The 2024 NFL Draft is rapidly approaching and the Cleveland Browns have already had another big offseason. The Browns made a trade for wide receiver Jerry Jeudy and gave him a new contract. They raised the floor at quarterback by bringing in Jameis Winston to back up Deshaun Watson. They fortified the defensive line once again with a variety of moves. They added some new playmakers at linebacker in Jordan Hicks and Devin Bush.
The Browns aren’t messing around this offseason after winning 11 games last year. They obviously believe they can contend not only in the AFC North but the AFC as a whole after what we saw last season when the roster was battered and beaten, especially offensively.
1. Elijah Moore, WR
Year one in Cleveland for Elijah Moore wasn’t exactly what everyone had hoped for. Moore got off to a really slow start at the beginning of the regular season in Cleveland and that was particularly disappointing after all of the offseason hype. The Browns force-fed Moore the ball, and the results weren’t exactly great.
The Browns aren’t messing around this offseason after winning 11 games last year. They obviously believe they can contend not only in the AFC North but the AFC as a whole after what we saw last season when the roster was battered and beaten, especially offensively.
2. Jedrick Wills, OT
The former first-round pick out of Alabama has been treading thin ice for quite some time. At least, that’s what it feels like.
Wills has not lived up to his first-round billing in recent years, though the Browns have decided to at least buy into his 5th year and see if they can still extract the best out of him. Wills had the final year of his contract restructured so the Browns could get some cap relief in 2024, even with his roster spot assured for 2024, perhaps his starting job will be in some jeopardy.
3. Greg Newsome II, CB
Maybe Cleveland Browns cornerback Greg Newsome II wants to be on thin ice heading into the 2024 NFL Draft.
The Cleveland Browns have two outstanding starting outside cornerbacks in Denzel Ward and Martin Emerson Jr. There’s not going to be room for Greg Newsome on the payroll much longer, and Newsome is going to get cheated of his true value as a player if he is constantly staying in the slot.
NFL slot corners just don’t get paid as much as guys who play on the outside, even though their value to the team is substantial with teams spending 70 percent of the season (or more) in the nickel alignment these days. Newsome has tremendous value, but the fact that he’s likely on “thin ice” heading into the 2024 NFL Draft is probably good news for him.
The Browns simply need to find the right trade partner and the right team to come along and give them proper value for his services. Newsome had a pair of interceptions last year — the first two interceptions of his NFL career — and he’s only allowed 59.2 percent of passes thrown into his coverage to be completed over his first three years in the NFL.
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