With The First Pick
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2021 NFL Draft: 3 prime landing spots for Rashod Bateman after opting out

By Cory Kinnan

WEST LAFAYETTE, IN - SEPTEMBER 28: Rashod Bateman #13 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers runs the ball after a reception during the game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium on September 28, 2019 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
WEST LAFAYETTE, IN - SEPTEMBER 28: Rashod Bateman #13 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers runs the ball after a reception during the game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium on September 28, 2019 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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The Browns are a fit for Rashod Bateman in the 2021 NFL Draft. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
The Browns are a fit for Rashod Bateman in the 2021 NFL Draft. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /

The Cleveland Browns could use Bateman’s services in the future

An unusual selection as a landing spot for Bateman? Perhaps, but the Cleveland Browns may be looking a significantly different receiver room in the face a year from now due to salary cap implications.

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Already allocating nearly $30 million of their salary cap hit between both Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham Jr., the Browns have the ability to get their way out of one of those contracts. With Denzel Ward and Baker Mayfield looking to join Myles Garrett in his massive payday next offseason, the Browns are going to need every penny they can scrounge up.

There is an out in Landry’s contract after this season, which would allow for the Browns to move on from him for only $1.5 million in dead cap if released or traded after June 1. Given his standing in an analytical front office (more than likely viewed as expendable), the Browns may opt to draft a receiver early in the 2021 NFL Draft on a much cheaper contract.

Bateman would be an excellent fit in a Kevin Stefanski offense lined up across from Odell Beckham Jr. The salary cap is real, and the Browns are about to be up against it here soon; parting with Landry and drafting Bateman would create a ton of cap space for them to play around with in the future.

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