played in all 14 games for the Longhorns this past season but missed the second half of the Big 12 Championship game due to an ankle injury he suffered following an awkward tackle. In 2023, Worthy had four or more receptions for 50+ yards in nine games and caught three or more passes for over 30+ yards in 12 games.
Worthy’s noted strengths according to Bleacher Report:
— Great speed. Should be the primary deep threat in any offense.
— Great short-area explosiveness. Twitchy and controlled.
— Good route-running tools. Quick feet and loose hips to transition in and out of breaks well.
— Above-average ball-tracking skills down the field. Shows ability to track over his shoulder and maintain top speed.
Worthy’s noted weaknesses:
— Terribly skinny frame. Struggles versus press and often goes down on first contact.
— Too many careless drops in the open field.
— Poor ability to win the ball in the air. Cannot fight through contact or reach for the ball effectively.
— Effort comes and goes. Too often jogs through routes when the ball is not obviously going his way.
— Above-average ball-tracking skills down the field. Shows ability to track over his shoulder and maintain top speed.
Worthy’s noted weaknesses:
— Terribly skinny frame. Struggles versus press and often goes down on first contact.
— Too many careless drops in the open field.
— Poor ability to win the ball in the air. Cannot fight through contact or reach for the ball effectively.
— Effort comes and goes. Too often jogs through routes when the ball is not obviously going his way.
Marvin Harrison Jr – Ohio State Buckeyes – 6’3 – 205 lbs
38 Games
155 Receptions
2,613 Receiving Yards (16.9 Yards Per Reception)
31 Touchdowns
Malik Nabers – Louisiana State Tigers – 6’0 – 200 lbs
38 Games
189 Receptions
3,003 Receiving Yards (15.9 Yards Per Reception)
21 Touchdowns
Rome Odunze – Washington Huskies – 6’3 – 215 lbs
40 Games
214 Receptions
3,272 Receiving Yards (15.3 Yards Per Reception)
24 Touchdowns
While Worthy’s size and ball catching are places of concern for many scouts, his explosive speed off the line of scrimmage and deep-threat ability make him a second-day pick perfect for the Cleveland Browns wide receiver room.
