The Cleveland Browns Can Open Cap Space if Needed
Photo Credit: Andrew Nelles via USA TODAY Sports
With the first full week of free agency behind us, many of the big targets are officially off the board. The Cleveland Browns haven’t been major spenders to this point, but they have done a great job of keeping a lot of pieces from the 2023 defense that was so good.
There was speculation that Andrew Berry would spend big at defensive tackle to pair with Dalvin Tomlinson, but instead, he brought back Maurice Hurst, Shelby Harris, Rodney McLeod, and Za’Darius Smith. All three were good market contracts for the Browns and made a ton of sense.
The big splash on offense was the trade for Jerry Jeudy which was much needed, but other than that, it’s been quiet. Cleveland is strapped for cash on paper with just under $6 million of cap space, but there are plenty of moves to be made to help with that.
At this point, no moves appear to be necessary if the rookie class is the last piece to the puzzle, but there are still a couple of moves that can free up money quickly if needed.
Nick Chubb – Running Back
One player that is still on this roster that shocks me is Nick Chubb. I know for two years he was the heartbeat of this team, but business is business and after his last knee injury his current contract is no longer viable.
Chubb is a tremendous athlete but has completely blown out his knee twice at this point. Couple that with him being 29, and there are plenty of questions on if he’ll ever be the same. I would imagine that he and Berry know an extension or re-working of his deal is coming and that he is progressing very well giving the organization confidence he will play in 2024.
Over The Cap estimates an extension with Chubb would save just over $8.5 million in 2024 and makes a lot of sense. Berry can put a little guaranteed cash in Chubb’s pocket, he will be under contract through 2025, and it can be heavily based on incentives giving Chubb the chance for a payday if he is healthy.
It feels weird to say that a Chubb deal will potentially be low risk and high reward based on his past performance, but in this game running backs only have a few elite years. Just look back at Ezekial Elliott and Le’Veon Bell over the last few years.
Berry did sign Nyheim Hines in free agency (who is also coming off a season-ending knee injury in 2023), and D’Onta Forman which was a bit surprising, but still tells me Chubb is still in the future plans.
I didn’t necessarily expect Berry to go get Saquon Barkley, but I was hopeful for Austin Ekeler or someone who could do some damage out of the backfield and had some solid NFL experience.
Last year the Browns were handicapped in the backfield and it showed, especially at the end of games. Let’s hope Berry’s bet on Chubb being healthy in 2024 pays off.
Deshaun Watson – Quarterback
When the Cleveland Browns signed Deshaun Watson to the fully guaranteed $230 million contract in 2022, NFL owners lost their minds. Not only is the cap hit more than $60 million per season (after one restructuring), but it also reset quarterback deals in the league.
Luckily for the Browns, Berry has convinced ownership to continue to outspend the rest of the league in restructures with void years and singing bonuses. Right now, Over the Cap estimates another $33.5 million in savings with a restructure and additional void year.
Even though it feels like the Browns are likely done spending big dollars for the 2024 offseason, there is plenty of financial maneuvering to be done to free up more dollars. One must ask, is Berry willing to eat the full $64 million this year in case things don’t work out?
Watson will still have more than $130 million of guaranteed money left on his contract after next season if it’s not touched, but we saw the Denver Broncos willing to move on from Russell Wilson for $85 million over the next two seasons.
I’m not saying that’s going to happen or that’s even going through Berry’s mind, but I’m telling you he knows his time to win is now with the roster he has on defense. To have a $230 million quarterback and still not find a way to get across the finish line would be extremely frustrating.
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