Browns contracts: Where top-paid stars rank at their positions after NFL free agency

Salary cap and yearly value are different, looking at where Deshaun Watson, Amari Cooper and others fit in

The best players left in NFL free agency consist of two Cincinnati Bengals wide receivers (franchised tagged Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd) and a variety of mostly older players who are likely to sign one-year contracts this offseason.

The Cleveland Browns didn’t make a big splash in free agency. Instead, they retained a lot of their key depth pieces and traded for WR Jerry Jeudy. Much has been made about the Browns salary cap “issues” going into this offseason but GM Andrew Berry was able to move things around, bring back guys he wants and add Jeudy.

Now, with most free agents signed and the NFL draft just days away, it is a good time to take a look at where Cleveland’s highest-paid players rank at each position. For this exercise, we will look at annual salary as the best marker instead of total contract or salary cap hit.

Browns Offense

Quarterback Deshaun Watson – 6th

Wide Receiver Amari Cooper – 17th

Tight End David Njoku – 8th

Left Tackle Jedrick Wills – 20th (Fifth-year option)

Left Guard Joel Bitonio – 6th

Center Ethan Pocic – 12th

Right Guard Wyatt Teller – 5th

Right Tackle Jack Conklin – 11th

Browns Defense

Edge Rusher Myles Garrett – 5th

Interior Defensive Line Dalvin Tomlinson – 22nd

Cornerback Denzel Ward – 2nd

Safety Grant Delpit – 10th

Safety Juan Thornhill – 17th

Browns Special Teams

Long Snapper Charley Hughlett – 7th

Is anyone lower than you expected? What stands out to you when looking at the list above?

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