With Rashard Higgins eligible to hit the open market next week and Odell Beckham Jr. working his way back from a torn ACL, the Cleveland Browns’ wide receiver situation is fairly uncertain. The Browns are already devoting more than $30 million in 2021 salary-cap space to Beckham and Jarvis Landry, and with approximately $25 million available as general manager Andrew Berry goes about the process of trying to upgrade the defense, Higgins may find more from another team than Cleveland is willing to pay.
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We know the Browns’ primary needs in the player movement period are on the defensive side, specifically trying to upgrade the pass rush and fortify the secondary. As we look deeper at some of the team’s less-discussed needs and issues this offseason, we’ll start on the offensive side — and not with Beckham or how the Browns will handle potential mega-extensions for Baker Mayfield or Nick Chubb.
We’ll start at wide receiver with Donovan Peoples-Jones, an uber-talented 2020 sixth-round pick who made enough plays as a rookie to make Berry and the Browns believe they may have uncovered a gem. But when it comes to Higgins and other decisions about the offense, Berry and company must decide if they think Peoples-Jones is really ready to take off or if he might need more experience before taking on a full-time role.
Higgins’ lack of standout physical attributes is one reason he made it through the first two waves of free agency last year before returning to the Browns on a minimum contract. Higgins, 26, clearly has the trust of Mayfield, and in Kevin Stefanski’s offense, he showed an ability to run every route and find openings against various coverages.
Peoples-Jones is on the other end of the measurable spectrum. At 6-foot-2, 212 pounds, he’s big and fast enough to become a mainstay as an outside wide receiver, and he’s just 22. Peoples-Jones showed off his leaping ability on several occasions last year, most notably on the game-winning drive in Cincinnati after Beckham had gotten injured and Higgins had kept the Browns alive by rolling out of bounds on a catch before a defender could tap him down.
In really 10 games of playing even a semi-significant offensive role, Peoples-Jones had only 14 catches on 20 targets. But he averaged an eye-popping 21.7 yards per catch and scored two touchdowns. The Browns absolutely should want to use him more, but they’ll need to figure out how he fits best.
Another layer to a decision on Higgins is the status of wide receiver and special-teamer KhaDarel Hodge, who was playing ahead of Higgins early last season. Hodge, 26, is a restricted free agent, but because he entered the league as an undrafted player, the Browns would receive no compensation if another team signed him to an offer sheet and Cleveland didn’t match. That essentially means he’s an unrestricted free agent, though the Browns still have the option of offering Hodge a restricted free-agent tender, signing him to a new contract or letting him walk.
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Hodge only has 17 career catches, but he has played in the Browns’ regular wide receiver rotation in each of the last two seasons. His greatest value might be on special teams, but he’s a taller (6-foot-2) target with experience who had 11 catches last season. It seems unlikely that either Hodge or Higgins would sign a long-term contract even if they return, so the Browns are looking at really having nothing but Peoples-Jones set at the receiver position past the 2021 season.
Both Beckham and Landry are under contract through 2023, but there’s little guaranteed money left on either deal beyond this season — and there’s no cap hit for the Browns past this season if they move on from Beckham at some point in either of the next two offseasons. This year, Beckham has more than $12 million in guaranteed money.
If I were the general manager of a team with cap issues and the Browns called about one of my veteran defensive players, I’d at least inquire about getting Peoples-Jones in return. I’m not saying the Browns would trade him; I’m fairly certain they wouldn’t. I just think Peoples-Jones is talented and intriguing enough that teams should ask. That talent stands out as a reason why the Browns have a chance to be an even better offense in 2021 than last year, but they need to make the pieces fit in the wide receiver rotation — and they need to attach a dollar figure to their evaluation of Higgins’ talent and reliability.
Wide receiver names to track in free agency, Higgins or no Higgins: Isaiah McKenzie (BUF), Khalif Raymond (TEN), John Ross (CIN). The Browns hope that Beckham and Peoples-Jones can provide the pop in the vertical passing game, but they could explore adding some straight-line speed to the group in the second tier of free agency.
Player movement at other positions
• The Browns are in position to bring all four of their tight ends from last season back. Given the importance of the position in Stefanski’s offense, it’s more likely that the Browns keep David Njoku on his fifth-year option than it is that they trade him as part of an effort to bolster the defense. In assessing potential moves and cap-related cuts around the league, the Browns might have veteran options. They probably will end up sticking with their current group of Austin Hooper, Harrison Bryant, Njoku and Stephen Carlson, who was offered an exclusive-rights tender last week. Hooper is making around $22 million in guaranteed money over the next two seasons. As we head to next week, he’s a reminder that these instant free-agent splashes are rarely short-term cap commitments.
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It’s generally regarded as a weak tight end draft class, anyway, and over the past couple of seasons, there has been at least somewhat of a leaguewide shortage at the position — at least when it comes to starting-caliber players. On paper, Njoku’s $6 million salary for this season stands out as high given his inconsistencies and that he spent much of last season as the team’s No. 3 tight end. But when you look at Njoku’s athleticism, his age (24) and the other options tight-end needy teams have, it’s easy to see why the Browns either want to keep Njoku or maintain a high asking price in fielding any potential trade calls about him.
• Kicker Cody Parkey is set to become a free agent. Parkey had a December slump but was otherwise solid for the Browns and finished last season 19-of-22 on field goal tries. He’s been in the league since 2014 and has plenty of cold-weather kicking experience. He’s prone to missing extra points and doesn’t have the league’s strongest leg, but the Browns pretty much know what they’re going to get from Parkey — and there’s value in that. The best play is probably to bring him back.
• Backup offensive tackle Kendall Lamm is also eligible for free agency. Lamm has starting experience and position versatility; the touchdown pass he caught last December in Tennessee was just a bonus. The Browns are heavily invested in the offensive line and have one of the league’s best units, but they don’t have much tackle depth. Unless another team’s cap casualty becomes available, bringing back Lamm feels like an under-the-radar but important move. Chris Hubbard, the top backup tackle for much of last season, is recovering from December knee surgery.
• The general assumption is that starting defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi will leave in free agency for bigger money than the Browns are willing to give him. Next in line would be Andrew Billings, who opted out of last season, and 2020 third-round pick Jordan Elliott. Backup defensive tackle Vincent Taylor is also set to become a free agent, so there will be movement at this position during free agency. Taylor could be back, or the Browns could shop among cap casualties and second-tier free agents. Another option would be trading a late-round pick to the cap-strapped Saints for Malcolm Brown, who’s under contract for one more season and has been a starter with both the Saints and Patriots.
(Photo: Jeffrey Brown / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
