With free agency now over two weeks underway, Jack Duffin takes a look at the moves the Cleveland Browns have made so far and grading them including the value the team got.
Jack Duffin
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So far the Cleveland Browns have signed several players so far this offseason but have several key starters still to add.
Quarterback - Kenny Pickett
Wide Receiver - DeAndre Carter
Offensive Tackle - Cornelius Lucas
Guard - Tevin Jenkins
Edge Defender - Joe Tryon-Shoyinka
Defensive Tackle - Maliek Collins
Linebacker - Devin Bush
Linebacker - Jerome Baker
Cornerback - Tony Brown
With each addition I will be grading them in a silo, if I give a depth player a high grade it doesn't mean they are better than a starter but it is comparing a move with other options they could have made in that area. This is sometimes while teams are better waiting for the price to come down, if you are moving in the first 24 hours of free agency you are likely over paying out of need.
Despite many people complaining about a lack of talent there are still several really talented options on the market, here is a look at my free agency cheat sheet.
There is still a long way to go until week one of the season so it is important not to judge a position room as if this is how it will look in over five months time. They still have free agency moves, trades and the draft at their disposal to upgrade their 53 man roster.
Quarterback - Kenny Pickett
Kenny Pickett
(Photo: Getty, Getty)
This has to be up there with Andrew Berry drafting a kicker as one of my top five WHAT just happened Andrew Berry moments. My instant reaction would have probably given it a negative score. With a chance to sleep on it I am perfectly fine with him as a backup quarterback option. He was certainly serviceable for the Steelers, if we look at his grades in 2022 & 2023.
2023, 32 QBs with the most dropbacks per PFF:
PFF Passing Grade - 21st
Big Time Throw Percentage - 20th
Turnover Worthy Play Percentage - 1st (tied)
Time To Throw - 13th (tied)
2022, 32 QBs with the most dropbacks per PFF:
PFF Passing Grade - 14th
Big Time Throw Percentage - 14th (tied)
Turnover Worthy Play Percentage - 5th (tied)
Time To Throw - 28th (tied)
Since Kevin Stefanski is always talking about avoiding turnover worthy plays, Kenny Pickett certainly ticks that box. He is very much a middle of the road player, so don't be looking at him as someone that can carry the team to the Super Bowl, but he is capable of taking them in and around the playoffs with a high performing defense.
If he was a free agent addition on $4m then this would be 6/10 for me, the issue is giving up a 5th round pick, personally I think they could have found a serviceable option on the open market.
Grade - 3/10
Wide Receiver - DeAndre Carter
This is what I wrote about Carter in my free agency cheat sheet: 'His wide receiver play isn't going to lead to me signing him but his return game catches my attention. If they want to have a sixth wide receiver who just does returns then Carter makes a lot of sense compared to people like Proche and Darden who haven't produced consistently.'
This really comes down to how much you like having a returner on the roster. Before free agency, I wrote an article on the best returners in the league, of the players who did at least 10 punt and kick returns last season Carter ranked 4th according to PFF. You can read this article here. He was the second best free agency option with Ihmir Smith-Marsette being the only player grading ahead of him.
Here are the players who have had 10+ returns each season for the Cleveland Browns. Jerome Ford did a good job on kick returns this year though so they had some talent on the roster.
2020
Donovan Peoples-Jones
D'Ernest Johnson
2021
Demetric Felton Jr.
Anthony Schwartz
Donovan Peoples-Jones
2022
Jerome Ford
Donovan Peoples-Jones
Chester Rogers
2023
James Proche II
Donovan Peoples-Jones
2024
Jaelon Darden
James Proche II
Jerome Ford
Pierre Strong Jr.
Personally I would rather use all six wide receiver roster spots for wide receiver talent rather than a returner. You can have your three starters, a fourth veteran option who can step in when needed and then two younger developmental options. Carter has only managed only 13 receptions in the last two years, so I wouldn't be holding your breath for him to produce in this area.
He has $800,000 guaranteed but I would assume only $167,500 is a signing bonus so the rest can move to another team if released.
Grade - 5/10
Offensive Tackle - Cornelius Lucas
(Photo: Brad Mills, USA TODAY Sports)
Considering I have been writing about the Cleveland Browns needing to sign him in 2020, 2022 and 2023 this is a really easy decision for me to give this a high grade.
This is what I wrote about Lucas in my free agency cheat sheet: 'He would be high on my list as a cheap player who is more than capable of playing left tackle but then also allows Jones to battle for the starting job if Jones has a great training camp and preseason.'
Over the last six years he has played around 500 snaps every year and given a good account of himself. He is very athletic and if you need him to be a starter either side of the line he will give a good account of himself. For me he was the ideal target to give Jones competition at the left tackle spot while being a good swing option if Jones proves himself.
The one potential negative you can take from this is the decision to give Dawand Jones the first shot at the left tackle position, it would be great if he can earn it but needing a swing tackle to replace him rather than a proven starter
Grade - 10/10
Guard - Tevin Jenkins
Teven Jenkins
Teven Jenkins
This is what I wrote about Jenkins in my free agency cheat sheet: 'Injuries are a risk here but I am still willing to gamble on the upside. If he misses a game or two then it is a chance for Zinter to prove he can be the starter in 2026 alongside Jenkins.'
We still don't know what role he will take within the team and this might not be finalised until we get into the preseason. The most likely direction will be guard but if something happens to Jones then he could be in with a shot at tackle too. I would expect the Cleveland Browns to carry nine offensive lineman into the season so tougher decisions will be coming, we will have a clearer picture of what they are likely to do once the draft has concluded.
If they end up moving from Teller to a tandem of Jenkins and Zinter at right guard then they have a pairing who can hopefully be part of a long term plan at guard.
Considering how cheap he is there are significant medical concerns, but it is still worth gambling on starting quality upside despite my usual position of never paying for depth.
Grade - 10/10
Edge Defender - Joe Tryon-Shoyinka
Joe Tryon
Joe Tryon
This is what I wrote about Tryon-Shoyinka in my free agency cheat sheet: 'A former first-round pick who has underwhelmed compared to his draft status. He sits around a 10% career pressure rate but that isn't good enough for me to part with that much money.
I had initially expected him to earn $6m so he comes in a little under value but at the same time his pressure rate isn't as good as I would like.
2024 - 8.2%
2023 - 9.9%
2022 - 10.7%
2021 - 8.9%
It is hard to know how they view him until the final roster is set. We know Garrett, McGuire and Tryon-Shoyinka will be three of the four active edge defenders on game day. The question is where does the last piece of the puzzle come from. If it is a bigger addition like Abdul Carter or even Za'Darius Smith then I feel more confident about the position room they have for 2025. If they are rolling with Alex Wright who had very poor pressure numbers in 2024 then I am underwhelmed by the addition.
For the time being I am going to give him a grade of five but this could increase to a six if they add a bigger name to the room, if this is their main addition this offseason then I likely got with a four.
Grade - 5/10
Defensive Tackle - Maliek Collins
Malek Collins
Malek Collins
He doesn't appear in my free agency cheat sheet because he was cut during the offseason.
The key thing I look at for defensive tackles is their pressure rate, Collins is a certain upgrade on Tomlinson when it comes to getting to the quarterback. He isn't as good in the run game but he is cheaper too. Collins costs $10m a year where as Tomlinson was due $14.5m in 2025.
If we look at his pressure rate over the last three seasons:
2024 - 10.3%
2023 - 9.5%
2022 - 10.6%
Then we compare this to Dalvin Tomlinson:
2024 - 11.4% (10 of his 36 pressures came in the Steelers snow game, 9.1% without that game)
2023 - 8.9%
2022 - 8.6%
This rotation seems to be locked in for the 2025 season now, lead by Maliek Collins & Michael Hall. Then for the more depth roles they have Shelby Harris and Jowon Briggs. The last spot on the depth chart is most likely to be a draft pick. Since there is a very good chance Hall will miss some games to start the season, potentially the first four if he starts the season on the PUP list. If this is the case then I would expect the Cleveland Browns to use Sam Kamara in the rotation rather than the rookie.
Grade - 8/10
Linebacker - Devin Bush
(Photo: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images)
This is what I wrote about Bush in my free agency cheat sheet: 'He had a fantastic season, I don't see this moving him back to being a starter. He should remain as a high end third linebacker. I don't see him returning as they already have Diabate in this role. If he re-signs then I would be concerned about JOK.'
In terms of PFF he was their 9th best linebacker out of the top 90 who played at least a 20% of snaps on the season.
He had a fantastic season with the Cleveland Browns and while his re-signing likely points to issues with JOK it doesn't stop it being a really nice addition that can help the linebacker room. Their linebacker coach Jason Tarver has done a fantastic job over the last few years elevating cheap talent in the room. Despite low investment they have always performed at an above average level.
Potentially he can elevate himself up the depth chart and have a shot at the starting role with Hicks if JOK can't go but this will an open competition in the preseason most likely.
Grade - 8/10
Linebacker - Jerome Baker
(Photo: Getty)
This is what I wrote about Baker in my free agency cheat sheet: 'He is an okay starter but Andrew Berry should always strive for more than okay.'
I had him listed as a cheap low value starter at $3m, which is much cheaper than PFF had with a prediction of $5.25m a year. These are both down from the $7m he got in 2024. Considering he has signed on a veteran salary benefit deal it is a good move for the Browns. He had a great year in 2022 and the last two seasons have underwhelmed but he is still a solid player. Considering there is still uncertainty around JOK it makes sense to get as many proven veteran options who can do a job.
Unless you sign someone that is a legitimate starter then having a battle between Bush, Baker and Diabate for the starting battle job opposite JOK, this way you can see who steps up. Plus they have depth options ready for whoever loses out in the competion.
These are the sort of cheap depth moves Andrew Berry has been making over previous years like Rodney McLeod allows someone proven to step up when someone misses time rather than a rookie draft pick.
Grade - 8/10
Cornerback - Tony Brown
This is what I wrote about Brown in my free agency cheat sheet: 'You don't want him playing defensive snaps but he can provide special teams snaps. Personally I prefer Ford but if you want to sign two there is a chance.'
You can hardly grade a player lowly when they have no guaranteed money in their contract because if someone else comes along then you can move on from them. He has been a nice special teamer player but he isn't special in the way some other special teamers have been.
Personally I wouldn't sign a special teamer to the 53 man roster unless they are going to be elite in their play. They are better going the route they went last season of putting them on the practice squad and then calling them up when needed while they save the roster spot for developing a young defensive talent. If this is the plan again then I like the move a lot more.
Grade - 6/10
Breaking Down The Teven Jenkins, Jerome Baker & Tony Brown Cleveland Browns Contracts
With the details of Teven Jenkins, Jerome Baker & Tony Brown's contract now confirmed, Jack Duffin looks at the value, terms and details of the deal and what it means for the Cleveland Browns remaining spending plans.
Jack Duffin13 hrsVIP
We have finally received contract details for three players meaning the only outstanding contract for the team is return specialist DeAndre Carter, I would guess this will be a veteran minimum contract, more on these later.
It takes a few days once an extension is signed for the information to get to sites like Over The Cap for me to report on it. I never take too much notice of the initial reports including 'up to' as these come from the agent's side, and they regularly inflate the numbers using unlikely-to-be-earned incentives and others as they want to use them to attract future clients. It gives you a good steer for what the deal is likely to be, but you won't see me write on the numbers until we get everything official. Sometimes this can take a few days, you won't see me write on deals until I have the official breakdown.
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