We’re now just about a couple of weeks past free agency moves and some teams are turning their attention toward the draft.

Free agency is part No. 1 in building for the future year with the draft to follow. The Cleveland Browns were active and added players on both sides of the football.

Recently, I went through a few members of the team that were negatively impacted by free agency. Now, I’m looking at a few that were positively impacted.

QB Deshaun Watson
It happened just before free agency began so I’m going to pair it in, but Watson has to be ecstatic that the Browns went out and got him another weapon. With his top four pass catchers Amari Cooper, David Njoku, Elijah Moore, and now Jerry Jeudy — Watson is certainly going to have some guys open.

Cleveland added Nyheim Hines to give the backfield a receiving target and D’Onta Foreman is going to come in and take a load of carries each game. The Browns didn’t lose anyone that has a big impact on Watson in free agency and that’s an even bigger bonus.

TE Jordan Akins
Last season, Akins was the third right end in the offense but as it currently stands he is the No. 2 guy. Harrison Bryant signed with the Las Vegas Raiders, so Akins is the next man up behind Njoku.

Akins only had 132 yards in 15 games while making 15 catches in 2023. The Browns could go out and draft a tight end and they should. A newcomer may not be ready to handle TE2 duties and that’s where Akins holds a higher ground.

Cleveland signed fullback/tight end Giovanni Ricci and he will provide blocking as an extra offensive lineman almost. Ricci isn’t coming in to catch passes, they’ll let Njoku and Akins handle that from the tight end spot.

DC Jim Schwartz
Year No. 1 was a success for Schwartz with the Browns and finding consistency in year two is key. The defense struggled away from home and that’s something they have to get better at for 2024.

Defensive tackle was a major question in free agency and a major position for Schwartz’s system that utilizes an impacting front. Shelby Harris and Maurice Hurst played well in 2023 and both were brought back. The Browns replaced Jordan Elliott with Quinton Jefferson and that’s an upgrade.

Other defensive adds included Jordan Hicks and Devin Bush at linebacker and Cleveland brought back S Rodney McLeod. There’s no reason the defense takes a step back in 2024 and free agency is an early sign of that.