Veteran Free-Agent Contracts Browns Must Consider Before Training Camp

While the Cleveland Browns haven't been among the NFL's most active teams during the 2024 offseason, they've made several incremental moves that should improve the roster for the coming campaign.

The Browns brought back key contributors like Shelby Harris and Za'Darius Smith. They added Jameis Winston for quarterback insurance, signed linebacker Jordan Hicks to bolster the defense and boosted the receiver room with a trade for Jerry Jeudy.

With minicamps and organized team activities (OTAs) over, however, Cleveland should consider making a few late additions. Several quality veterans are still available in the latter stages of free agency, and the Browns have $12.7 million in cap space. Adding a player or two before training camp opens on July 22 would be advisable.

Here, we'll examine three free agents who could aid the Browns in 2024. We'll dive into why each player could help fill a need and make contract projections based on factors like positional value, past performance, age and the positional market.

The Browns should again have a potent defensive front in 2024. Cleveland bolstered its defensive interior by taking Mike Hall Jr. in the second round, and it has a strong pass-rushing rotation in Smith, Myles Garrett and Ogbonnia Okoronkwo.

It wouldn't hurt, however, to add another piece to the pass-rushing rotation. Smith recorded 5.5 sacks last season, and he and Garrett were the only Browns defenders to record more than five quarterback takedowns.

Adding a high-end pass-rusher wouldn't be cheap, though. While a deep player pool kept the edge market in check this offseason, sack artists don't often sign budget-friendly deals. Chase Young, for example, landed a one-year, $13 million deal with the New Orleans Saints after failing to do much in nine games with the San Francisco 49ers last year.

However, Cleveland might be able to get a bargain by signing Carl Lawson to a short-term "prove-it" deal. The 28-year-old barely saw the field with the New York Jets in 2023 and was dumped early this offseason.

Two years ago, though, Lawson started all 17 games for the Jets and tallied seven sacks and 26 quarterback pressures. Lawson needs to reestablish his value, and Jim Schwartz's defense could provide him with that opportunity.

While Lawson earned $15 million annually on his last contract, he'll have to accept a much lower offer at this point in the offseason. A one-year, $5 million deal with added incentives might be enough to entice him.

Cleveland also has a strong cornerback trio in Denzel Ward, Martin Emerson Jr. and Greg Newsome II. However, the Browns also have a history of enduring injuries at the position, and playoff hopefuls can never have too much cornerback depth.

Adoree' Jackson, who last played for the New York Giants, could help provide that. He could also add value with his special-teams experience. While the 28-year-old didn't see much time on special teams last season, he has returned 56 punts and 27 kickoffs in his pro career.

With the league implementing a revised kickoff format in 2024, it couldn't hurt to have another experienced returner on the roster—and the Browns have been searching for a reliable returner pretty much since the heyday of Josh Cribbs.

Head coach Kevin Stefanski admitted that the Browns haven't quite figured out how to best handle returns.

"We want to be as prepared as we can be. But I don't know that there's any club that knows exactly how it's going to look," Stefanski said in April, per Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal.

The unknown is whether the Browns could land Jackson on a budget-friendly deal. The cornerback market continues to rise, and Jackson earned $13 million annually on his last deal. At this point in the offseason, though, a one-year offer in the $6-7 million range with incentives might get Jackson's attention.

The Browns have one of the NFL's top offensive lines when the unit is healthy. Unfortunately, tackles Jack Conklin, Dawand Jones and Jedrick Wills Jr. all missed time with injuries in 2023.

Wills hasn't developed into a reliable franchise-caliber left tackle either.

It would behoove the Browns to add insurance at the position, and a two-time Super Bowl champion happens to be available.

Donovan Smith is not an elite left tackle at this stage in his career. However, he's started for and won Super Bowls with both Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes. His experience and insight could help a franchise still seeking a top-tier signal-caller and its first Super Bowl berth tremendously.

Smith would add another strong presence to a locker room that includes former teammate, Winston. He'd also give Cleveland a serviceable Plan B at left tackle if Wills cannot stay healthy or continues to struggle.

At this point in the offseason, Smith should also be available at a price the Browns can afford. Starting-caliber tackles usually don't come at a bargain, but Smith played on a modest one-year, $3 million deal last season.

If the Browns can convince Smith that they're ready to compete for a championship, he might just be open to a similar deal in 2024.

*Cap and contract information via Spotrac. Advanced statistics from Pro Football Reference.