The Cleveland Browns have had an interesting offseason with two big additions plus a few other smaller ones. The team also moved on from a few veterans that helped save cap space.
The acquisition of QB Deshaun Watson will reverberate through the organization for years to come. The Browns signed him to the biggest guaranteed contract in NFL history and only the second fully guaranteed multi-year deal ever (Kirk Cousins was first). The new contract minimized his cap hit in 2022.
Amari Cooper was added in a trade along with his three years and $60 million contract. His deal was restructured to save cap space this year as well.
Jarvis Landry and J.C. Tretter were released and Case Keenum was traded to save the team significant cap space.
According to the NFLPA’s website, Cleveland still has over $22 million in cap space. They only have one team, the Carolina Panthers, with more than $30 million in space.
As the Browns did, many teams are able to create more cap space this year but doing so pushes bigger cap hits later.
Cleveland will add more cap space on June 1st when the release of Austin Hooper gives them another $9.5 million.
Baker Mayfield remains on the Browns roster and salary cap. It seems unlikely that the team will gain the full $18.8 million if they trade him. Even if the Browns have to pay half of his salary, saving over $9 million in cap space would be huge for the team. Combined with the Hooper savings, the Browns would have $40 million in cap space to spend.
The team still has needs and has some interest in bringing Jadeveon Clowney and Landry back. John Johnson III even said that Odell Beckham Jr. is returning to Cleveland.
At least for 2022, cap space is not a problem for the Browns.