Stefon Diggs #8 of the New England Patriots
Getty
Stefon Diggs #8 of the New England Patriots
The Cleveland Browns have filled four of their five open offensive line spots less than one week into free agency, and it is now time to turn attention to the wide receiver position.
Cleveland still needs a left tackle, but the market is incredibly thin after Taylor Decker, who could get north of $20 million annually on a multiyear deal. So realistically, the Browns probably need to make their move to protect the blindside with the No. 6 overall pick in this year’s NFL draft.
If the team goes left tackle there, it will watch at least the top three wideouts in the class come off the board before Cleveland selects again at No. 24. That might still be a spot to draft a receiver, but it also probably means the Browns will look for a potential No. 1 target on the free-agent or trade market to equip whoever ends up starting at QB with a superior option to Jerry Jeudy.
One interesting prospect is Stefon Diggs, who turns 33 years old late next season and just caught his release papers from the New England Patriots after a Super Bowl run.
Stefon Diggs Can Get Paid, Be No. 1 Wide Receiver for Browns
Stefon Diggs
GettyWide receiver Stefon Diggs, formerly of the New England Patriots.
Despite brilliant talent and production earlier in his career, Diggs isn’t a WR1 any longer. But he would be in Cleveland, which says more about the Browns’ roster than it does about Diggs.
But Diggs was still a highly valuable asset to second-year QB Drake Maye and punched in at over 1,000 receiving yards and scored four TDs during his sole season in New England.
What Diggs wants matters as much as anything in this conversation, and if chasing a Super Bowl ring is atop his wish list, then joining the Browns will be at the bottom of it.
The Kansas City Chiefs have an opening in their wide receivers room, and while Diggs might need to take less money there, he’d certainly have a situation more suited to afford him production opportunities, not to mention high-level winning.
But money probably matters, too, even to a player who has earned $157 million over his 11-year professional tenure. Spotrac projects Diggs’ market value at two years and $27.65 million total.
Diggs could command a nice late-career payday and get to feature in a new offense piloted by Todd Monken, who is a first-time head coach at age 59 but also put together an operation with the Baltimore Ravens over the past three seasons that was elite any time QB Lamar Jackson was healthy.
Browns’ Offense Has Chance to Be Interesting if Todd Monken Can Find Average Quarterback Play
Shedeur Sanders, Browns
GettyQuarterback Shedeur Sanders of the Cleveland Browns.
From Cleveland’s side of things, Diggs is an upgrade on anything they have in the position group currently and could help bolster the offensive attack alongside a first-round wideout at pick No. 24.
The Browns had the No. 4-ranked defense in the league last year, so if Monken can get quality play under center from Shedeur Sanders in Year 2, Deshaun Watson in the final year of his contract or some other signal-caller yet to land with the team, Cleveland could at least end up interesting next season.
The franchise has never been an easy sell to free agents, but Diggs is far closer to the end of his career than the beginning. A nice payday, a guarantee of a No. 1 or No. 2 job, a bunch of targets and the chance to be a big part of an offense growing into something fun might be all the sales pitch Diggs needs.