Brownies & Frownies: Free-Company Version – Prime hits and misses for the Browns

The Cleveland Browns employed Andrew Berry as their Common Supervisor on January 27, 2020. He had been with Cleveland from 2016-2018 because the vice chairman of participant personnel earlier than shifting on to the Philadelphia Eagles as their vice chairman of soccer operations. The Browns referred to as and inked him to the GM place one 12 months later.

Browns head coach Hue Jackson had been fired in late October to which DC Gregg Williams took over. After the season, the brand new head coach, Kevin Stefanski, was employed on January 13, in order that was one much less factor for Berry to do proper off.

Taking good care of current gamers and deciding which of them to re-sign took precedence. Then, it was time to deal with free company and a month later the 2020 NFL draft.

The very first participant Berry signed to the Browns was FB Johnny Stanton who was launched after which re-signed to the apply squad a number of occasions. Stanton did make 5 appearances on the energetic roster with simply three carries.

The NFL school draft is the most effective avenue to construct a roster right into a aggressive crew. Contracts are additionally wage cap pleasant, particularly within the later levels of the settlement.

Photograph by Nick Cammett/Diamond Photos through Getty Photos

Nonetheless, the free company interval can be a vital portion of roster constructing. Seasoned veterans who’ve been allowed to hunt employment elsewhere start filling in holes with ready athletes who’re plug-and-play. This 12 months, free brokers might be signed starting March 12, with the authorized tampering interval March 10-12.

The 2025 free company interval will likely be Berry’s sixth with Cleveland. The Browns completed the 2024 season tied for the worst report within the league at 3-14-0 and it’s Berry’s signings that present the teaching workers what they want so far as gamers.

On the present roster are a number of guys who he signed to not simply compete for a job, however to come back in and be starters. There are different gamers which have come and gone who didn’t develop as first thought.

Now that the Tremendous Bowl is accomplished, it’s time to deal with the free company interval. After 5 free agent lessons, how has Berry finished together with his signings?

Let’s check out this “Free-Agent Edition” of Brownies & Frownies.

Brownies

OT Jack Conklin (signed in 2020) – The gifted proper sort out has been a curler coaster so far as a beginning participant. When he performs, Conklin is arguably the most effective free-agent participant Berry has signed. The truth that Conklin has been injured a number of occasions shouldn’t be the participant’s fault nor Berry’s.

Concussions, ankle, shoulder, knee, and a number of hamstring points have plagued Conklin throughout his stint with the Browns. The top result’s 34 missed video games in his five-year time period in Cleveland. That equates to 40% of the video games listed on the schedule.

Nonetheless, when he performs, he’s an distinctive pass-blocker and veteran chief.

P Corey Bojorquez (signed in 2022) – The Inexperienced Bay Packers had been in wage cap hell and had some onerous choices to make. One was to not re-sign Bojo though they needed and wanted his providers. Cleveland had a historical past with punters and though not an attractive signing, an distinctive punter was now within the constructing.

Photograph by G Fiume/Getty Photos

Since his time in Cleveland, Bojorquez had averages of 48.5 yards, 49.4 yards, and 49.3 yards. This previous 12 months he was ranked #1 in 4 punting classes and named a Professional Bowl alternate.

DT Shelby Harris (signed in 2023) – Harris had 21.5 sacks as a member of the Denver Broncos earlier than the Broncos positioned a second-round restricted free-agent tender on him. He was then traded to the Seattle Seahawks together with draft picks within the Russell Wilson commerce. Harris had a disappointing season to which they launched him and his massive contract.

Berry inked Harris the place he introduced again his A-game he displayed whereas in Denver. He hasn’t introduced the sack numbers with simply three in his two seasons in Cleveland, however what Harris has finished is generate numbers to cease the operating recreation from gashing up the center. He’s constant on this facet. His Professional Soccer Focus grade this previous season in run protection was 67.9 regardless of being 33 years outdated.

LB Anthony Walker (signed 2021) – The center linebacker spot had been in limbo since Joe Schobert left in free company, so Berry inked Walker who had a historical past of excessive manufacturing within the tackling division. In his first season, Walker had 113 complete tackles as Cleveland had hit Bingo! together with his signing. However that 12 months he suffered a hamstring damage and missed 4 video games.

The next season, he landed on IR when he suffered a torn quad in Week 3. In 2023 he began 12 video games with 44 tackles earlier than a knee damage sidelined him for the rest of the 12 months.

Regardless of his veteran management and manufacturing worth, the truth that he was damage yearly enabled Berry to let him take a look at the free agent waters which he signed with the Miami Dolphins. In his single season in South Florida, he had 68 tackles however missed seven video games as a result of a hamstring damage.

When he performed, he was an superior addition to the protection and anchored the center of the protection. However his incapability to stay wholesome hindered his tenure and defined why Berry stored signing Walker to consecutive one-year offers.

C Ethan Pocic

Photograph by Nick Cammett/Diamond Photos through Getty Photos

C Ethan Pocic (signed 2022) – A former second-round choose of the Seattle Seahawks, his time within the Pacific Northwest was primarily spent injured as he had again and knee points and missed 17 video games. Browns heart J.C. Tretter was launched and Pocic was a seasoned veteran. Berry signed him cheaply. After C Nick Harris turned injured early within the preseason, Pocic took over and has remained a mainstay alongside the offensive line since. Earlier than the 2023 coaching camp started, Berry tied him up for 3 years with an $18 million extension. Pocic has been regular since coming to Cleveland.

Frownies

TE Austin Hooper (signed 2020) – The signing of Hooper was considered one of Berry’s very first “splash” moments that was supposed to vary the offense as head coach Kevin Stefanski used plenty of two tight finish units. Hooper had gone to 2 consecutive Professional Bowls and was seen as a receiving large for the Browns’ offense.

What ensued was two years of mediocrity as Hoop had solely 435 and 345 yards, respectively. He scored a mere seven touchdowns.

DE Chris Odom (signed 2022) – It appeared like an incredible concept: signal the USFL’s Defensive Participant of the 12 months and groom him to be a part of the line of defense rotation. However he performed zero video games that counted for the Browns after he tore his ACL within the ultimate preseason recreation of 2022. After being positioned on IR and a year-long rehab program, he labored onerous to get again to taking part in form. Since he had inked a one-year deal he merely wasn’t invited again to coaching camp. And that was that.

Ok Chase McLaughlin (signed 2021) – This isn’t a case of signing a man, however letting him go. McLaughlin had bounced across the league however discovered a house in Cleveland. He was 4-4 on kicks of fifty+ yards so the offense may depend on his sturdy leg. Berry then drafted Cade York with a helpful fourth-round choose within the 2022 NFL draft and three days later McLaughlin was unemployed.

Ok Chase McLaughlin

Photograph by Jason Miller/Getty Photos

He signed with the Indianapolis Colts and hit 30 of 36 area objectives and didn’t miss a single PAT try. McLaughlin completed because the eighth-best kicker within the league. That parlayed right into a contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and a subsequent three-year extension for $12.3 million. In 2023 he had the eighth-highest area objective proportion at 93.6% and this previous season he ranked #3 at 93.8%.

All of the whereas, Cleveland has floundered with kickers since McLaughlin’s departure as they’ve signed York, Dustin Hopkins, Riley Patterson, Lucas Havrisik, York once more, and Andre Szmyt.

S Andrew Sendejo (signed 2020) – The again of the protection wanted a hitter and Sendejo was often known as a pacesetter who may assist the run. Kind of. He had been within the league since 2010 and had performed plenty of NFL soccer when Berry inked him together with 9 years with the Minnesota Vikings.

Instantly, Sendejo turned often known as a threat taker and a poor tackler. He had points with not having the ability to sustain with receivers and have become a legal responsibility as a substitute of the reply deep in protection with poor angles taken. There was a Browns fan on-line petition began to take away him from the lineup which a suggestion to “Fire him out of a cannon into the sun.” Brutal.

S John Johnson III (signed 2021) and S Juan Thornhill (2023) – This pair has related traits so they’re grouped collectively.

S John Johnson III

Photograph by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Photos

Johnson, taken within the third spherical of the 2017 NFL draft, had performed out his rookie contract to which the Los Angeles Rams handed on protecting him regardless of having 105 tackles. He was seen as an enormous plus for the Browns’ protection and inked a three-year deal for $33.75 million. However his numbers went to half in nearly each statistical class in his first season in Cleveland. Then he turned recognized for barely operating on the sphere and purposely getting out of a ball provider’s manner as a substitute of creating the sort out. He was launched with a 12 months left on his deal.

Thornhill is one other participant who acquired financial institution, after which fairly attempting as soon as he acquired paid. Now often known as “Jog” Thornhill, Berry signed him as Johnson’s alternative. Berry will need to have realized to not spend as a lot on a security as he signed Thorny to a three-year contract, however for $21 million as a substitute. He confirmed up in Cleveland with a Tremendous Bowl ring. Every season his sort out numbers have decreased and he not often tries to take gamers down. He’s typically seen not hustling throughout video games and has been referred to as out on it quite a few occasions.

DE Curtis Weaver (signed 2022) – Having damaged all Mountain West Convention sack information at Boise State with 29.5 profession sacks, Weaver was plucked off the waiver wire in what was mentioned to be a artful transfer because the Miami Dolphins tried to sneak him by waivers after a freak foot damage which resulted in an damage settlement. The thought course of on the time was the reply to bookend Myles Garrett as duo sackmasters who the Browns acquired for simply $100.

DE Curtis Weaver

Photograph by Jason Miller/Getty Photos

However the younger EDGE rusher was regulated to the apply squad or IR for many of his time with Cleveland. He had a second foot damage, was positioned on IR, signed to the apply squad twice, launched twice, signed a reserve/futures deal twice, and eventually was reduce. He then had a brief stint with the Minnesota Vikings earlier than taking part in with the Birmingham Stallions of the USFL and eventually the Ottawa Redbacks within the CFL. He retired from soccer on Could 8, 2024 on the age of 26. So far as the NFL, he performed in a single recreation for the Browns and tallied one sort out. Not precisely artful.

DE Takkarist McKinley (signed 2021) – One other considered one of Berry’s reclamation initiatives, Takk was a former first-round draft choose of the Atlanta Falcons who had handed on T.J. Watt in an effort to seize him. There he had six and 7 sacks in his first two seasons, then fell off to 1 sack in 2020. Atlanta had nothing however issues with McKinley and regardless of having commerce provides earlier, ended up releasing him simply to do away with his immature points and low effort.

McKinley was instantly signed by the Las Vegas Raiders regardless of failing a bodily the place he hung out on IR after which reduce with out ever seeing the apply area. Berry snatched him up for a tune, however solely gave him a one-year deal. He completed the season with 18 tackles, 2.5 sacks and a compelled fumble by 11 video games, tore an Achilles, ended up on IR and was by no means re-signed. He has since been signed and terminated by 4 different NFL golf equipment.

Milk Bones – Soccer is a good way to do away with aggression with out going to jail

QBs Joe Flacco (signed 2023), Jacoby Brissett (2022), Case Keenum (2020), and Jameis Winston (2024) – One factor Berry has tried to attain each season is to have a seasoned veteran on the roster because the backup at an inexpensive fee. This got here into play when Baker Mayfield had aggravated a shoulder damage and Keenum had seven begins.

QB Jacoby Brissett

Photograph by Nick Cammett/Diamond Photos through Getty Photos

Subsequent up, the Deshaun Watson Experiment. Watson started his Browns profession with an 11-game suspension. This required an NFL-experienced quarterback which Brissett crammed. Within the following two seasons, Watson turned injured and landed on IR. Each Flacco and Winston took over the beginning function.

All 4 substitute sign callers moved on to different groups. In 2024, Keenum was final seen because the backup husband in a Progressive Insurance coverage industrial.

OG Blake Hance (signed 2021) – Hance made this record due to one facet: He got here in throughout a playoff recreation after working towards at some point with the offense after which performed effectively. In the course of the pandemic, a number of gamers had been dominated inactive and Hance was signed on January 1, 2021. Two days later, Cleveland performed in opposition to the Pittsburgh Steelers in a playoff recreation. Within the fourth quarter, OG Michael Dunn suffered a calf damage who had been inserted for starter Joel Bitonio.

RELATED: “A GUY NAMED BLAKE” T-SHIRT SOURCE

“A Guy Named Blake” later turned a T-shirt as QB Mayfield defined in an interview after the win over the Steelers, “I introduced myself to a guy named Blake in the locker room before the game.”

RB John Kelly, Jr. (signed 2020) – The Browns have had a love-hate relationship with Kelly. Berry signed him to the apply squad (PS) after claiming him off the Los Angeles Rams’ ultimate coaching camp reduce record.

From there in Cleveland, Kelly was launched, signed to the PS, launched, signed a reserve/futures contract, launched, signed to the PS, promoted to the energetic roster, launched, signed to the PS, signed to a reserve/futures contract, launched, signed to the PS, launched, signed a reserve/futures contract, launched, signed to the PS, launched, signed a reserve/futures contract, then launched on August 12, 2024.

After spending the 2024 season with the Baltimore Ravens and Los Angeles Chargers, the Browns positioned WR Cedric Tillman on IR and signed Kelly to their major roster. And sure, after the season was accomplished, they launched him.

KRs JoJo Natson (2020), Jakeem Grant (2022), and Nyheim Hines (2024) – The Browns haven’t had a dynamite punt or kickoff returner for the reason that days of Josh Cribbs. However it’s not like Berry hasn’t given the place his full consideration. He has tried.

KR Jakeem Grant

Photograph by David Eulitt/Getty Photos

The issue is that Natson was damage in Week 3 throughout his first season in Cleveland and had zero stats the next 12 months. The electrical Grant was signed as his alternative and inked a three-year deal however injured his Achilles tendon in preseason and ended up on IR. The next preseason, he had a ruptured patellar tendon and once more discovered IR his house. Hines was signed as his substitution however by no means noticed the sphere in 2024 as a result of continued rehab from a jet ski accident.

All three gamers are (had been) distinctive return guys – for different groups, that’s.

OG/OT Michael Dunn (signed 2020) – Dunn is a kind of guys who’s a necessity for a roster. He received’t ever be a Day 1 starter alongside the offensive line, however when the our bodies begin to fall and wish a fill-in, he’s there to bail out the offense. Berry signed Dunn from the XFL and he has come by taking part in in 43 video games at each guard and sort out in his 5 years with Cleveland.

Dunn has been that insurance coverage coverage that each roster wants and has come by repeatedly.

Photograph by Rob Carr/Getty Photos

DE Jadeveon Clowney (signed 2021) – Clowney was wandering across the NFL when Berry inked him to man the EDGE rusher aspect reverse Myles Garrett. He produced instantly with 9 sacks his first 12 months in Cleveland, however then dropped to 2 sacks the next season. Had simply 65 complete tackles in each seasons earlier than Berry didn’t re-sign him. Clowney continues to be now together with his sixth NFL membership.

OT Geron Christian (signed 2023) – The Browns misplaced three beginning offensive tackles whereas limping to an 11-win season and a playoff berth in 2023. The road additionally featured a number of gamers to fill in at OT with restricted success, however lastly settled on the previous third-round draft choose after he was reduce from the apply squad of the Houston Texans.

Berry signed the journeyman sort out to the Browns apply squad, and per week later he was put in at left sort out. He began 9 video games the place he was graded out by Professional Soccer Focus at a good 72.1 and solidified the offensive line as a substitute of making one other drawback.

From simply free agent signings, who would you contemplate a winner or loser from Andrew Berry’s historical past with the Browns? Share your ideas under within the remark part