Blinksportsnews247The NFL is a place where things change, as Browns Vice President of Football Operations Andrew Berry stated in a press conference a few weeks ago to mark the end of the season.
In this sport, “running it back” with the exact same lineup is really nonexistent. In the age of salary caps, Berry must manage a costly roster while continuing to identify players who not only help the team advance past its postseason run this past season, but also mesh well with the organization’s culture.
The Browns’ top offseason needs are as follows, with the new league year and free agency beginning in just over a month:
1) Wide Receiver
This past season, the Elijah Moore experiment fell short of expectations. Even after giving up a second-round pick for him, there’s still a chance he plays as well as Cleveland anticipates, but the Browns need another trustworthy weapon in the passing game to attempt and turn Deshaun Watson back into a top quarterback.
Not only that, but star wide receiver Amari Cooper will soon be 30. His 1,000-yard season won’t last forever. Thus, it would be wise to recruit a player who has the potential to eventually assume that role while keeping an eye on the future.
2) Defense Line
In the NFL of days, rotating defensive linemen is almost required. No matter where he coaches, Jim Schwartz always has a ready supply of defensive linemen at his disposal, and his scheme is the same there.
The importance of having star pass rusher Myles Garrett surrounded by a well-balanced defensive lineman rotation was also evident to the Browns. Jordan Elliott, Shelby Harris, Maurice Hurst, and Za’Darius Smith will all be free agents this offseason. Berry is likely to go elsewhere to rebuild the d-line for the upcoming season, but he may also investigate bringing members of that group with him.
3) Linebacker With Sionne Takitaki and Anthony Walker Jr. scheduled to become unrestricted free agents this offseason, there will be a significant hole in the middle of the defense to fill. Because they fit in the locker room and are familiar with Schwartz’s plan, it might make sense to keep at least one of those two. In the event that Berry decides to take that path, neither should be unduly costly to retrieve.
Conversely, Cleveland might take a look at some interesting free agent choices, such Chiefs wide receiver Willie Gay Jr. In either case, the Browns must address this situation.
4) Offense Line
If there’s one thing the Browns locker room learned from the great injury epidemic of 2023, it’s that offensive line depth is something you can never have too much of. With the possible exception of Jedrick Wills, who is still attempting to live up to his first-round pick potential, Berry has identified and added trustworthy depth players across the offensive line with remarkable skill.
Now, some of that probably has to do with offensive line coach Bill Callahan’s presence—he’s heading to Tennessee to join his son. It’s going to take a legend to replace the Browns’ head coach, so it’s definitely a good idea for Berry to consider drafting an offensive lineman in order to keep that room stocked for the upcoming season.
5)Running Back
With Berry indicating that they plan to keep Nick Chubb this summer, this may not seem like a big deal. Nevertheless, Chubb is recovering from a second severe injury to his left knee, so while nobody wants to wager against Chubb ever getting back to normal, you never know.
Not only that, but the Browns appeared to realize they needed additional depth in the running back room after Chubb’s absence during the previous campaign. If Berry goes to the draft to get a running back, don’t be shocked.
Blinksportsnews247
