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Regardless of his hefty wage, the NFL’s decreased wage cap and the truth that the Browns made it to the divisional spherical of the playoffs with out him, Odell Beckham Jr. will stay in Cleveland for the 2021 season.
Not solely will Beckham (who’s slated to make $14.5 million subsequent yr) be again, the Browns haven’t any plans to half with Jarvis Landry, who’s on the books to make $12.5 million subsequent season. Cleveland want to re-sign Rashard Higgins, who is ready to enter free company on March 17. Higgins’ market worth is at practically $25 million over 4 years, in accordance with Spotrac.
“I believe he is a dynamic participant who might be extremely productive on this system, so we’re wanting ahead to getting him again wholesome,” Browns common supervisor Andrew Berry just lately stated of Beckham, through Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. Berry added that Beckham is “doing nice” as he continues to rehab from his torn ACL harm. The three-time Professional Bowler caught 23 of 43 targets for 319 yards and three touchdowns in seven video games final season earlier than sustaining his season-ending harm. In 2019 (his first season in Cleveland), Beckham caught 74 of 133 targets for 1,035 yards and three touchdowns.
Berry additionally confirmed that he and the staff want to convey again Higgins, who caught 37 passes for a career-high 599 yards and 4 touchdowns final season. A fifth-round decide within the 2016 draft, Higgins has caught 113 passes for 1,615 yards and 11 touchdowns throughout his first 5 seasons.
“He clearly performed a key function for us this previous yr,” Berry stated of Higgins, “and we’ve a very constructive historical past with him. … We’ll keep constantly good communication with him and his reps. We’ll see the place it goes.”
Berry laughed when requested about Landry’s cryptic tweet that was posted late final month. Whereas the tweet created a momentary stir, Berry stated that the Browns haven’t any plans to half with Landry, who’s signed by the 2022 season.
“He performed very well for us final yr,” Berry stated of Landry, who led the Browns with 72 catches and 840 yards final season. “He is considered one of our staff leaders. Sadly, I do not observe him on Twitter. We like Jarvis quite a bit.”
Regardless of their pricy receiving duo, the Browns at present have just below $25 million in estimated wage cap area. One of many explanation why the Browns have favorable cap area is that incontrovertible fact that they’ve a quarterback — Baker Mayfield — who continues to be enjoying underneath his rookie contract. Mayfield, who loved a strong 2020 season following a disappointing 2019 marketing campaign, is getting into the ultimate yr of his rookie deal. The Browns have till Might 3 to choose up Mayfield’s fifth-year choice, which might probably pay him someplace between $20-25 million — all assured — for the 2022 season.
Whereas each staff has holes, the Browns are in an excellent place to construct off of final yr’s 11-5 file and wild-card spherical win over the Steelers. Landry, Beckham and Mayfield are all underneath contact, in addition to working backs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. Myles Garrett, the staff’s chief in sacks final season, is signed by the 2026 season.
Higgins, outdoors linebacker Olivier Vernon, defensive backs Kevin Johnson, Terrance Mitchell and Karl Joseph, and proper sort out Kendall Lamm are among the many staff’s prime free brokers. The Browns are anticipated to deal with bettering their entrance seven on the defensive aspect of the ball over the subsequent a number of months.
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