Well it’s been 48 hours and it’s time to move to the off-season. If you had told me the Browns would hold Kansas City to 22 points, I would’ve thought the Browns would have won. How many Browns fans thought when safety Karl Joseph intercepted the ball in the end zone with about eight minutes to go in the game,” here we go.” I did. This offense was built for a long drive for a touchdown. After watching the game again, I’m comfortable with Kevin Stefanski punting the ball with around four minutes to go. The defense just needed to make a stop. And despite what Browns twitter says about firing DC Joe Woods, stop. Just stop. They lost their number two corner and their starting safety in training camp on the same day. Woods won the Steelers wildcard game with his scheme. The entire year the Browns played cover two defense 1% of the time. In the Wildcard game the Browns played cover two defense 26% of the time. He basically installed a new defensive scheme with one practice and missing his number one corner and his number three corner. Simply put, the players didn’t execute. If the Browns invest heavily in defense this off-season, like they invested in offense in 2020, then the defense will make giant steps in 2021.
The Browns are on to the off-season 2021. The goal is to win the division and advance farther in the play-offs. I have complete faith in GM Andrew Berry and this front office. First there will be no changes in the coaching staff. Nice change of pace, right Browns fans? The Browns have nine picks in the 2021 draft starting with the 26th pick in the first round. Andrew Berry has already proven he lets the draft come to him and knows talent. I still can’t believe I haven’t looked at a mock draft and it’s January. As for the salary cap, the Browns have a little more than 24.6 million in cap space based on a 176 million dollar salary cap. This includes the fifth year options for Baker Mayfield and Denzel Ward. The big question will be the wide receiver position. Odell Beckham and Jarvis Landry will be owed over 30 million and Beckham’s 15.7 million is guaranteed because of his injury and is due the third business day of the new league year. Because of the injury, he may not be ready till training camp, so trading him now is not an option. This offense does not rely on the WR position, but does need a burner on the outside. Asking Landry to restructure is an option.
First, the Browns need to pick up the fifth year options on Mayfield and Ward. No brainer. Even though both RB Nick Chubb and RG Wyatt Teller are signed through 2021, offer both contract extensions. Ward and Mayfield’s contract extensions aren’t a priority until later in the spring. As for key Browns free agents, try and resign WR Rashard Higgins. I have a feeling he’ll test free agency, but his relationship with Mayfield will help the Browns. I would also try and resign OL Kendall Lamm. He proved his worth this season. As for the defense, I think the Browns will try and resign free sign CB Terrance Mitchell and Larry Ogunjobi, but I think both will test free agency and move on. The Browns do get DT Andrew Billing back, so losing Ogunjobi won’t hurt so much. I would resign LB B.J. Goodson, CB Kevin Johnson and S Karl Joseph. Goodson took over the defense this year, Johnson proved to be a valuable third CB and Joseph played really well down the stretch. A safety room of Grant Delpit, Ronnie Harrison and Joseph is one hell of a great start for next year.
As for other teams free agents, it’s still to early to tell who the Browns will target. But I do know Andrew Berry likes to target players in their mid twenties who are coming off their first or second contracts. Catch players entering their prime. This team is ascending. They have their franchise QB, their franchise head coach and a young and hungry team. Finally, the Browns will become a desirable destination for free agents. Times have changed. Everyone stay safe and Go Browns.