CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – The Browns know they need pass rush help.
But it comes at a price, and one that executive vice president of football operations and general manager Andrew Berry was not prepared to pay on the first day of free agency.
Berry landed his top target in safety John Johnson, but he sat out the run on pass rushers that unfolded Monday evening, and maybe we should've seen that coming.
“From my perspective, we always want to be known as an aggressive front office,” Berry said on March 3. “Now, perhaps how people define aggression may vary from person to person to person. That does not always mean that we are going to be heavy spenders externally.”
True to his word, Berry didn't force the action Monday.
As expected, Shaquil Barrett stayed with the Super Bowl champion Buccaneers for four years and $72 million.
Yannick Ngakoue is out of the AFC North because he hit the jackpot with the Las Vegas Raiders – two years, $26 million for the former Baltimore Raven.
Carl Lawson, the emerging defensive end that spent four years in Cincinnati and was linked to the Browns as a potential free agent target, landed with the Jets where he gets a three-year, $45 million contract.
Former Saints defensive end Trey Hendrickson, also on the Browns radar, will replace Lawson in Cincinnati for four years and $60 million.
Former Steelers edge rusher Bud Dupree is off to Nashville for a reported $16.5 million per year average according to NFL Network.
Other edge rushers that remain available include Jadeveon Clowney, Haason Reddick, Melvin Ingram, Aldon Smith, Ryan Kerrigan and Roy Robertson-Harris but not all of them may be a fit for Joe Woods and Cleveland’s defense.
Sure, the lower salary cap of $182.5 million in 2021 is a factor, but Berry made it clear it won't prevent him from upgrading the roster and filling holes.
“If there is a player who we think has the right value, I think we have the capability to be aggressive in pursuit,” Berry said. “I also think we are fortunately in a position this offseason with what we have on the current roster and the overall resources, not just in terms of cap dollars and picks, where we can be very selective and also allow things to come to us.”
After spending big money and investing resources a year ago on the offensive side of the ball by signing Jack Conklin for three years and $42 million as well as tight end Austin Hooper for four years, $42 million and drafting left tackle Jedrick Wills 10th overall, Berry is tasked with rebuilding the vast majority of the defense this offseason.
Berry foreshadowed that his approach this year could be different from 2020.
“I would not necessarily pigeonhole us into any particular approach, just because what we did last year may not always necessarily apply in years moving forward,” Berry said.
The Browns require help at all levels defensively and it is on Berry to provide it.
Up front, free agent defensive end Olivier Vernon is coming off a ruptured Achilles suffered week 17, Adrian Clayborn was released, defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi has hit the open market and Vincent Taylor agreed to a one-year deal with the Texans. Even with Sheldon Richardson, Andrew Billings and Jordan Elliott at defensive tackle, additional depth would be helpful in addition to another end to put opposite of Myles Garrett.
While targeting a top defensive end appeared to be a top priority to address immediately, Berry cautioned earlier this month that may not be his approach regardless of what many projected them to do this offseason.
“I do not know that I would necessarily single that position out among others across the defense,” Berry said. “I think that it is great to have to two bookends along the defensive line – very few teams do. I think there are a number of different configurations that can make us successful on the defensive line.
“We will look to add talent at that spot, no different than we would all across the defense and up and down the roster, but I would not necessarily get zeroed in there.”
Sure enough, Berry didn't spend big on the position Monday, which is not to say that he won't, but he's clearly taking a measured approach.
At linebacker, veteran B.J. Goodson is a free agent, and they need more impact play at the position.
The addition of Johnson solidified the Browns safety situation, but cornerback remains a void as well. Greedy Williams is returning from a nerve issue in his shoulder and veteran Terrance Mitchell is now a free agent after spending his last three years with the Browns.
“We will have time on all of that and we will have plenty of opportunities across the defense to make sure that we continue to be effective on that side of the ball,” Berry said.
On Monday, Berry checked one box.
In the coming days and weeks, he'll be checking of more of them with checks or draft picks.
