Verdict: Flacco is probably gone, and Walker definitely gone.

The Cleveland Browns front office thought Kareem Hunt had lost a step. They were right. What they didn’t count on was he’d reinvent himself as a short-yardage back. Hunt willed himself to first downs and into the endzone more often than not in 2023.

Marquise Goodwin was signed as a Browns free agent to be the team’s deep threat. That was an epic fail. He was consistently injured and messed with exactly no one. Jakeem Grant, signed to be the team’s returner in 2022, is coming off of two consecutive season-ending injuries. James Proche was one of the players who replaced him, and did a so-so job.

Verdict: Goodwin and Grant are gone. Proche might be back, but the Browns would prefer to do better.

TE Harrison Bryant

Harrison Bryant has not quite developed as the Browns hoped he would. Tall and rangy, he has, however, developed as something of a gadget guy. His numbers trended down in 2023, so it seems unlikely he’d get a better offer elsewhere.

Verdict: Expect Bryant back.

OL Geron Christian, OL Michael Dunn & C Nick Harris

Not only did Cleveland go through five quarterbacks, they also went through five tackles. Geron Christian was one of them. For the team’s fifth tackle, he was fine. Could return on a minimum deal. Ditto Michael Dunn, who has been around the team for a while. However, the status of both of these Browns free agents will depend on any shift in offensive line philosophy with both a new coordinator and a pair of new line coaches. Backup center Nick Harris is the most likely to be back with the team. Not only is he a capable center, but also plays fullback and is the team’s sixth lineman. It seems unlikely he’d get a starting job elsewhere unless he were to follow one of his former coaches to New England or Tennessee.

Verdict: Harris is likely back. Christian and Dunn could return, pending the new offensive philosophy.

DT Jordan Elliott, DT Shelby Harris, DT Maurice Hurst, DE Za’Darius Smith

Za’Darius Smith is by far the highest profile of the 2024 Browns free agents. Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz likes him some pass rushers, and Smith was the second-best on the team last season. But to return to the cash-strapped Browns, the 32-year-old Smith and his 5.5 sacks will need to take a pay cut. Whether he returns will depend on what he finds elsewhere.

Of the tackles, Shelby Harris is most likely to return. He was a last-minute pickup, but his productivity and energy surprised the team. At 32, he won’t be a major free agent and will probably come back on an incentive-laden deal. Jordan Elliott has been disappointed since he was drafted. The Browns will try to do better. Maurice Hurst is a fan and team favorite and probably is a mid-summer minimum signing.

Verdict: Decent chance Smith returns on a minor pay cut. All three tackles possibly back if they take minimum deals.

LB Matthew Adams, LB Jordan Kunaszyk, LB Jacob Phillips, LB Sione Takitaki & LB Anthony Walker Jr.

Linebackers are the most overlooked position in Cleveland. So, even though there are two starters here, expect them to be among the lowest priority of the Browns free agents. Anthony Walker Jr. has been the team’s starting middle linebacker and called the defensive signals since he came over from Indianapolis. But the last two seasons, he’d been riddled with injuries. Likely, the team will need someone else they can count on.

Sione Takitaki turned in another solid starting season but doesn’t seem like a natural fit in Schwartz’s defense. Ditto that of reserve backers Jordan Kunaszyk and Jacob Phillips, who had minimal playing time. Matthew Adams is a special teams ace, and his status likely depends on cap room.

Verdict: The whole group is likely gone.

CB Mike Ford, S Duron Harmon & S Rodney McLeod

Like the aforementioned Adams, Mike Ford is a special teams ace. It’s possible the team could keep both him and Adams, but unlikely. Ford is a decent backup corner, but Cleveland will likely sign or draft a young player to put in front of him.

Safety Rodney McLeod is a savvy veteran who is knowledgeable about Jim Schwartz’s defense. His return depends on how he recovers from injury. Duron Harmon isn’t a real fit and is likely to depart.

Verdict: McLeod and Ford have a decent chance of returning. Harmon does not.

P Corey Bojorquez

Corey Bojorquez had his second-best season statistically in 2023. However, his lack of ability to kick off in a pinch might cause the Browns to take a look around, depending on what the market shows.

Verdict: Bojorquez is likely to return.

Summing up the Browns Free Agents

There are a lot of bargains to be had on this list for the Cleveland Browns. Berry has his work cut out for him getting all of this mid-range talent back on the team. But for a team that hopes to compete for the Super Bowl in 2024, they’d better.

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