Lets start with the CBA. The players are currently voting and the deadline to turn in their ballots is Thursday March 12, four days before the legal tampering period in free agency. If it passes, that’s going to be a crazy four days. Last week I was pretty confident it would pass. Extra roster spots, extra game check and extra revenues seemed to be in the owners favor for passage. Add to that, a more lenient drug testing policy. Players will no longer be tested for THC. I think I see comebacks by Josh Gordon and Antonio Callaway in the future. But after seeing the money being thrown around by the networks for broadcasters Tony Romo and Peyton Manning, the players might want to ask for more. I still think it will pass, barely, and the NFL can avoid a work stoppage in 2021.
This weeks Browns news has been hectic on social media and Cleveland sports talk radio. Other markets, like Nashville, are currently playing the “where will Tom Brady land” game. Every NFL discussion on ESPN and the NFL network starts and ends with Brady. Let my networks go. In Cleveland it starts with the decision to let Joe Schobert and Rashard Higgins test free agency. On Schobert, apparently the Browns are going to stress that the defensive line and secondary are more important financially. So paying a pretty good linebacker 10 million is not in their plans. According to the website Overthecap.com the Browns have over 46 million invested in their defensive line, 12.5 invested in their linebackers and over 21 million invested in their secondary for 2020. The defensive line figure includes Olivier Vernon’s 15.5 million and Sheldon Richardson’s 12.5 million. Some Browns fans have suggested signing Cory Littleton to replace Schobert. Littleton is going to demand around 14 million, so that’s not going to happen. Free agents linebackers who might interest the Browns include the Packers Blake Martinez or the Bears Danny Trevathan. As for the draft, Oklahoma’s Kenneth Murray could be there in the second round. But the draft depends on what the Browns do in free agency.
As for Higgins, I just don’t see the Browns resigning him. As I said last week, this draft is loaded with talent at the wide receiver position. Currently the Browns have 31.5 million invested in the wide receiver group. So a draft pick on a late round salary makes more sense. Actually, Kevin Stefanski’s offense is more tight end heavy in the passing game then the wide receivers and currently the Browns have only 3.6 million invested in the TE position. After Beckham and Landry, you really just need someone who can catch about 30 to 40 passes per year. Plus the Browns have Chubb and Hunt who can catch out of the backfield. If the Browns want to go the free agency route at TE, I could see them pursuing Atlanta’s Austin Hooper.
I really think the Browns will spend heavily in the secondary and the offensive line. Of the 21.5 million invested in the secondary for 2020, 6.6 million is invested in the cornerbacks. A safety is still needed and the obvious free agent is the Vikings Anthony Harris. He might be too expensive, but would be worth the big money. Other Viking’s safeties that might interest the Browns are Jayron Kearse and Andrew Sendejo. As for the offensive line, the big news this week concerning the Browns are the two experienced tackles hitting the market. The Eagles Jason Peters and our old friend, Washington’s Trent Williams. Peters was told he could test free agency and Williams was told he could seek a trade. Both are old, Williams 32 and Peters 38. Both have an injury history, Williams hasn’t played in over a year. But both when healthy are far superior to what the Browns have now. If I had a choice, I’d sign Peters. It wouldn’t cost a draft pick (and you know how Browns fans love their draft picks) and would be cheaper than Williams. Currently he is set to make 12.5 million in 2020, so not only are you giving up a pick, but you would have to redo his contract. I’m still drafting a tackle with the first pick and maybe a third pick as well.
If the Browns don’t go big name signing for the offensive line, which I just can’t see happening, then you’re looking at the Buffalo model that I mentioned last week. Sign a bunch of second and third tier guys, draft a couple of tackles and get the right combo. I still think the Eagle’s Halapoulivaati Vaitai is worth looking at, as is the Packers Bryan Bulaga. By the way, in future blogs I’ll be referring to Vaitai as Big V, because I’m really tired of writing out his full name. I want the Browns to sign him just because I want every radio and television guy to struggle with his name. Kind of like former Browns defensive lineman Pio Sagapolutele. So no Jack Conklin, which is fine by me, too much money. As of right now the Browns have 62 million in cap space. I’m trying to find out if the 30 million of carryover from 2019 is included in that or can be added after the league year starts on March 18. If you’re wondering why I’m listing the investments in each position group, it’s because no team wants too much invested in one group. That includes the Browns.
So as all Browns fans await the beginning of the new league year, we can ponder the questions of NFL life and twitter. Where will Tom Brady play? (really don’t care). Will the Browns give up a first round pick to trade for Trent Williams? (oh. hell. no.). Can the Browns somehow magically get Isaiah Simmons and still get two tackles in the draft? ( what are you smoking?). I wonder what the new uniforms are going to look like? ( leave, right now, get out). All I can say is Browns twitter is very entertaining and loaded with future NFL GM’s. Okay, definitely entertaining, no on the GM’s. Just remember, if the CBA passes, all hell is going to break loose in the rumor department. And we’ll finally find out the next home of Tom Brady. Go Browns.