Currently holding the Cleveland Browns back are four contracts.

Deshaun Watson’s contract continues to be a burden for the Cleveland Browns but there are other concerns as well.

The Cleveland Browns finished 11-6 this season, so a one-game playoff run was not what they had hoped for, but it was still a significant achievement. Both sides of the ball suffered significant injuries that they overcome, but their offense took the worst of it. They lost Jack Conklin, Deshaun Watson, and Nick Chubb as well.

Cleveland persisted in fighting and managed to secure a postseason berth by winning four straight games. Their victory with reserves ought to inspire optimism for the future. Nevertheless, they will need to uncover some offensive game-changers and plug in a few gaps.

That is easier said than done given the Browns’ limited resources. They not only start the summer about $17 million above the cap, but they also lack a pick in the first round once more. Given that, let’s take a look at the four contracts that the franchise is now suffering from.

4. Amari Cooper, WR

Though it would be difficult to find a more ardent Amari Cooper supporter than this writer, his contract will still be a problem in 2024. Cooper, with a $23.77 million cap figure, is the second player on the team. That puts him ahead of the younger Denzel Ward and Myles Garrett, who are also candidates for NFL Defensive Player of the Year almost annually.

Cooper is a potent weapon and the only player in Cleveland history to have consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons. Despite his patchy quarterback play, he has managed to amass 2,410 yards on 150 receptions; however, he will turn 30 next year and has experienced some injury problems.

He missed Weeks 17 and 18 of 2023, however several starters rested for the meaningless Week 18. Then, clearly injured, he ended the postseason with just 59 yards on four receptions. As brilliant as Cooper is, Browns supporters should keep in mind how quickly Jarvis Landry’s career took a nosedive once he began to get injured.

This is not to imply that Cooper should be fired; rather, they should try to renegotiate his contract. They’ll pay him close to $24 million, and they’ll never be able to address the offensive weaponry.