The 2024 free agency period is over, and all eyes are on the 2024 NFL Draft. Before going there, let’s check it out and see how the Cleveland Browns did regarding free agency. What was their one win and the one big loss?
Cleveland Browns Free Agency Win
Quarterback, Jameis Winston
There were plenty of valuable free agent signings and retaining of key personnel on the defensive side of the ball this year, but the win goes to the signing of quarterback Winston.
Good For Cleveland
Since coming back from suspension, quarterback DeShaun Watson has played in 12 games. Watson played in six games in 2022, his first season on the field. In the 2022 season, he finished with a 58.2% completion rate and averaged 6.5 yards per attempt. Last season, Watson played in six games with a 61.4% completion percentage and averaged 6.5 yards per attempt.
Winston, the former 1.01 pick of the NFL 2015 Draft, has spent the last four seasons in New Orleans.
By all accounts, Winston is a great teammate, which matters. And statistically, the Browns need a quarterback to come in for Watson; the probability is high. Winston is more than capable of equaling the stats that Watson has put up in Cleveland the last two seasons.
| WINSTON | GAMES | PASS ATTEMPTS | PASS YARDS | COMPLETION% | YARDS/ATT | PASS TOUCHDOWNS |
| 2021 | 7 | 161 | 1170 | 59% | 7.3 | 14 |
| 2022 | 3 | 115 | 858 | 63.5% | 7.5 | 4 |
| 2023 | 7 | 47 | 264 | 53.2% | 5.6 | 2 |
| WATSON | ||||||
| 2022 | 6 | 170 | 1102 | 58.2% | 6.5 | 7 |
| 2023 | 6 | 171 | 1115 | 61.4% | 6.5 | 7 |
Winston’s 2021 numbers are closer to Watson’s last two years regarding passing attempts and games played. It is comparable, except for the addition of one game, where he doubled Watson’s touchdown total and had .8 more yards per attempt, with nine fewer passing attempts.
When Watson goes down, Winston will be good for Cleveland.
Great For Fantasy Football
Remember the 2021 season that was similar to Watson’s time with Cleveland? Winston averaged 17.4 fantasy points a game that season. Sure, we know Winston will throw a ‘fair’ amount of interceptions…but those touchdowns.
When he played full time from 2015-2019, the least amount of touchdowns Winston threw was 19. In each of those seasons, he also had at least one rushing touchdown (he had six in 2015). In 2021, he also had one rushing touchdown. There’s that.
Then there are his current weapons in Cleveland, Amari Cooper, with an aDOT of 14.2 and 29 deep targets. And with a subpar offense last season, Jerry Jeudy averaged 12.7 aDOT with 19 deep targets. Winston has his targets. And that’s not to mention Elijah Moore and tight end David Njoku.
Winston will always be a “boom-or-bust” fantasy option. He is currently being drafted in round 52.9. Drafting Winston in a late round with your throw-away picks (PSA, no such thing as a throw-away pick—all picks matter!!) seems like a no-brainer. The Browns have a new offensive coordinator, a presumptive starting quarterback who has yet to show that he can stay on the field for a full season, and Winston is waiting to make a comeback!
Cleveland Browns Free Agency Loss
Running Back, Nyheim Hines
Hines missed last season. He suffered a jet ski incident before the season started that ruptured his ACL and LCL. The Browns have signed him to a one-year deal with the potential of $3.5 million. Hines’s base salary is $1,145,000, his signing bonus is $500,000, and his roster bonus is $350,000.
The Browns currently have Nick Chubb as their RB1. Chubb is attempting to return from an ACL, MCL, and torn meniscus injury that has required two surgeries.
Jerome Ford is RB2.
Ford finished last season as RB16 in fantasy. He played in 16 games and averaged 4.0 yards per carry. Ford proved to be a solid backup last season when needed. Ford averaged 12.0 carries per game. He was on the receiving end of a 10.6% target share and a 39.3% route participation.
And then the Browns also required Chicago Bears running back D’Onta Foreman. Foreman played in nine games last season and finished as RB51 in fantasy. Foreman averaged 3.9 yards per carry on 109 rushing attempts. In the current Browns depth chart, Foreman is listed behind both Ford and Hines.
Here is why the signing of Hines (and Foreman) is a loss for the Browns. The Browns have restructured Chubb’s contract, making sure he is a Brown for this year, but beyond that, it is questionable. So, the Browns now have two running backs coming off significant knee injuries to one-year deals. They then added Foreman. Foreman has only played a full season once in his career, in 2022. He has not rushed for more than 1,000 yards in any season. In 2022, he finished with 914 rushing yards and 203 rushing attempts.
The Browns have added mediocrity to their running back room. Yes, they are handcuffed with potential by the Watson trade. This year, they have six picks in the NFL Draft, having given up their first and fourth-round picks for Watson.
And with the star power of running backs that entered free agency this year, the Browns were once again limited in their ability because of the Watson cap hit. However, it seems fatalistic to retain two running backs whose potential to make a significant contribution has a ceiling caused by injury and past performance.
Who do you think was the best free agent acquisition the Browns made this year?
