5 Browns Free Agents That Should Be Re-Signed This Offseason

More than 20 players from the Browns 2023 roster are set to enter free agency in a less than two month. Here are the top 5 Cleveland should look to bring back

Retention is a difficult thing to manage in the NFL. Each and every offseason comes with an inevitable amount of roster turnover. That's the cross that Browns general manager Andrew Berry must bear in the months ahead, as he embarks on a fifth offseason of roster construction, looking to make a playoff contender even better. 

With 24 free agents to be, one of Berry's first orders of business will be determining who from that list should be brought back for another run. It's nearly impossible to re-sign everyone in the NFL's salary cap era. Here are the top five Browns free agents Berry should prioritize retaining.  

 1) LB, Sionne Takitaki

With Takitaki and Anthony Walker Jr. both set to hit the open market, the Browns could be in for a makeover to their linebacker room if neither are re-signed. Takitaki was an anchor in the middle of the defense and he's proven that he can handle a starting role in this defense, holding down the fort for Walker Jr. late in the season when he was out due to injury.

The 2019 third-round pick registered 45 tackles in 2023, with three tackles for loss and even snared his second career interception. Extension talks for fellow linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah are on the horizon as well, so Takitaki represents an affordable option to retain before that bill for JOK comes due. Plus, Takitaki is plenty familiar with the system and culture.

2) DT, Shelby Harris

Keeping as much of last year's dominant defensive line intact as possible should be a huge priority for Berry. Harris was a late edition to the roster last year, signing with the team during training camp but quickly established himself as a steady presence next to one of last year's biggest free agent acquisitions in Dalvin Tomlinson. The former Seahawk registered 28 combined tackles, six tackles for loss, one-and-a-half sacks and three QB hits, while also deflecting five passes and forcing a fumble. 

PFF graded Harris as the 34th best interior defensive lineman last season for overall defensive grade. He was 27th by their grading system in terms of pressure. Last year, Harris signed a one-year, $3.5 million deal to join the Browns and a similar low-cost deal could do the trick again.

3) DT, Maurice Hurst

In the same vein as Harris, having a deep defensive line is critical in today's NFL. It's also a staple of Jim Schwartz' defenses. Prior to suffering a pectoral injury in Week 14 and ending his season on the IR, Hurst was on his way to a career year.

He finished with 22 tackles, four for a loss, five QB hits and one-and-half sacks. The Michigan product also batted three passes and had one of the best defensive plays of the season with an acrobatic interception against Seattle. Hurst actually finished with higher marks from PFF than Harris, grading out as the 15th best interior defensive lineman for overall defensive score. Hurst said last week he'll be ready to go by spring and that he'd love to be back with Cleveland.

Maurice Hurst tips it to himself! What a play by the big man

📺: #CLEvsSEA on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/Quwvdzpx7G pic.twitter.com/tRD0M6gLbm

— NFL (@NFL) October 29, 2023

4) C, Nick Harris

Don't forget, prior to the 2022 season Harris was expected to be the Browns starting center before tearing his ACL in the preseason. That opened the door for Ethan Pocic to take over the role and play himself into an extension last offseason. Still, the Browns found out more than ever this season how valuable offensive line depth is. Having Harris on standby would be a luxury for Cleveland, plus who else is going to lead block for Nick Chubb as a psuedo fullback if not Harris?

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5) P, Corey Bojorquez

This one is pretty straightforward. Cleveland's special teams got a makeover with the addition of Bubba Ventrone as special teams coordinator last year and it worked wonders. Browns fans are already familiar with Dustin Hopkins impressive season, but Bojorquez was solid as well.

The six-year veteran ranked eight in average punt distance at a rate of 49.4. His 31 punts inside the 20 ranked fifth. Those marks are just part of the reason he was voted a Pro Bowl Alternate. A pretty easy decision for Berry to bring him back.