With little doubt, the Cleveland Browns have to capitalize this offseason to improve their roster, specifically on the defensive side of the football. Both through free agency and the 2023 NFL Draft, the Browns have an opportunity to add talent, both veterans and rookies, to their roster as they look to scratch and claw back to the playoffs in 2023.
However, beyond the players they may look to add to their roster this offseason, a bigger question mark and priority for the Browns will be the development of the young players already on their roster. They got a great rookie season out of rookie cornerback Martin Emerson Jr., second-year players Greg Newsome II (even while playing out of position) and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah continued to flash, but the Browns need more from their youngsters on rookie contracts to capitalize on their window.
The Browns need to overhaul their defensive line. This is no secret to anyone who was even a bystander to Cleveland football last year. However, if they can get progression out of the likes of Alex Wright, Perrion Winfrey, and Isaiah Thomas in their defensive trenches, this will go a long way toward solidifying that unit long-term.
At this point, the Browns cannot afford to go into the 2023 season banking on the development of Wright, Winfrey, and Thomas along their defensive line. However, as they inevitably sign a few veterans this offseason in free agency, having the ability to sign them to just one-year deals as a stopgap would do wonders for their books as their cap number will continue to shrink into the future.
As Jim Schwartz now takes over as the defensive coordinator, and as these young players will get new position coaches this season, there is a hope that a new perspective and angle in coaching can jumpstart the development of the underachieving youngsters. This is a premise of the Browns’ age guardrail: draft young players so you have more time to develop. But this hinges on the coaching staff’s ability to develop.
Free agency is important. The NFL Draft is important. But being able to rely on their young players beyond 2023 to take over significant roles will be the biggest key to the long-term health of the Browns’ roster. And hopefully, the changes in leadership on the coaching staff can shock new life into these key pieces.
