The 2021 NFL free agency class is loaded but the Cleveland Browns, though they can be aggressive, should avoid these three players on the open market.
The Cleveland Browns are headed into the 2021 offseason as the new league year will begin on March 17 — and, effectively, so will NFL free agency — with room to grow. They will head into free agency with the 11th-most cap space in the league at $20.22 million, per Over the Cap.
With money to spend and a loaded free agency market that includes stars like J.J. Watt and Chris Godwin, the Browns and general manager Andrew Berry have a lot of work to do headed into the offseason.
But will Cleveland come out the other end of the 2021 season with buyer’s remorse? Here are three players the Cleveland Browns should avoid in free agency.
Cleveland Browns free agent to avoid No. 3: Jadeveon Clowney, EDGE
After just a season with the Tennessee Titans and only eight games played, Jadeveon Clowney is set to hit free agency for the third time in three seasons.
Clowney has yet to resemble the disruptive edge rusher he was during his five seasons with the Houston Texans, missing 11 games over the past two seasons alone and recording just three sacks in the 21 games he did start.
Browns fans may recall that Cleveland was prepared to offer the seven-year veteran a one-year, $15 million deal before the 2020 season but Clowney chose to head to the Music City to join former Houston linebackers coach and current Titans head coach Mike Vrabel.
At 27 years old and coming off a season-ending knee injury, the Cleveland Browns should want to shy away from Clowney, especially since he’d likely be used to replace another injured veteran in Olivier Vernon, who tore his Achilles at the end of the 2020 regular season. Cleveland should look elsewhere for younger and fresher options at the edge position.
Cleveland Browns free agent to avoid No. 2: Richard Sherman, CB
Since the separation of the Seattle Seahawks’ “Legion of Boom,” Richard Sherman has spent the past three seasons with the rival San Francisco 49ers. Now, at 32 years old, Sherman enters free agency coming off a shortened season, missing 11 games due to a calf strain.
Many big-named fans alike have advocated for Sherman to sign with the Browns, such as Portland Trail Blazers guard and Cleveland native C.J.McCollum on Twitter. As fun as it would be to have a potential future Hall of Famer, the Browns can place their money elsewhere.
Sherman proved he still has gas left in the tank in the 2019 season, recording 11 passes defended, three interceptions (one for a touchdown) and two tackles for loss, but the cornerback this late in his career would only be a temporary solution to the wide range of issues in the Browns secondary. It’s hard to imagine Sherman is heading towards the peak of his performance in his 30s.
Avoiding Sherman is a move that has a lot less to do with the player himself but rather the need for a long-term solution that might be available via other free agents or the 2021 NFL Draft.
Cleveland Browns free agent to avoid No. 1: Christian Kirksey, LB
After spending six years with the Browns, Christian Kirksey spent the 2020 season up North with the Green Bay Packers. Kirksey was cut alongside veteran tackle Rick Wagner in a move many suspect is Green Bay’s way of freeing up money to sign J.J. Watt.
As soon as Kirksey was cut, many die-hard Browns fans may have had a sinking pit in the stomach knowing the “old” Browns would bring Kirksey back on some three-year deal as a way of fixing their problems at linebacker. Those same “old” Browns are the same team that let linebacker Joe Schobert walk after a Pro-Bowl season in 2019.
While Kirksey had a respectable season in 2020, posting two interceptions, four passes defended, two tackles for loss and two QB hits, he hasn’t played a full season in the last three years. It’s high-time the Cleveland Browns move away from Kirksey and solve their issues at the position another way.