With NFL free agency set to begin in just under two weeks, the Cleveland Browns have plenty of holes to fill on the offensive side of the football. One of those holes is at the wide receiver position, and they are reportedly interested in the lightning-in-a-bottle former second round pick Wan’Dale Robinson.
Essentially Sports’ Tony Pauline has reported that Cleveland is sniffing around the small but explosive wide receiver after four seasons with the New York Giants. Pauline stated:
“Earlier this week, I reported the Tennessee Titans as a potential landing spot for Robinson, as the team has interest in him and recently hired Brian Daboll, the coach who drafted the receiver out of Kentucky, as their offensive coordinator. I’m told that discussions between the two sides have gone well. I am also told that the Cleveland Browns, another franchise in need of receivers, is interested in Robinson.”
Robinson is coming off a career season in New York, where he racked up over 1,000 yards and four touchdowns on 92 catches. He went trhough back to back seasons with over 90 catches with the Giants, and three straight seasons with over 75 targets.
How Wan’Dale Robinson fits with the Browns
It’s quite easy to find a solid fit for Wan’Dale Robinson in Cleveland right now because there is not a single wide receiver currently in the room that you have to worry about building around or overlapping a fit within the offense. There is no world where having Jerry Jeudy, Cedric Tillman, or Isaiah Bond on your roster should hold you back from adding a wideout with a similar skillset to the wide receiver room.
That entire room may be completely turned over by the start of the 2027 season anyway.
Robinson is a slot only, but he is explosive with the football in his hands, and is not afraid to do dirty work on crossers or digs over the middle of the field. This skillset is welcome. And a wonderful fit for what head coach Todd Monken asked his wide receivers to do in Baltimore.
What would the NFL free agency pricetag be on Robinson?
When looking at NFL free agency projections, the best site to turn to is Over the Cap. They have Robinson’s free agency valuation set at just over $19 million per year. This means that Robinson is likely looking at a long-term deal of four years at somewhere between $76 to $80 million in total value, with likely around $40 million in guaranteed money.
With the salary cap eclipsing $300 million, the Browns do have wiggle room to work with. General manager Andrew Berry has stated that he intends to be aggressive in free agency as well. The Browns currently sit with $3 million in cap space, but they will once again restructure quarterback Deshaun Watson’s contract to clear around $44 million in cap space. Cornerback Denzel Ward can also have his deal restructed to clear around $14 million.
The impending retirement decision of offensive guard Joel Bitonio will also give the Browns relief. Either decision, returning and re-signing or retiring, will benefit the Browns’ situation. The only decision Bitonio could make that would hurt the Browns financially is to decide to return and sign elsewhere in free agency; that is not going to happen.
Long story short: if the Browns want Robinson, money will not be a limiting factor.
This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: Browns showing interest in explosive free agent WR Wan’Dale Robinson