CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Larry Ogunjobi has come to terms with the notion that he may have played his last down for the Cleveland Browns.
Ogunjobi can be an unrestricted free agent when the new league year begins in March.
The defensive tackle selected by the Browns in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft would like to pet pen to paper on a new contract, but it may not be with Cleveland.
“Of course, I love Cleveland,” Ogunjobi said Wednesday. “Obviously, I have been here the past four years now, but I understand that this is a business and I understand what goes into it. Once again, I just let my agent kind of handle all of those kinds of things. For me, I love this city, I love the fans and I love being a Brown. At the same time once again, I understand the business aspect of it as far as making sure my family is straight and being in a position to set them up for an extremely long amount of time.”
Ogunjobi has had a front row seat to the Browns’ transformation from a winless season his rookie year to exiting in the divisional round of the AFC playoffs.
“It has been a blessing to be a part of this and a blessing to finally see it turn around and go in the right direction, starting from 0-16 and making it to the second round of playoffs, even though you got cut short early,” Ogunjobi said. “It is a learning experience, an amazing experience.”
This season Ogunjobi started all 15 games he appeared in registering 46 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 6 QB hits, 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble.
He ended up starting 47 of the 60 games he appeared in with the Browns where he racked up 180 tackles, 29 tackles for loss, 37 QB hits, 14.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and a pass defensed.
Ogunjobi, voted this season’s Dino Lucarelli ‘Good Guy’ award winner from the beat writers that cover the team daily, tried to keep his reflections on the past as well as his future upbeat as he fielded questions about his impending free agency.
“I think I talk more in a tone of just pure optimism, regardless of if I am here not,” Ogunjobi said. “I just feel as though the right pieces have been put in place – the right coaches, the right scheme and everything is just trending in the right direction – so I have no reason not to be optimistic for the team, regardless of if I am here or not.
“As far as the contract stuff, it is really with my agent. I know we will find out more with that during March when free agency opens up.”
Browns executive vice president of football operations and general manager Andrew Berry has a busy and difficult offseason awaiting him and whether they will – or can – re-sign Ogunjobi remains to be seen.
While the Browns take time to assess their own cap and financial situation, Ogunjobi plans to allow the process to play out.
“I do my own personal research, but at the end of the day, nothing can really be done as far as other teams are concerned,” Ogunjobi said. “When you hit free agency, you kind of just see where the market falls and what kind of goes on with that. I just leave it up to my agent. I have a lot of faith in the God I serve. I know everything is going work out for the best so I am not really worried about it.”
Berry extended Pro Bowl and All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett in July but not Ogunjobi, something the defensive tackle was not offended by.
“No, I do not really look at it like that just because I know it is kind of a different season with COVID and everything going on and how the cap is going to shake up,” Ogunjobi said. “I have just never been like that. If it is supposed to happen, it is going happen. If not, it is what it is. I know the person I am, the player I am, the potential I have and the work I am going to continue to put in to get better to be better so I am not really worried about any of that because I just know that it is all going to work out.”
The salary cap is expected to drop, and while the Browns are expected to retain flexibility this offseason to make moves, how much room they will have remains to be seen until the league announces the 2021 cap before the new league year.
Money is always a factor, especially in free agency.
“I think I will go wherever is just right,” Ogunjobi said. “I am going to pray about it, talk to God about it and talk to my family about it and really just go from there. I do not know where the cards are going to fall. It is too early to say. There are a lot of things that I am looking for. At the same time, I know once again that my faith is very strong and rooted. I am going to pray about it. I am going to feel it out and see what the best situation is for me and for my family and then go from there, whether that is in Cleveland or somewhere else. It is just too early to tell.”