Free agency around the NFL doesn’t begin until next month with the current season’s Super Bowl still to be played.
With that being said, the Cleveland Browns have nearly 25 players on their roster set to be free agents.
The NFL has a lot of turnover on team rosters year in and year out. A few players stick out in terms of who Cleveland should keep around.
LB Sione Takitaki
Since being drafted by the Browns in 2019, Takitaki has evolved his game. When Anthony Walker Jr. missed time in 2023, Takitaki took over and wore the green dot even as the MIKE. Takitaki was just a strong-side linebacker for much of his career that was a liability in coverage. Now, he’s become a reliable linebacker that can play just about anywhere. Keeping Takitaki as depth would be a big win but I wouldn’t be opposed to him being your starting MIKE in 2024 with Anthony Walker Jr. a free agent
DT Maurice Hurst
Hurst was one of the better stories in 2023 even if it didn’t end the way it was envisioned. Hurst played his most games (13) since 2019 and became Cleveland’s top interior depth piece. In training camp, Hurst wasn’t a lock to make the team and his injury history was concerning. He posted 22 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and one interception with the Browns. A torn pectoral cut his season short but that shouldn’t hide the fact that he was one of the NFL’s better depth pieces on the inside in 2023.
QB Joe Flacco
Thinking I would be writing this six months ago would have been a wild thought. But here we are and I believe the Browns would be smart to bring back the veteran quarterback. Starting with Dorian Thompson-Robinson as your primary backup in 2024 would be worrisome with how he played in 2023. Flacco turned the ball over too much during his stint at the end of the season, but there wasn’t a quarterback on the roster who made more big plays either. If Flacco has a chance to be a bridge quarterback or a nice check to be a backup somewhere, he should take that. Cleveland isn’t going to overpay and they shouldn’t. But if the stars align, a lot of folks will be happy that he’s back in Cleveland.
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