Cleveland Browns: Top 5 players deserving of a new contract
By Cory Kinnan
The Cleveland Browns have a number of starters entering their contract year. They cannot re-sign them all, but they must prioritize their key players.
After an offseason of fireworks for the Cleveland Browns, they are finally settling in for training camp and the ruckus that is bound to follow quarterback Baker Mayfield and wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. around. What a time to be alive when the Browns are the center of attention.
General manager John Dorsey has been spending money this free offseason as well, acquired Olivier Vernon from the New York Giants in addition to OBJ, and signing defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson and some depth pieces. Hopefully, this will leave some space to re-sign players as the Browns now have just $32 million in cap space and a handful of players entering their contract year.
In the past, the Browns have blown players entering free agency, such as pulling an offer from one of the league’s best right tackles in Mitchell Schwartz, to allowing Phil Dawson to walk and have not since been able to locate a capable kicker. The hope is the past is behind us as there are some key contributors Cleveland should not let out the door.
At least five starters are entering their contract year, and the Browns will need to re-sign at least a handful of them. Here are the top five players on the last year of their deals that the Browns should pursue re-signing, ranked most expendable to least.