So let me get this straight, the first free agent signed by the Browns during the “legal tampering” period said he took less money to sign with the Browns and it’s an opportunity of a lifetime? Wait…What? First of all the words legal and tampering should never be back-to-back in a sentence. Never. Second, the best free agent safety signed with the Browns and it wasn’t about the cash. Okay, I could get used to this. I knew GM Andrew Berry would make one big signing at the start, but I thought it would be for an defensive end. Everybody thought it would be a defensive end. Nope. Every Browns fans knows the defense was terrible last year, especially the safeties. Raise your hand if you were tired of seeing opposing players open in the middle of the Browns defense. Pro Football Focus rated the Browns safeties at 48.8. Johnson is rated by PFF at 85.6. Much better, thank you AB.
Next came the guy the Browns have wanted for over a year, DE Takk McKinley. The Browns tried to claim him off waivers three times and tried to trade for him once. Somebody in the Browns front office and/or coaching staff really likes him. In his first two years in the league he was very productive, he regressed the last couple of years. McKinley is very grateful the Browns wanted him, have faith in him and knows he can be better. This signing reminds of the Kareem Hunt signing, low risk, high reward. Good player looking for a second chance.
The next free agent signing shocked the hell out of me. Cornerback Troy Hill. The best slot corner in the NFL the last two years. What the hell is going on here? I thought Andrew Berry spent big on safety, so he’ll go bargain hunting at corner. Nope. The Browns secondary is going to be scary good. Denzel Ward, Greedy Williams, Ronnie Harrison, Grant Delpit, John Johnson, III and Troy Hill. Wow. The last two free agent signings, LB Anthony Walker and DT Malik Jackson are impressive as well. Walker is simply a tackling machine who is great against the run. While Jackson will be a rotational defensive lineman. He can play inside or out on the line. This defensive line is going to be nasty.
As for the resigning of Browns free agents, Hollywood Higgins was the big news. As I’ve said in past blogs, Andrew Berry was going to let the market set the price on Higgins. When I saw WR John Brown sign for $3 million, boom, market set. Others resigned were LB Malcolm Smith, WR JoJo Natson, LB Elijah Lee, Kicker Cody Parkey and OT Greg Senat. Smith was the seventh best coverage LB in the league last year, Natson will return punts and offer speed in the receiving core, Lee is a special teams ace, Senat will compete for a back-up role and Parkey was perfect in the playoffs.
So what’s next? Probably another corner (Gareon Conley?), maybe a veteran defensive end to back-up Garrett ( Clowney, Kerrigan, Dunlop, Atkins, Blair?). If Malik Jackson is better suited for defensive end, then maybe a back-up defensive tackle (I have no idea). All I know is GM Andrew Berry is a genius, a silent assassin, a free agent ninja, a salary cap savant. Everyone enjoy their week, stay safe and Go Browns.