The Cleveland Browns and the rest of the NFL are patiently awaiting the start of the NFL league year. Prior to that, the NFL Combine will take place in Indianapolis. While contract discussions are not allowed prior to the tampering period, everyone knows they start at the Senior Bowl and Shrine Bowl events and really pick up at the Combine.
The Browns have a few needs going into this offseason particularly wide receiver and defensive line. There are other areas of the roster that could get depth upgrades but seem to pale in comparison to those two areas.
ESPN had Cleveland set to sign three of their top 50 free agents, two of which are pending free agents from the team. One was receiver Mike Williams from the Los Angeles Chargers. Williams has played the #2 role well next to Keenan Allen but could cash in as teams look at his 6’4″ frame and 1,146 yards in 2021 as a sign of things to come.
Based on recent history, that seems like a bad idea:
U want a #1 WR? Well u arent finding one in FA. 32 WRs signed as UFA since 2018 for $8M or more in total contract value. 2 reached 1000+ receiving yards and 0 had >6 TDs. The avg season has been 41 rec, 503 yds, 3 TD. Its an absolute wasteland. Go cheap, trade or draft pic.twitter.com/OqN25G4vnN
— TA (@ClevTA) February 16, 2022
That is a lot of money thrown around for not a lot of production. The two names that crossed the 1,000-yard threshold aren’t exactly top-tier guys: Robby Anderson and John Brown.
With Cleveland looking to upgrade immediately, this data has to be taken into consideration. As noted, making a trade (as we did here), drafting (as almost every mock draft has had happening) or getting lucky with a cheap free agent is likely the best route for improvement at the position.
While Williams joins Davante Adams, Chris Godwin, Allen Robinson, Michael Gallup and others as attractive names in free agency, history says new teams should proceed with caution.