Browns: 3 cap casualties who could alter 2021 NFL Draft plans
By Mark Sipos
3. Sheldon Richardson, Defensive Tackle
Easily the most impactful name on the list, Richardson would be a big loss to a team that is lacking in defensive talent. But could releasing Richardson open up the cap space enough for Andrew Berry to make a splash?
The 31 year old Richardson is entering the final year of his three year contract. Releasing Richardson at any point during the off-season would open up $12 million in cap space. With the release of Richardson, that would get the Browns to roughly $37 million in cap space. If Andrew Berry decides to make a big move this off-season, whether it is signing a safety such as Justin Simmons, Marcus Williams or Anthony Harris, trading for Marshon Lattimore, or signing one of the numerous defensive ends out on the market, then he will need as much cap space as possible to make big things happen.
In losing Richardson, the hole at defensive tackle would get even bigger. With Larry Ogunjobi scheduled to hit free agency this March, the Browns would then be set to lose both of their starting defensive tackles. Losing a combined 1,359 snaps between both players would not be an ideal scenario, however it would not be all doom and gloom for the Browns.
A third round pick from last year, Jordan Elliott showed some promise in his limited role, playing about 27 percent of the defensive snaps. Elliott should have the first crack at taking one of the starting positions, showing some serious potential as a pass rushing threat from the inside. After opting out of the 2020 season, Andrew Billings should be set to make his debut for the Cleveland Browns this season. Billings is locked in for only one year, and has a good chance to be starting from day one, whether Richardson and Ogunjobi are on the team or not.
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The smartest move for Cleveland would be to try and extend Richardson, lowering his base salary for this season, as you would keep an important player while opening up some cap space as well. If the Browns do decide to free themselves of Richardson’s contract entirely, look for a defensive tackle in the first three rounds of the draft. Players such as Christian Barmore, Jay Tufele, Daviyon Nixon and Jaylen Twyman would all make sense for the Browns to take a look at.