Last offseason, the Cleveland Browns made significant improvements to their roster.
A majority of their moves were on the defensive side, but they certainly upgraded the team.
Sadly, it didn’t translate over to the field as the Browns missed the playoffs in 2021.
The Browns’ disappointing 2021 campaign shouldn’t be blamed on the front office.
General manager Andrew Berry should be aggressive once again this offseason as the Browns attempt to overcome their shortcomings from last season.
1. Bring Back Jadeveon Clowney
One of the bigger moves from last offseason was the signing of defensive end Jadeveon Clowney.
He was looking to reset his value after a disappointing campaign with the Tennessee Titans in 2021.
The former first overall pick decided to sign a one-year deal with Cleveland.
The addition of Clowney gave the Browns a dangerous pass rushing duo.
Browns are signing Jadeveon Clowney to a one-year deal, per @RapSheet
Cleveland’s defensive front 😳 @brgridiron pic.twitter.com/da7vS1v7ph
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 14, 2021
Cleveland was hopeful that Clowney could actually stay healthy, which is something he has struggled to do during his professional career.
Luckily, Clowney was healthy in 2021 and put together a strong season with Cleveland.
Through 14 games, Clowney recorded 37 tackles, nine sacks, and two fumbles forced.
The addition of the three-time Pro Bowl pass rusher took some of the pressure away from Myles Garrett.
Often times, Garrett would get double or triple teamed, but they couldn’t do that as frequently with Clowney on the field.
The Browns could always go after another pass rusher who doesn’t have as long of an injury history.
However, Clowney played well for the Browns and that pass-rushing duo seemed to work for Cleveland.
This defense could benefit from keeping around Clowney long term.
2. Acquire Brandin Cooks
One of the biggest concerns for the Browns this offseason is at wide receiver.
Cleveland already moved on from Odell Beckham Jr. and are likely to part ways with Jarvis Landry as well.
That being said, the Browns could use a reliable wide receiver or two this offseason.
Houston Texans wideout Brandin Cooks could potentially be a perfect fit for the Browns roster.
The 28-year-old is coming off back-to-back successful seasons with Houston.
He has been a relatively healthy and consistent receiver throughout his professional career.
Also, Cooks has an affordable $12.5 million base salary for the 2022 season.
The Browns desperately need consistency from the wide receiver position.
There’s a good chance Houston trades Cook for draft compensation this offseason.
Cooks has finished with 80 or more receptions in three of the last four seasons.
He’d be a huge addition to the Browns offense for possibly only a couple middle round draft picks.
3. Sign Allen Robinson
Bringing in Cooks is a start, but the Browns need more firepower on offense.
The addition of Pro Bowl wideout Allen Robinson could be another huge step in the right direction.
The eight-year veteran is coming off a disappointing season with the Chicago Bears.
Despite that, Robinson is a reliable receiver and a trustworthy option in the redzone.
Allen Robinson II red zone stats last 3 seasons:
🔸 51 targets
🔸 0 dropsRobinson II is #3 on PFF's list of top 150 free agents pic.twitter.com/oIzAA2VNOL
— PFF (@PFF) February 14, 2021
The 28-year-old could be a relatively cheap option since he’s looking to reset his value.
He could possibly slide under the radar with top tier wideouts such as Davante Adams and Chris Godwin heading to free agency.
Robinson posted back-to-back successful campaigns with the Bears in 2019 and 2020.
He could be a dangerous redzone threat for the Browns, which is something this roster has been missing.
This roster appears to be a few pieces away from being a legitimate contender.
Possibly, the additions of Cooks and Robinson could put this offense over the top.
NEXT: Browns Rank Ninth-Best In 2022 Draft Capital
