Cleveland Browns free agency 2020: Top 5 targets

1. Robert Quinn, EDGE

Vernon is due $15.25 million in base salary in 2020, which is the final year of his current deal. His contract carries a large $15.5 million cap hit. Meaning, the Browns could save a lot of money if they decide to move on and release him.

Letting Vernon go would put the Browns at around $62.5 million in available cap, according to Spotrac.com. Hard to ignore that large of a figure, especially when you could use that money to throw into the offensive line.

If Vernon is gone, Robert Quinn should come in.

Quinn revitalized his career with the Dallas Cowboys last season, racking up the second-most single-season sack total (11.5) of his career. This was also the first time he came away with double-digit sacks in one season since 2014.

Of course, the worry of “buying high” is a legitimate concern. Can Quinn do this again in a different system? Is he worth his projected market value of just under $12 million?

The answer to question No. 1 is yes. Quinn has been able to rush the passer everywhere he has played. 80.5 sacks in 125 games is no joke, and he appears to be healthier than he has in the recent past.

Answering the second question is harder. Quinn is turning 30-years old, so it’s difficult to imagine a team shelling out a large AAV over multiple years. However, even getting him for $8-10 million on a short-term deal is a win for any team.

Even if the Browns save $4-5 million by cutting Vernon and replacing him with Quinn, the team would probably be inclined to do it. Quinn was often the most noticeable player on the defensive line for the Cowboys last season.

Prying him away from Dallas may be hard as it sounds like he’d like to stay. However, that doesn’t mean the Browns shouldn’t aggressively pursue him.