Browns called ‘losers’ for Day 1 of free agency after questionable $49.5M addition originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
This offseason, the Cleveland Browns needed to make sweeping changes to the roster to turn a corner as a franchise.
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While the quarterback spot wasn’t going to be resolved this year, they could figure things out along the offensive line and in the wide receiver room. And with free agency beginning, the Browns had a chance to be active.
But, even though they made one addition in a $49.5 million offensive guard signing, ESPN’s Bill Barnwell labeled the Browns as “losers” for Day 1 of free agency.
Browns called ‘losers’ of Day 1 of free agency
The Browns have added two linemen so far: Tytus Howard in a trade with the Houston Texans for a fifth-round pick, along with a $45 million extension, and the signing of Zion Johnson on a $49.5 million contract over three years.
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“Even if that number comes down after we get a look at the full details, it’s just too much money for a player who hasn’t been anywhere close to a league-average guard,” Barnwell writes on Johnson.
The addition of Johnson is addressing a key need along the offensive line, but from Barnwell’s perspective, it’s an overpay for an offensive lineman who struggled at times in his career with the Los Angeles Chargers.
“The Browns would have been better off waiting to see where the guard market went if they were paying that much to come to terms with Johnson on Monday,” Barnwell writes.
This point makes sense, as the Browns might’ve jumped the gun with their spending on Johnson, who isn’t the best free agent target the Browns could’ve gone after.
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More: Browns trade for offensive tackle Tytus Howard from Texans
While he’s a bit younger at 26 years old, and he could turn his career around in 2026 with Cleveland after some shaky seasons with the Chargers, it’s far from a guarantee that this deal will be worth it.
Cleveland might’ve been better off spending less on a veteran like Isaac Seumalo or adding Cole Strange on a cheaper contract for a year or two.
The Browns only made one move on Day 1 of free agency, and they’ve already been labeled as a “loser” by Barnwell.
It’s not the best start to free agency for the Browns. They are overpaying for an offensive guard while losing Devin Bush to the Chicago Bears.
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But with additions at wide receivers and offensive line, they can turn their free agency around as the offseason progresses.
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