The Browns may have to break the bank next year
Scrap last year, erase it from memory. The 2019 campaign for the Cleveland Browns was one filled with multiple dumpster fires, starting with a head coach in Freddie Kitchens that was in way over his head. Despite that, players like pass rusher Myles Garrett (pre-suspension) and Nick Chubb were still near the top of the league in their respective categories.
However, players like quarterback Baker Mayfield, wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., and safety Damarious Randall did not find their groove last year. While Mayfield put up one of the most historic rookie seasons of all time in 2018, he took a massive step back last season, throwing for 21 interceptions (while Mayfield must improve, most can be pinned onto the lap of Kitchens and quarterbacks coach Ryan Lindley).
There is now a new sheriff in town in Cleveland, as Kevin Stefanski, who has led the Minnesota Vikings’ offense to new heights over the last two seasons, has taken over the reigns. John Dorsey was also ousted as general manager (we all know what “mutually parted ways” means), and now Andrew Berry takes over as GM as well.
Berry’s first task as general manager was free agency, where he landed the likes of offensive tackle Jack Conklin and tight end Austin Hooper. He did, however, also sign numerous players to one year deals; some veteran rentals, some players looking to use a short term contract to earn a longer term one for more money with a solid season in a change of scenery.
The Browns also have a number of players entering their contract seasons this offseason. While Myles Garrett is not entering his contract season, he will almost certainly see a massive payday come his way either this offseason or next. In fact, not a single soul will be surprised if he becomes the highest paid pass rusher in the game of football.
However Garrett is not where this article focuses, but rather four other names entering contract years who could see a substantial pay increase with a solid 2020 campaign under Stefanski and his staff. Here are four guys, either current Browns in the last year of their contract or young free agents who signed one-year deals in Cleveland, who could play themselves into a wealthy contract this year.
DT Larry Ogunjobi
Larry Ogunjobi was a former third round pick of the Browns back in 2017, the last draft that former general manager Sashi Brown headed up. On that staff, however, was current GM Andrew Berry. Entering the last year of his deal, Ogunjobi is out to prove he deserves a second contract with the Browns beyond 2020.
More from With the First Pick
- 2024 NFL Draft: Prospect Viewing Guide for Week 0
- 2024 NFL Draft: All Eyes On NFL Draft Defensive Prospects
- Player Spotlight: USC Safety Calen Bullock
- 2024 Senior Bowl Watchlist Announced
- 2024 NFL Draft: Florida State is Loaded with Prospect in 2023
This, however, is not a given.
There is no way around it, Ogunjobi was putrid for the brown and orange in 2019, constantly getting blown off the ball and out of rush lanes. He struggled to take on double-teams like he was originally drafted to do, and did not generate much juice as a pass rusher either.
There were many times when it felt like former defensive coordinator Steve Wilks was playing his men out of position, or trying to force a round peg into the square hole that was his defensive scheme. Ogunjobi was one of those players.
With Joe Woods taking over the defense, a coordinator who likes to play press man and get after the quarterback (the complete antithesis of Wilks), Ogunjobi has a great situation to prove that he belongs with the Browns long term. In a rotation with Sheldon Richardson, free agent addition Andrew Billings, and third rounder Jordan Elliott, Ogunjobi needs to separate himself from a crowded room.
S Karl Joseph
Quite possibly the worst position group on the Browns’ roster from a year ago was at the third level of their defense. All three safeties who saw significant playing time from a year ago are no longer on the roster as Damarious Randall became a headache in the locker room, Jermaine Whitehead was cut midseason after issuing death threats over Twitter, and Juston Burris signed a new deal with the Carolina Panthers in free agency.
Berry and his crew put a heavy emphasis on the position this offseason, signing two in former first round pick Karl Joseph, and veteran safety Andrew Sendejo. With their second round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Browns then turned to the position again, selecting LSU safety Grant Delpit.
While Delpit is the most intriguing with superstar potential, Joseph brings along quite the interest as well after signing a one year deal. Only 26 years old, Joseph is hoping a change of scenery will boost his career to new heights after four seasons with the Oakland (now Las Vegas) Raiders.
Given his status as a first rounder and his age, Joseph could be in for a massive pay raise should he find success under Joe Woods in Cleveland this year. He will see the field a ton in a division where the Browns will have to face returning MVP Lamar Jackson twice per year, so he will have plenty of opportunity.
DT Andrew Billings
A second defensive tackle on this list?
The Browns were quite taken with Andrew Billings back in the 2016 NFL Draft, but were unable to select him then. When they saw him hit the market this offseason, they were thrilled to have the opportunity to land the versatile defensive tackle.
Cleveland Browns
Expect Woods to use Billings as a chess piece in both the one gap (over the center) and in the three technique (over the guard). It would not be a shock if Billings and Elliott usurped the majority of Ogunjobi’s reps in 2020, making Larry’s chances of earning a new contract harder to come by.
After four years down the I-71 in Cincinnati, Billings makes the four hour drive north to Cleveland to resume his career. After seeing no depth at the defensive tackle position a year ago, the Browns now have four solid interior defensive lineman to shuffle through.
Should Billings thrive and be used in multiple looks like many, including this writer, expect, then he could be well on his way to earning a long term deal with the Browns beyond the one year contract he inked this offseason.
WR Rashard Higgins
A fan favorite, and the biggest victim of the Kitchens/Dorsey dictatorship from a year ago, wide receiver Rashard Higgins found himself in the doghouse all last year after coming off a highly productive 2018 season.
Higgins, however, re-joining Berry (who was on the staff that drafted him) felt like Cleveland was still his best option towards earning future money beyond 2020. He re-signed on a one-year deal with the Browns, passing up bigger money elsewhere. Being Baker Mayfield’s favorite target in 2018, he hopes that having a head coach with an offensive identity will boost his favor back up to where he was two years ago.
Even though the Browns have two of the highest paid receivers on the market on the roster, it would not be a shock for them to still retain Higgins as Pro Football Focus shows that the receiver position adds more wins to a team’s record than most. If Higgins can return to the favor and success he saw in 2018, he could parlay his one year deal into a potential three year deal worth anywhere from six to eight million dollars annually.
Banking on Baker, Hollywood Higgins is back and ready to roll out the red carpet long term.