Cleveland Browns: The team is expected to be active in their pursuit of wide receivers in free agency, given the number of potential targets.
Undoubtedly, Cleveland Browns supporters are growing weary of hearing that their club is focused on winning right now. Even though it has been said so often, the team going into 2024 still fits that description. Though the team’s aging roster is rapidly approaching salary cap Armageddon, the Browns do have some flexibility right now. The team is currently almost $7 million over the salary cap, which was raised to $255 million in an unprecedented move. However, by implementing different restructurings—a code word for deferring expenses to later years—they can save as much as $66 million. And thus, that armageddon stated earlier. Nonetheless, the Browns may choose to focus on a few wide outs in free agency given their limited spending window.Wide Receivers Are Needed by the Cleveland Browns
The NFL free agency process will begin in roughly two weeks. Due to the Deshaun Watson trade, the Cleveland Browns will not have a first-round pick for the third straight season, therefore they will have to spend the majority of their money on the free market. Cleveland owes it to their team to give Watson the best opportunity to win after making such a large investment in their franchise quarterback. Amari Cooper is the top wide receiver for the Browns. Elijah Moore is a slot/gadget guy for them. David Njoku, a large tight end who is emerging, is another player on the Browns. They lack a dependable No. 2 perimeter target who is capable of playing at the highest level.
The Cleveland Browns would undoubtedly be thrilled to acquire the services of Mike Evans, who is the biggest name in this year’s NFL free agency. Evans is a large player who can contribute anywhere on the field, especially in the endzone, at 6 feet 5 inches and 230 pounds. Additionally, in each of his first ten seasons in the league, he recorded more than 1,000 yards. The issue is that this future Hall of Famer will want compensation accordingly. Most likely in the range of $20–25 million annually. In addition, he is thirty-one, which is about the age at which most talent players become slow. Evans may test free agency since he already has a ring and because he is well-liked in Tampa, but it seems doubtful that he will leave.
Pittman, who is five years younger than Evans and weighs 223 pounds, has a similar skill set. Furthermore, with 88, 99, and 109 receptions in each of the previous three seasons, Pittman has been among the more successful receivers over the past three years. Even more astonishing, he was able to accomplish that with a long list of signal-callers since the Indianapolis Colts have such a rotating door at quarterback. Pittman, who is only 26 years old, is anticipated to make about the same money as Evans and is probably on a longer-term contract. The Colts have a ton of cap room and would welcome him back.
Gabe Davis of Buffalo
