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By: Kyle Ferraro

With the NFL season coming to an end, now start the always chaotic off-season. The AFC super bowl participant and the Kansas City Chiefs are Super Bowl champions. The AFC is loaded with the majority of the top teams in the NFL, making the Cleveland Browns path next season even tougher.

The 2023-24 season for the Browns may be the most critical in the team’s existence. After trading seemingly, the immediate future for QB Deshaun Watson last off-season, Cleveland put out a lackluster season even with low expectations due to Watsons 11 game suspension. With backup QB Jacoby Brissett exceeding every expectation as a starter, the defense failed to do its part in multiple games putting Watson in a tough spot once he returned.

This off-season needs to start with the defense and start fast. Cleveland has a number of stars currently in their prime and Andrew Berry should capitalize and make sure to not waste another year. Almost every position group on the defense aside from cornerback needs a signing or two, with wide receiver and depth along the offensive line and running back being all that’s needed on offense.

According to Jack Duffin (@JackDuffin on Twitter), the Browns can easily free up 60 million in cap space this off-season. Restructuring the team’s big contracts and cutting safety John Johnson III (post-June 1st) will have the Browns in a great spot to sure up their spotty defense.

Free Agent Targets. (* indicates my favorites)

Jessie Bates III, S (Market Value 5 years $82M)

Daron Payne, DT (4 years $81M)

Javon Hargrave, DT (4 years $80M)

*Yannick Ngakoue, DE (4 years $57M)

Dalvin Tomlinson, DT (1 year $8.25M)

DJ Chark, WR (4 years $42.5M)

*Jimmie Ward, S (2 years $15M)

Matthew Ioannidis, DE

*Anthony Walker, LB (2 years $7M)

Arden Key, DE (2 years $23.5M)

*David Long, LB (2 years $10M)

*Dre’mont Jones, DL (3 years $22M

Marcus Davenport, DE (5 years, $108M)

*Ethan Pocic, C (4 years $24M)

*Greg Gaines, DT (4 years $30M)

 Juan Thornhill, S

These are just some of the targets I have seen circulating Browns Twitter, and some personal targets. Every player I would be fine with signing, but some more than others.

Ngakoue will only be 28 at the start of next season and is coming off a 9.5 sack and 8 TFL season. Lining Ngakoue up across from Myles Garrett should free him up often to one-on-one situations.

For me, signing Dre’mont Jones should only come in a pair with a run-stopping defensive tackle. That is where I like the pairing of Greg Gaines, who was a part of the Ram’s dominant defensive line with Aaron Donald. Sure, Donald is what made that unit what it was, but Gaines is extremely underrated to me. Pairing his run-stopping ability with Jones and Perrion Winfrey who are more pass-rushing players would improve last year’s defensive line immediately.

Pocic and Walker should 100% be retained by the team. Nick Harris has not yet shown the ability to be trusted, and Pocic performed very well before his injury last season. Depending on Walker’s timetable to return from injury, he fits the perfect linebacker for a Jim Schwartz defense. Big, physical, and fast coming downhill.

I look to the draft for the third wide receiver in the offense, as well as a backup running back and offensive tackle depth. There will be a more in-depth roster construction closer to the draft and free agency highlighting the draft prospects I like and other players I would retain from last year’s roster.