CLEVELAND, Ohio – The NFL-free agency did not officially start before the start of the league year on March 17, but the madness began early when the Texans released JJ Watt, the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, on Friday afternoon.
The Browns wasted no time jumping on the Watt whip and called his representatives shortly after he was officially let go and made their commitment. The Browns are one of about a dozen teams that inquired about Watt the first day, and they will have a lot of competition for its services.
To begin with, he would like to play in Pittsburgh with his brother TJ, a fellow pass rusher, and Derek, a fullback. If the Browns do not land him, they will chase some of the other leading edge hunters who will come on the market.
But a replacement for Olivier Vernon is just one of the many big roster decisions facing the Browns over the next few months. Here is an overview of some of them:
1. Why Cleveland would fit Watt very well
If the Steelers could not find the money for Watt – they currently have a capital shortfall of almost $ 30 million – the Browns would be an excellent landing spot for him. To begin with, he plays opposite Myles Garrett, who will pull the most doubles teams and free up Watt to return to double-digit pockets. In addition to Garrett, the No. 4 forward in the NFL per profootballfocus.com, Browns Pro Bowler has Sheldon Richardson in the defensive attack, and Andrew Billings is returning from his COVID-19 opt-out.
Watt, the No. 7 edge roster in the NFL per pff.com, would also be played by Adrian Clayborn and Porter Gustin and at age 32 would not have to play 100% of the snaps. If Watt can ‘To not play with his brothers, to play against them twice a year and be in the neighborhood is perhaps the next best thing. He also wants to play for a rival, and the Browns reached the final eight in 2020.
They also have the chance to sign him (they are currently 11th with more than $ 21 million), and he will thrive in Joe Woods’ pocket defense.
He also has strong ties with other teams that are interested, so the competition will be fierce. He’s a native of Wisconsin. He has become a Packers fan and would love to play for them. The Bears have an advantage because Watt’s wife, Kealia, plays for the Chicago Red Stars of the National Women’s Soccer League. In Tennessee, he will be reunited with his former Texans defense coordinator Mike Vrabel.
But the Browns tick off most of the blocks on Watt’s list and will be right in the mix: cap space, Super Bowl potential, good supporting cast, good culture and Midwest environment. Watt, who is now free to sign with any team, will go look into his options this week and can like what he sees in Cleveland.
2. Odell Beckham Jr. storms back from his torn ACL
Beckham said in his Instagram story this week that he was fulfilling his three-month follow-up appointment of ACL surgery with dr. James had Andrews, and that Andrews told him that he was recovering faster than anyone he had ever seen, or that he was right there.
Beckham, who regularly posts videos of his rehabilitation on social media, also tweeted on Friday: “I’m more motivated than I ever was.”
At his current cut, Beckham could be ready by the start of the 2021 season. The Browns are excited to get him back, but from a business perspective, they should also consider trading him out of season. His amount is $ 15.75 million and they have to decide if they want to pay him as much as they also pay $ 14.753 million to Jarvis Landry. Beckham must also decide whether he wants to continue trying to develop chemistry with Baker Mayfield, or whether he might not do better elsewhere.
The Browns must also ask themselves if there are soccer balls to invest more than $ 30 million in two receivers – in a year in which the cap could hit the $ 175 million Covid floor, more than $ 22 million from this season. .
Once again, the Browns love Beckham a lot and would love to have him back. But if someone offers them an offer they can not refuse, they will be more likely to listen this off-season than last year.
3. They will not easily separate from David Njoku
Njoku’s national radio interview with Jim Rome, in which he refused to answer the question of whether Cleveland is the right place for him, will not influence the Browns’ decision to let him go or not. They like Njoku and feel that he is a valuable part of Kevin Stefanski’s two – button scheme.
In addition, Njoku is busy with its option year on the relatively cap-friendly salary of $ 6,013 million, which is fully guaranteed on March 17. Njoku, who last season wanted the Browns to swap him, still sounds like he wants to go somewhere and a no. 1 endpoint is.
But the only way the Browns will handle him is if they make a better team. They do not let him speak out of the city, and they do not intend to give him away. One thing in Njoku’s favor is that his agent Drew Rosenhaus has the ability to find a suitable trading partner if the Browns give him permission.
Rosenhaus got the Texans to send a conditional fourth-round pick to the Browns for the disgruntled running back Duke Johnson, who improved to a third when he was active ten games.
4. Richard Sherman is probably not on the radar
The Browns are willing to pay Watt, but they are not expected to follow five-time Richard Bowman, 32, who played for Joe Woods in San Francisco, the five-time corner of Pro Bowl.
The Browns reckon cornerback Greedy Williams will return from the nerve damage in his shoulder, and they will likely try to sign his 2020 replacement Terrance Mitchell and lock corner Kevin Johnson. In addition, they will try to add other cornerstones, whether through the concept, free agency, a trade. In the case of the latter two, they will likely be looking for a younger cornerback than Sherman, who turns 33 next month.
That could disappoint Canton-born CJ McCollum, the Portland Trailblazer guard who campaigned for Sherman on Twitter.
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