Cleveland Browns Biggest Remaining Need This Offseason

The Browns made a big splash in the first week of the new league year, acquiring Pro-Bowl quarterback Deshaun Watson from the Houston Texans for three first-round picks.

While solving the quarterback position is likely a big sigh of relief for an organization that has had uncertainty under center since 1999, the Browns have another issue on their hands.

Wide receiver.

Before acquiring Watson from the Texans, Browns general manager Andrew Berry was active in another Texas city, acquiring Amari Cooper from the Dallas Cowboys.

Cooper, who is just 27, also restructured his contract, saving the Browns about $15 million while adding two void years to his deal, according to the Akron Beacon Journal.

While Cooper is a great start, the Browns released Jarvis Landry to avoid paying him a hefty $16 million price tag for 2022. While Landry is one of the premier free agent receivers remaining in free agency, his production in 2021 did not warrant that expensive price tag.

Jarvis Landry Homecoming? We'll see.

A reunion with Landry in Cleveland could be in the works, according to Cleveland.com, who reported the Browns and Landry have mutual interest in a pairing with Watson. On Thursday, Landry fired his agent Damarius Bilbo of Klutch Sports.

With or without Landry, the Browns other pass catchers are underwhelming. Donovan Peoples-Jones had a nice sophomore season, but he also had moments that showed why he was a sixth-round pick with a lot of potential. Rookie Anthony Schwartz, who was drafted in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft, looks like a true work in progress.

NFL teams are handing out a ton of cash for the wide receiver position. Earlier this week, Tyreek Hill was traded to the Miami Dolphins and was rewarded with a massive $120 million contract. Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who has never eclipsed a 700-yard receiving season with Aaron Rodgers, was handed a $30 million deal from the Chiefs.

These deals come in the wake of Christian Kirk, who inked a massive $72 million deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars despite never having a single 1,000 yard season.

The Browns were never going to shell out this kind of money for a receiver, especially after the failed experiment with Odell Beckham Jr., who has reportedly not shut the door on a return to Cleveland with Watson. That reunion remains unlikely.

Rookies To Watch

The Browns parted with the No. 13 overall draft pick, which eliminates them from drafting a college standout like Garrett Wilson, Drake London, or Chris Olave.

While they could look to strike gold in later rounds with prospects such as Penn State’s Jahan Dotson or Western Michigan’s Skyy Moore, they should look to help Watson and Cooper with a more surefire long-term target.

A reunion with Landry would be ideal, but notable targets such as Julio Jones, T.Y. Hilton, and A.J. Green are all available as well. With Watson in the facility this week, perhaps he could convince Berry to give Will Fuller a call for a reunion as the pair previously shared success in Houston.

Whatever the solution, the Browns should act quickly. They are moving on from Baker Mayfield and already traded backup Case Keenum to sign Jacoby Brissett. The Browns are overhauling 2021’s ugly passing game, and adding one more receiver should be the next step.

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