3 Free Agents the Browns Need to Sign to Make the Playoffs Next Season

The Cleveland Browns' offseason moves ahead of the 2022 NFL campaign weren't good enough to prevent them from missing the playoffs yet again. This is the 19th time that the Browns will miss the playoffs in the last 20 seasons, leaving fans hoping that the 2023 season brings better results.

If the Browns are to return to the postseason in 2023, general manager Andrew Berry needs to work the phones as soon as free agency begins. Fortunately, Spotrac lists that Cleveland will have a 2022 rollover of $31.2 million this offseason, giving Berry plenty of money to accomplish his goals.

Here are three free agents that the Browns must sign to make the playoffs in 2023.

Browns Free Agency

1. Mack Hollins, WR

If the Browns want Deshaun Watson to succeed, they need to surround him with more weapons. One wideout that fits the bill is Mack Hollins. After seeing limited opportunities to begin his career, Hollins started in 15 games with the Las Vegas Raiders this season, setting career highs in receptions (55) and receiving yards (675) while tallying four touchdowns. He even showed what he can do when given the chance with a 158-yard performance against the Tennessee Titans in Week 3. He won't have that kind of showing every week, but he's still a player that can help improve the Browns' aerial attack while also giving the WR room some much-needed — and quality — depth.

2. Connor McGovern, C

Although the Browns have one of the better offensive lines in the NFL, center was the weakest of the five positions for them this season. That's even truer with Ethan Pocic becoming a free agent. With a lot of money to play with, the Browns must target Connor McGovern. The New York Jets center was solid again this season, achieving a 69.0 Pro Football Focus grade while allowing just five sacks with four penalties over 1,056 snaps. If the Browns want to be taken seriously, they need a legitimate No. 1 center and that's exactly who McGovern will be for the foreseeable future.

3. Khalen Saunders, DT

One of the Browns' biggest weaknesses was their run defense, surrendering 134.4 rushing yards per game (eighth-worst). If Cleveland isn't looking to break the bank, Khalen Saunders is a worthwhile target. Despite not starting in any of the 15 games that he's played, Saunders has still recorded 46 tackles, 3.5 sacks and one broken-up pass. What's also impressive is that the former 2019 third-rounder only missed one tackle all season. At the end of the day, Saunders would be a low-risk, high-reward option on a "prove yourself" contract. If he can live up to the hype in a bigger role, a postseason appearance becomes that much likelier for the Browns.

Devon Platana is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Devon Platana also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username PepeSilvia0. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.

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