We have made it through the first phase of free agency with a busy two days around the NFL. Teams have wiped through the majority of the top free agents and deals have been agreed upon.
So far the Cleveland Browns have made three free agency signings. Cleveland is in a position where they will want to do a lot of their work through the draft but did make a few signings. The most head-scratching thing the Browns did this week was acquire Kenny Pickett from the Philadelphia Eagles. You can read about how I graded that here.
Now that the new league year has begun and 4 p.m. ET has passed, teams can now sign players to contracts that were verbally agreed upon. Let’s dig in on some grades for these Browns additions.
OT Cornelius Lucas
Lucas is the best signing of free agency so far for the Browns. Clebrsldn watched their swing tackle James Hudson sign a deal that will pay him more than $6 million a year over two years. That price point didn’t make sense for the Browns and it was a surprise to many that he received that payday.
Soon after Hudson was signed by the Giants, the Browns signed Lucas to a two-year deal worth up to $10 million. Lucas is a proven veteran tackle with a boatload of experience heading into year No. 12. Lucas gave up just one sack in 14 games and seven were starts. Lucas is a better player than Hudson and gives the Browns a player who can step in and start if needed.
Grade: B+
DE Joe Tryon-Shoyinka
Cleveland to no surprise has added a pass rusher and it won’t be the last one they add this offseason. Tryon-Shoyinka joins Myles Garrett, Alex Wright, Ogbo Okoronkwo, and Isaiah McGuire as pass rushers on the roster. The former first-round pick is the latest reclamation project for Andrew Berry. Tryon-Shoyinka has never been able to put out a bunch of production with 15 sacks in four seasons.
Tryon-Shoyinka was dropped into coverage a bunch in 2024 and he had just two sacks in 15 games (11 starts). The Browns aren’t bringing in the former Washington standout to be a start, but that is best best-case scenario if the Browns can bring out the untapped potential. The price at $4.75 million is a non-issue, but now it comes down to whether or not Cleveland can get more out of him than Tampa Bay did.
Grade: C
LB Devin Bush
Cleveland’s third move during the legal tampering period was to bring back one of their own. Bush was solid for the Browns last season when they took a shot on him after injuries derailed his career early a bit. Bush ended up starting 10 games for the Browns and stepped up big when Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah suffered a neck injury.
Bush had his second-best season during year No. 6 for him in 2024. The former Michigan standout had 76 tackles and a sack for the Browns. Ideally, Bush can be the team’s depth option and on the field when they’re playing three linebackers at times. It is a cheap deal for the Browns at $3.25 million, this was a no-brainer. Cleveland just needs him to stay on the field, which he has done as of late.
Grade: B-
DT Maliek Collins
Editor's note: The Browns have not yet made the signing of Maliek Collins official.
Cleveland let Dalvin Tomlinson go earlier in the week and had a need that they needed to address. Bringing in Collins gives the Browns a better fit for their defense with his ability to get after the passer. Collins had five sacks for the San Francisco 49ers last season and recorded the same amount with the Houston Texans the year before.
Collins had 45 pressures last season at a 10.3 pressure rate. Jim Schwartz wants defensibe tackles who can get after the passer at a high rate, but at least capable in the run game. Collins fills just that. Cleveland was able to save money with the move and Collins was only given $20 million over two seasons.
