There are still quality players available on the market that can make an impact right away. Some of these players may even hold off over the summer to see if any key injuries happen. With that being said let’s take a look at the top 2023 NFL free agents that are still available.

Kareem Hunt

The 27-year-old running back has yet to catch on with a team and may be waiting for the right fit. Hunt hasn’t been able to replicate his rookie form where he finished 2nd for Offensive Rookie of the Year. He is still young enough in running back years to make an impact. He will always excel as a change of pace back and on the right team could shine.

Ezekiel Elliott

It’s hard to believe Elliott hasn’t landed on a team yet. He still has some gas left in the tank and despite some chatter around the league, I don’t believe he is washed. Elliott may no longer be capable of being the lead back but he could succeed on a team needing a short-yardage running back. We recently covered some possible landing spots for Elliott as he gets closer to signing.

Jarvis Landry

At one point and time, Landry was one of the top receivers in the league. He has since taken a step back partly due to injuries. With that being said Landry can still be a dangerous weapon in the right system. There have been recent rumors of Landry being linked to Green Bay. The Packers need to address the WR position and Landry may be the answer.

Yannick Ngakoue

Ngakoue is another surprise on this list. He has 19.5 sacks over the last two seasons with two different teams. It’s likely Ngakoue is expecting a pretty big payday. That along with the fact that he can’t seem to catch on with a team for long is a bit of a concern. Keep an eye on the Chiefs here as he may be willing to take less to sign on with them.

Teddy Bridgewater

Teddy Bridgewater is not the flashiest name on this list but he can still play a key role. Bridgewater is an excellent backup QB option, which is still one of the most important positions. I would expect Bridgewater already has a couple of offers and is weighing his options.

The post Top 2023 NFL Free Agents Still Available appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

The New Orleans Saints wide receiver room wasn’t imposing by any means last season. The former OPOY winner Michael Thomas didn’t even touch the field, so the Saints were essentially left to lean on young, undeveloped wideouts to scrape for prominence in the Drew Brees-less era. Marquez Callaway led the Saints in receiving yards last season with 698 yards. With that stated, I believe the Saints should feel a lot more confident with their shiny WR room in 2022.

Cantguardmike is finally healthy and seeking vengeance. The Saints traded up to draft another Ohio State WR in Chris Olave. Olave ran an official 4.39 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. If fans were excited about Winston’s ability to connect with the speed-demon Deonte Harris (who had 15.8 YPC), they will be blown away by how productive the explosive and smooth rookie should be with defenses focused on MT.

The Saints also brought Jarvis Landry back home this off-season. Landry made five straight Pro Bowls from 2015 to 2019. He wasn’t a quality WR amid the demise of Baker Mayfield last season, but he did oust 72 receptions and 840 yds in 2020. He also earned a superb 84.1 grade by PFF in 2020. The 29-year-old can certainly be an elite slot weapon for at least a couple of more seasons.

It’s obvious that the Saints have a fantastic WR trio and they should feel comfortable with their WR4 and WR5 that had their feet wet last season. Furthermore, I believe the Saints easily have the most underrated WR group in the league.

Thomas may be an unpopular figure on Twitter, but he is capable of being the WR that averaged roughly 86 yards per game with Taysom Hill on a four-game stretch at the very least. He may not have the most accurate QB in NFL history, but Winston will offer positives (such as arm strong) that weren’t available with Brees. Nick Underhill, who is a whiz of Saints coverage, boldly stated that a healthy MT could be the best thing that’s happened to the Saints this off-season.

I really believe the fact that MT is disrespected hinders the Saints WR group ranking. PFF ranked the Saints WR room as the 14th best WR unit (after the likes of Denver and Seattle). Yardbarker had a slightly more optimistic angle than PFF — as they pegged the Saints WR group as the 8th best WR group. I believe a logical place for the Saints WR group is around the 5th spot. I believe Thomas, who has made positive strides throughout the off-season, to be healthy and a consistent top-tier play-maker. Most importantly, I do expect that the Saints have a strong game plan for the OSU WR that was traded up for. I expect the combination of the ceiling of MT and Olave with a reliable Landry to honestly unveil to be at least a Top-5 WR unit in 2022.

The post Do the Saints have the most underrated WR group? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

The Cleveland Browns officially reunited with Jadeveon Clowney today. Clowney has agreed to a one-year contract worth $11 million dollars, per NFL.com. The former first overall pick returned from the dead and registered nine sacks, 11 TFLs, and 19 QB hits in 14 games last season. Clowney and Myles Garrett should return to being the most lethal pass-rushing duo in the league next season.

Outside of the Browns dynamic pass-rushing tandem, the Browns also have Chase Winovich at the edge-rushing spot.

The Clowney acquisition comes after the Browns traded for numerous other elite profiles: the utterly talented, controversial QB Deshaun Watson and explosive WR Amari Cooper. Clowney may have missed the Bahamas trip, but he will begin non-stop training with his familiar team very soon. It may seem plausible that the Browns could also witness a return from Odell Beckham Jr, Joe Haden, or perhaps Sheldon Richardson. Of course, the long-time Brown Jarvis Landry decided to head back to the Big Easy and ink a deal with the Saints.

It was important that the Browns brought in a top-tier pass-rusher and impressive profile in late May. The AFC guns race has been in full force this off-season. The Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, and Los Angeles Chargers have stacked their rosters and aimed their cannons at Cincinnati, Kansas City, and Buffalo. Well, it appears that there is another AFC juggernaut coming out of the shadow: the Cleveland Browns.

The post Browns sign Jadeveon Clowney: What does Clowney bring to the Browns? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

The New Orleans royalty Jarvis Landry agrees to a one-year contract with the New Orleans Saints today. The 29-year-old wide receiver will join fellow Saints weapons Michael Thomas, Chris Olave, and Alvin Kamara. It’s clear that Jameis Winston is licking his chops with the new firepower in his offense.

Deshaun Watson might have picked the Cleveland Browns over the Saints, but Landry’s heart clearly chose to make magic happen in the Caesars Superdome next season. The former Brown made each Pro Bowl from 2015 to 2019. The former LSU WR ran a slow 4.77 40-yard dash at his NFL combine, but he didn’t fail to become a star WR in the NFL.

Landry has been a pillar of consistency in his career, but he did his worst season of productivity in 2021. He missed a career-high five games last season, while his QB Baker Mayfield fell off a cliff. So, it’s reasonable that Landry wasn’t a stud in a Browns offense that also witnessed OBJ perform at a mediocre level.

Landry is still a very good football player and I expect him to be in a superb situation with the Saints long-time OC Pete Carmichael and big-arm QB in Winston. Landry has often been the NFL’s top slot WR and he can shine in the slot for NO, while Thomas and Olave can be stars from out-wide. It will be quite difficult for opponents to prepare for the speed of Olave while giving Thomas and Landry tough matchup-ups.

The Saints ranked 32nd in passing last season and I would be shocked if they weren’t a Top 10 passing offense next season. They will likely sling the rock without Alvin Kamara in his six-game absence and they are really able to throw the ball in the short game and deep down the field. I believe the 2021 Bengals passing offense is a potential realistic comparison for the 2022 Saints passing offense. The Bengals had three WRs with 800+ receiving yards, while Joe Burrow was fifth in passing yards and eighth in passing touchdowns. It can be hard to believe mystic growth, but Winston’s 2021 production combined with his new weapons could lead him to become a stat (hopefully, not a turnover) machine in 2022.

The post What does Jarvis Landry bring to the Saints? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Michael Welsh

After some downtime, it has been a crazy week in the NFL. We saw Russell Wilson and Carson Wentz traded, Deshaun Watson rumors picked up, and on March 12th, The Browns traded for Dallas Cowboys wideout Amari Cooper. They only gave up a 5th and 6th round pick for the star pass catcher and a 6th round pick. Overall, I believe it was a major steal for the Browns.

Cleveland now has their WR #1 in Cooper as they look to revamp the offense from a weapons standpoint. This may lead to the end of the Jarvis Landry era in Cleveland, but at the end of the day, the NFL is a business. The addition of Cooper takes the offense to another level if he can remain healthy, and one can assume that Andrew Berry isn’t done with his aggressive moves. What does Cooper bring to the table?

For starters, Amari Cooper might be the best route runner in the league. This will bring a lot of structure to the Browns offense from a receiver standpoint. Odell Beckham Jr. did not work out in Cleveland for several reasons, but he was known as a freelancer on his routes, often looking for soft spots in the defense instead of running the route in the playbook. This caused countless miscommunications between him and quarterback Baker Mayfield. Cooper will be the exact opposite of that as he has a reputation for learning a playbook and sticking to it. This will help him get on the same page with Baker Mayfield, assuming he is the QB for Cleveland in 2022.

Cooper is only 27 years old as well, which means if he balls out for the Browns then he may land a long-term deal with them or another team in free agency. The trade is a win-win for both sides, which doesn’t always happen. Everywhere that Cooper has gone, he has produced good numbers, so there is a high probability that he produces well in Cleveland.

From a stats perspective, Amari Cooper has put up respectable numbers his entire career. In total, he has 517 receptions for 7,076 yards and 46 touchdowns, along with 3 Pro Bowl selections. He is going to bring elite playmaking skills to the Browns and help them take the top off of the defense. Last year he had more touchdown catches than the Browns wide receivers combined. That should give you an idea of how badly the team needs a player like him.

There is no telling what moves could happen for the Browns from here on out, but there is no doubt that trading for Amari Cooper is a big step in the right direction. Andrew Berry has been incredibly impressive as the Browns General Manager, relentlessly attacking the team’s weaknesses each off-season. Get your popcorn ready because he isn’t done yet.

The post What does Amari Cooper really bring to the Browns? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

The Dallas Cowboys have officially traded Amari Cooper and a sixth-round pick to the Cleveland Browns for a 2022 fifth-round pick and a sixth-round pick, according to NBC Sports. The Cowboys were able to find a trade partner for the very expensive, former first-round draft pick. Andrew Berry (General Manager of the Browns) was able to find a top-notch WR for Baker Mayfield.

The Cowboys are paying Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliot, Demarcus Lawrence, and many others a boatload of money. In the near future, they will also have to break the bank for Trevon Diggs, Ceedee Lamb, and many other players. It was wise to move the highly paid Cooper, especially when the Boys have Lamb and likely Michael Gallup (FA in 2022) back in the offense moving forward.

Meanwhile, the Browns made a fine choice to bring in a talented WR at their aching WR spot. There is no secret that Odell Beckham Jr. wasn’t helping the Browns offense and it appears Jarvis Landry will follow his former LSU brother out the door this offseason. According to NFL rumors, the Browns are “highly likely” to release Landry.

All in all, the Cooper trade was fascinating and it also means another blockbuster trade has occurred this offseason. So, the question is: which team won the trade? Here are the grades I would hand to each squad:

• Dallas Cowboys: A –

I really believe the Cowboys were successful in finding multiple late-round picks for Cooper. They may be able to use the picks to find one or two late-round draft gems in the upcoming draft. They could use the picks to potentially move up to draft a RB, WR, TE, or kicker to replace Greg the Leg. They were also wise (or lucky) for trading Cooper out of the conference.

• Cleveland Browns: B

The Cleveland Browns were assertive and creative in finding a top-notch WR in any way possible this offseason. It would be a challenge to be more attractive than talented and wealthy squads in luring a FA WR like JuJu Smith-Schuster or Allen Robinson in the 2022 free agency period. The Browns were able to find a talented WR to help Mayfield and the talented Browns squad bounce back next season after being one of the most underperforming teams in 2021. They can also choose to draft to not draft a WR in round one in the 2022 NFL draft with Cooper on the squad if they choose.

I don’t believe that the Browns decision to pay a non-Top-10 WR $20 million on their roster is the best idea, but he will still be a playmaker for the Browns in 2022 and beyond. I would have preferred the Browns to trade for Brandin Cooks or Robby Anderson.

The post Grading the Amari Cooper trade: did the Cowboys or Browns win the trade? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

The former Ohio State playmaker Garrett Wilson is widely seen as a Top 5 WR in the 2022 NFL Draft. Wilson recently ran a blistering 4.38 40 yard dash time at the NFL combine and it’s clear he’s ready to be an impact player in year one for his new professional football club.

Here is a look at how magical Wilson was at Ohio State:

• 1,058 yards in 2021
• 12 touchdowns in 2021
• 18 touchdowns in past two seasons combined

Wilson was a potent WR against quality competition in college and he also performed well at the NFL combine. His floor and ceiling should excite NFL scouts and WR-needy NFL teams. The question is: which team will obtain the speed demon WR, that’s drawn comparisons to Chris Godwin. Well, here are a few logical destinations for the Big 10 stud.

• Cleveland Browns

“Chewie, We’re Home”

The Cleveland Browns pardoned the talented and somewhat dramatical Odell Beckham Jr. in 2021. It appears that Jarvis Landry will follow his LSU brother out the door this offseason. According to Bleacher Report, Landry is unlikely to restructure his contract.

The Browns will still have late bloomer David Njoku at TE, the elite RB Nick Chubb, and the motivated Baker Mayfield, who doesn’t appear to be a trade candidate. The Browns can certainly be more efficient with the skillset of Wilson, who could soon be a similar player that OBJ was early in his career. Per ESPN, Mayfield and Wilson have a strong relationship, as well. The NFL world witnessed Joe Burrow lobby for Ja’Marr Chase and then Chase was rightfully picked by Cincy. We could soon find Mayfield’s relationship with Wilson translate to Wilson being a future Brown. The Browns pick at 13 and it seems like a safe spot to pick the passionate Garrett Wilson.

• New Orleans Saints

The New Orleans Saints might have lost Sean Payton, but the long-time Saints offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael will have Michael Thomas and Jameis Winston returning healthy and highly motivated. The 32nd ranked passing offense could take a sizable boost with Wilson’s speed added to the offense.

If the NFL world thought Winston’s connection with Deonte Harris was scary, they will be shocked by the plays that the mega-arm QB can make with Wilson and his excellent matchups in the Saints offense.

The Saints were 5-2 with Jameis Winston and without Michael Thomas in 2021. If they insert Cantguardmike, Alvin Kamara (for most of 2021), Harris, and Wilson, they will have a fine opportunity to unleash a lethal offense that will surely pair with an elite defense led by Demario Davis, Marshon Lattimore, Marcus Davenport, and Cameron Jordan.

• New England Patriots

The New England Patriots always seek out a WR that can take the top off a defense. They sought out Brandin Cooks and then they leaned on Jakobi Meyers in 2021. Meyers, who is a 2022 free agent, could leave the Pats this offseason.

The Pats WR room doesn’t only potentially need a deep-threat WR, but they could use a WR with Pro Bowl ability. Kendrick Bourne was a pleasant signing, but the expensive Nelson Agholor has underperformed and he could also be out of town soon. Wilson can check both of those boxes for emperor Belichick. Mac Jones shocked the league in 2021, as he made the Pro Bowl and led his team to the playoffs. Jones could look to join the elite AFC QB conversation with Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, and Joe Burrow if he can be a stat machine and lead his team back to being AFC East champions.

• Philadelphia Eagles

There are two things that are absolutely clear in Philly: DeVonta Smith will be a star in the league and Jalen Reagor has been disappointing so much that Justin Jefferson feels bad for him. The Eagles will look to bring in a new toy and jolt to the Jalen Hurts-led offense in 2022.

Zach Ertz might have been a TE, but his production was also missed in the Eagles passing attack after he left. The Bucs barely edged out the Eagles with Ertz in the regular season, but they really mopped the floor against the Eagles in the playoffs. The Eagles didn’t have an answer against Tom Brady in the 2022 playoffs and it’s clear they aren’t quite a heavyweight (or potent underdog) in the NFC. Smith, Hurts, and Wilson would be a scary trio for years to come.

• Las Vegas Raiders

The Las Vegas Raiders really appear as a WR-needy team, but they could have a huge boost soon. Davante Adams, who was teammates with Derek Carr at Fresno State, was rumored to have purchased a house in Vegas.

The Raiders tried the Desean Jackson experiment in 2021, but he is 34 years old and he isn’t getting younger. Zay Jones is also a soon-to-be free agent. Josh McDaniels will seek one or two talented wideouts to join Carr, Darren Waller, and Josh Jacobs. If Tae does ink a contract with the Raiders, I believe LV could still target a WR, who is also a special talent, in the 2022 NFL Draft.

After all, the Raiders play four games against the Patrick Mahomes-led Kansas City Chiefs and Justin Herbert-led Los Angeles Chargers every season. If McDaniels is going to flame out again, he might really go down swinging.

Honorable mention

• Indianapolis Colts

The Indianapolis Colts might kiss goodbye to T.Y. Hilton, who has been torching defenses in Indy since the early days of Andrew Luck. Carson Wentz will likely follow Hilton out the door, too. The Colts should still keep their heads high, as they have an All-Pro RB in Jonathan Taylor and the young, talented Michael Pittman at WR.

The Colts are certainly not going to rebuild and they won’t be expecting their new QB to put up unearthly stats. Nonetheless, the Colts will still look to retool their passing attack this offseason and they may want to make a splash pick with Wilson. The Colts would still have a real shot at making the playoffs with a QB like Marcus Mariota, JT, Pittman, and Wilson in their offense.

• Minnesota Vikings

There are always surprise selections in each NFL draft. It would be a fascinating and powerful move if the Minnesota Vikings added the electrifying Wilson to their WR room. Kirk Cousins is refusing to step down from his utterly wealthy contract, so they might decide to load up on firepower and make sure he can make them a playoff contender next season.

The Vikings could absolutely put up a lot of points with Justin Jefferson, Cousins, Dalvin Cook, and Thielen, but Wilson could also be a future replacement for Thielen. Jefferson and Wilson can be the potent duo in the grand scheme of things. Jefferson, Thielen, and Wilson could also make Cousins the most underrated MVP candidate next season.

If the Packers really lose Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams, the Vikings could add more weaponry and establish themselves by NFC North favorites by a wide margin this offseason. The Vikings new offensive-minded head coach Kevin O’Connell could fall in love with Wilson or a different WR in the draft and be in awe of the idea of playing with him in the already dangerous Vikings offense.

The post Best fits for Garrett Wilson: the Browns top the list appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Michael Welsh

During the 2021 season, the Browns found themselves constantly coming up short and ultimately having a disappointing season. Through all of the bad, there were numerous bright spots, including some from players that need to be locked up in Cleveland long term. On the flip side, there were a few players that showed they may not be worth the money they’re making. First, let’s take a look at a few players that deserve contracts.

Jadeveon Clowney

Andrew Berry has made several excellent moves since being hired as the General Manager of the Browns in 2020. The signing of Jadeveon Clowney is arguably the best signing he’s done to date. Clowney had bounced around in the league since leaving the Houston Texans in 2018. He came to Cleveland with hope to earn a long term contract while playing on a one year prove-it deal. Needless to say, Clowney absolutely balled out for the Browns in 2021. He was, as usual, and elite run defender and he finished with 9 sacks, the most he has had since 2018. One of the most impressive things was that it was very noticeable when he wasn’t on the field. They felt like a different defense without him, and playing opposite of Myles Garrett definitely benefited his play. Having them play opposite of each other for years would make their defense even scarier. Andrew Berry needs to work to sign him to a 3 year deal for roughly $10 million a year.

David Njoku

It is no secret that Kevin Stefanski loves his tight ends. They are a big part of his offense, and David Njoku has only gotten better since Stefanski took over as the head coach. The box score stats will not blow you away, but “The Chief” is arguably the only mismatch Cleveland has on their roster right now and his athletic ability is truly remarkable. His career as a whole hasn’t been consistent, but he fits this offense and appears to be ready to take another step. He has always improved as a blocker, which was below average at when he came into the league. Njoku was the Browns leading receiver in 2021 finishing with 36 receptions for 475 yards and 4 touchdowns. Adding to all of that, Njoku said in a press conference that he loves Cleveland and wants to spend the rest of his career here. Make it happen, Andrew Berry.

The next section will be hard to read if you’re a die hard Browns fan. There are a few players that the Browns could move on from, save money, and give that money to the players mentioned above and others such as Denzel Ward. Below are two players that Andrew Berry should cut/trade in the 2022 offseason.

Jarvis Landry

Some would argue that the culture change started when Jarvis Landry was traded to Cleveland in 2018. His leadership is unmatched and he’s great for the locker room. There is no denying that. The issue is, his production just doesn’t line up with his hefty contract. In 2018-2020, Jarvis had good seasons, including two Pro Bowl selections. Regardless of that, he is still overpaid and coming off the worst year of his career in 2021, finishing with 52 receptions for 570 yards and only 2 touchdowns. He looks slower on the field and struggles to get separation. There is some hope that he will restructure his contract and stay in Cleveland, but he can be cut and save the Browns almost $15 million in cap space. We will see what happens, but it may be better to move on from him entirely.

Kareem Hunt

This could honestly go either way, but there is a chance that Kareem Hunt gets traded this offseason. He and Nick Chubb have been a great one-two punch the last few years, but Hunt missed substantial time in 2021 and third string running back D’Ernest Johnson picked up the slack and looked great as the primary and secondary running back. The Browns could trade him for draft capital and save $6.25 million in cap space. It does make sense to let him get healthy and play out his last year of his contract, but if Andrew Berry wants to make a move, he has a good option in Hunt. A lot of teams would immediately use the former rushing champion as their starter. Johnson would also need a contract in this scenario, so there are a lot of moving parts. It will be interesting to see what happens

The post Which players should the Browns keep and which players should they let walk? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Pat Pitts

Mini camps breathe life back into football fans. It gave us a sample of what to expect in 2021. Teams watched their rookies take the field for the first time. Sadly, it has come to a close. 

Kevin Stefanski and his staff watched their team take the field for the first time last week. Cleveland has not been talked about as much when it comes to their mini-camp. It seems like the spotlight has been taken from them, but it’s time to shine. 

After their first playoff appearance since 2007, the Browns found themselves nothcing a win against division rival, the Ravens. The new coaching and front office changes have turned the organization around 180 degrees. 

Mini-camp just gave the Dawg Pound a lot of excitement heading into training camp. Here is what they should be excited about. 

Baker stays in the moment; focused on the present.

The offseason has brought an excessive amount of drama to the league. Star players refusing to show up because of contract issues. Former players trash-talking their former team and head coach on social media. Even worse, the league’s MVP might walk away from football to replace another MVP in the world of game shows..  

Cleveland has been blessed with their franchise quarterback telling the media that he is not worried about a contract extension; he has his focus on winning a Super Bowl. Mayfield told reporters, “Everything happens for a reason. So I am just focused on winning,” according to USA Today. 

Mayfield has had a rollercoaster of a career, so far. He ranked as PFF’s 8th rated QB, finally cracking inside the top ten. OBJ returns to the field, giving Mayfield an elite target to throw to. His presence causes defenses to panic over which player to cover, eventually leaving someone open. The Browns offense looks loaded heading into training camp. 

OBJ returns at 100%

Odell Beckham Jr. suffered a season-ending ACL tear during a Week 7 matchup against the Bengals. It put a bow on the disappointing 2020 campaign OBJ was on. However, it is a new season. 

When healthy, OBJ ranks as one of the league’s top pass catchers. There is not a pass he cannot catch. According to Browns.com, OBJ returned to the field at nearly 100% on the first day of mini-camp, eventually ending the day by attempting his signature one-handed catches. 

Since 2014, Beckham has the best stats against the AFC North, averaging 128.8 YPG, and the only trails Julio Jones in total yards during the span, as well. It is not a question of if he will perform; it is a matter of when it will start. 

Rookies making an instant impact

The Cleveland Browns offense ranked 14th in 2020, according to PFF. However, their defense ranked 20th. They addressed the issue by drafting two players to upgrade the bottom-tier defense. The Browns selected Greg Newsome II with the 26th pick and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah with the 56th pick. Two players who can make an immediate impact. 

The duo showed up to mini-camp, impressing everyone on the coaching staff. Newsome caught the media’s attention after intercepting a pass while in the red zone during the 7v7 drills. He ran it back while the entire defense followed in celebration; the chemistry has begun to build. 

Koramoah impressed the coaching staff with his quickness during pass coverage. He ran alongside some of the fastest receivers in the offense. The former defensive back turned linebacker has the edge over some of the linebackers. Joe Woods, the defensive coordinator, spoke to the media after camp about other facets of the rookies’ game that isn’t externally shown. 

“Those guys are both very smart players,” Woods said. “They’re very competitive players; they just bring a different element to the team.”

The rookies are not the only upgrades to the underwhelming defense. The Browns attacked free agency methodically. They prioritized enhancing their biggest weakness. 

Playmakers added to the defense

The draft is not the only route to acquire new players. NFL free agency kicked off a month before the draft, but the Browns patiently waited to strike. The signed DB John Johnson and EDGE Jadaveon Clowney; two signings that give them the much-needed boost on defense. 

Greedy Williams has not played an entire season over the past two years. However, it is a new season with new opportunities. Williams spoke after camp about how he feels heading into the new season.

“It is a great feeling. I was just happy to be reunited with my team just going through drills with them,” Williams said. “It gives you the most happy moments.”

Williams returns to the defense lining up alongside Denzel Ward and John Johnson, giving the Browns top-tier talent to defend the pass. All three players are 25 years old or younger. 

Jadeveon Clowney made his first appearance in a Browns uniform at camp. Stefanski plans to utilize Clowney on the EDGE with Garrett on the other side. Clowney talked with the media after camp, expressing how he has enjoyed playing alongside another number one overall pick. 

“This is a good team,” Clowney told reporters. “They’re having a good time. They’re fun to be around. It’s a young team, so you all kind of get the idea of what I mean by everybody having a good time.” 

Football is fun; So is the Browns’ defense. 

Battle of the Backfield

Two running back systems do not have the most success over the years, but the Browns figured it out. The tandem of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt gives opposing defenses nightmares. At mini-camp, the backfield grew in numbers

The Browns added two new ball carriers to the mix, drafting Demetric Felton with the 211th pick, then signing undrafted free agent Tre Harbinson. The backfield may be too crowded for all four players. 

Felton has been rumored to be in contention for a punt returner role, which would fit his skill set best. Felton could even become a full-time pass catcher too. Felton ran routes during camp, which gives him an opportunity to see the field sooner rather than later. Stefanski sees Felton’s potential and believes he could handle multiple roles on the offense. 

“It depends on the player, (but) if a guy can handle it, the more jobs you can teach him, the better chance they have to help your football team early.”

Stefanski continued to comment on how well Felton has adapted as a ball carrier, but also as a pass-catcher. 

It will be an interesting battle to watch at training camp. There is a possibility that Felton has the ability to handle both extremely well. He provides the offense with a safety net when it comes to depth. He should be a player on everyone’s watchlist heading into training camp. 

The Cleveland Browns have assembled a superstar-filled roster heading into the new season. Kevin Stefanski and Baker Mayfield have brought a new attitude and culture to a once lifeless franchise. Not only Mayfield but Chubb and Ward have spoken out about how they are not interested in talking contract extensions. 

Teams with that attitude, tend to be successful. The Browns are off to a great start. 

The post What did we learn at the Browns training camp? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

by Michael Obermuller

Odell Beckham Jr. has become one of the more polarizing players in the NFL, ever since being drafted by the New York Giants in 2014. After receiving a five-year, $95 million contract extension from Big Blue in 2018, OBJ forced his way out of New York with his off-the-field antics. The first franchise to step up in negotiations was the Cleveland Browns, who outbid the competition for the frustrated star wide receiver.

Pretty much since the day he touched down in Cleveland, trade talks have swirled around Odell and the Browns franchise once again. You see, Beckham didn’t choose the Browns, and he has not seemed truly happy in Cleveland since the day he arrived. Now Browns general manager Andrew Berry (who took over after the OBJ trade) has rumored that the franchise is open to dealing the playmaker for the right return.

Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of trading OBJ, from the perspective of the Browns.

Cases FOR Trading OBJ

• An Offer Cleveland Cannot Refuse
  • Another franchise could simply offer the Browns a similar haul that they once paid the Giants for OBJ, which would allow them to wash their hands of the situation entirely. Cleveland sent NYG Jabrill Peppers, a first (No. 17 overall), and a third in return for Beckham.
  • This seems unlikely based on Beckham’s contract and injury history, especially when you consider that the pandemic has crippled revenue and lowered the cap this season.
• Financial Obligations vs. Contribution
  • Considering how little Beckham has actually played (more on that below), he’s costing Cleveland a fortune in both dollars and cap space.
  • OBJ has a $15.75 million cap hit in 2021, and a $15 million flat cap hit in 2022 and ’23. They made the postseason without the wide-out in 2020, so the argument could easily be made that this money could help this roster more if it were allocated elsewhere.
  • Beckham had over 1,000 yards receiving and four touchdowns for the Browns in 2019, but they missed the playoffs that season. He only totaled 319 yards and four touchdowns in 2020, when the Browns made the playoffs and defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in round one. OBJ did not factor in the second half of the year, or any of the postseason games.
• Off-the-Field Noise
  • OBJ has become a locker room distraction in the past with the Giants. It’s not that he’ll break team rules or do anything illegal, but Beckham tends to run his mouth to the media and aggravate teammates.
  • The Giants ended up trading OBJ the offseason after he publicly criticized quarterback Eli Manning in an interview. Baker Mayfield is not exactly an MVP candidate either, so you never know when Beckham might get frustrated and make waves, which could negatively impact team chemistry.
• Injury History
  • Speaking of the aforementioned injuries the star has suffered, Beckham has only played 15 or more games in three out of his first seven seasons in the league. He made 12 appearances twice, seven once, and four in 2017 with only two games started.
  • In terms of wear and tear, most of OBJ’s injuries have been to his lower half. Beckham had his first issue during preseason of 2014, when he suffered a grade three tear in his hamstring. He then pulled his hammy again in OTA’s the following season, has missed minor amounts of time with hip strains, suffered a grade three high-ankle sprain in preseason of 2017, fractured the same ankle later that year, missed games with a quad hematoma bruise in 2018, groin-related sports hernia in 2019 ”” and worst of all, an ACL tear in 2020.
  • Eventually, a body can only take so much and still perform as it once did. If the Browns get the right offer, it might be hard for the new regime not to sell high on this extensive injury history.

Cases AGAINST Trading OBJ

• Trade Stock At Lowest
  • A GM never wants to trade a player at their lowest value, and OBJ could be at his lowest right now (recovering from a torn ACL in the midst of a financial crisis/pandemic).
  • They must at least recoup a first round pick for OBJ, and that’s still a good deal less than what they originally paid for him. If the return is too low, the smarter move might be to bet on Beckham’s recovery.
• Browns Should Bet On Talent
  • Whether or not they get the right offer, many still believe that OBJ’s talent and attributes are too rare and dynamic to trade away. There aren’t too many receivers in the NFL that have Beckham’s mix of size, athleticism and speed, not to mention his hands and route running ability (two acquired skills).
  • Beckham has totaled 1,000-plus receiving yards in every season but two (2017 and 2020, due to injury), and 1,300-plus yards three out of the five 1,000 yard campaigns.
  • Odell had a yards after catch (YAC) per reception of 4.4 yards in 2019. For comparison, DeAndre Hopkins had a 4.58 YAC per reception in 2020, and only the top receiving weapons in football like Davante Adams and Travis Kelce topped 5.0 YAC per reception last season.
  • OBJ has had a consistent yards per catch that has hovered around his 14.0 career average every season, with a 15.1 yards per reception career-high in 2015.
• Cleveland is Better with Beckham
  • One of the main reasons the Browns fell short against the Kansas City Chiefs in the postseason was a lack of receiving weapons (and more specifically, no clear No. 1 wide-out).
  • Rashard Higgins filled the role admirably in 2020 after Beckham’s injury, but this offense is so much more potent with OBJ in the lineup. Think about it; Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt, Austin Hooper, Harrison Bryant/David Njoku, Jarvis Landry, Rashard Higgins AND Odell Beckham Jr. That arsenal would be a challenge for any opposing defense, and OBJ’s unique skillset throws a wrench into a coordinator’s game prep and strategy.
• Wide Receiver is a Need Area for Cleveland
  • 2020 proved that the Browns are shallow at wide receiver, and they have yet to add to that WR room this offseason. At this point, there aren’t many WRs left in free agency (and none nearly as influential as OBJ).
  • Cleveland could try and replace Beckham through the draft, but it would also be hard to find a talent like him at their current draft position (unless they received a lower first rounder back in return ”” unlikely).
  • This roster is one of the more complete ones in football, but their biggest “need” might actually become wide receiver if they trade Beckham. It wouldn’t be wise to create a hole like that, without the proper solution in place to fix it.

The Verdict

Based on the current landscape of the NFL, this probably isn’t the best time to trade Odell. Unless a surprise bidder emerges, Cleveland would likely get short-changed at his current value. The smarter bet is to ride out OBJ for another year and hope that he has a bounce-back campaign. There should be much more of a market for the wide receiver in 2022, so long as Beckham stays healthy.

The post Pros and Cons For The Browns to Trade OBJ Away appeared first on Pro Football Mania.