The Browns have plenty to sort out on the payroll, but the picture isn’t all bad. For every expensive mistake, there are a few contracts that give Cleveland real breathing room, and that matters when you’re trying to build around a roster with so many first- and second-year players already carrying major roles.
The best part for the Browns is that some of their smartest money is tied up in the defense. Even with the post-Deshaun Watson future looking brighter, the team has also managed to land a few deals that look downright sharp. Here are the three best bargains on the books entering the 2026 season.
Alex Wright’s deal stands out first: three years, $33 million. That number looks even better when you consider how hard it is for any edge rusher to shine while lining up next to Myles Garrett.
Wright has still managed to be one of the AFC’s most productive and most overlooked pass rushers over the last couple of seasons. Five-plus sacks a year from a rotational player making $11 million annually is strong value, and he’s shown enough starter potential to make the contract look even better.
With Garrett gone, Wright will have to take on more in 2026, and that added responsibility could unlock even more.
Ronnie Hickman is another bargain at one year and $3.5 million. He may be the most underappreciated player on the roster, and the market for safeties helps explain why he didn’t land a bigger payday.
Still, Hickman brings real impact. He’s the kind of defensive back who can handle the run, cover space, and do a little bit of everything in the secondary.
If Grant Delpit’s future remains uncertain, Hickman’s importance only grows. Getting Pro Bowl-caliber production for less than $4 million a year is a steal, even if it won’t last forever.
And then there’s Jared Verse on a four-year, $15.1 million rookie deal. Yes, it’s technically a rookie contract, but it’s still the best value on the team by a wide margin.
Verse is already in his third year, and he’s done plenty to justify the hype: two Pro Bowls and an NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award. No one is replacing Myles Garrett, but Verse is one of the rare young players with a chance to get close to that level someday.
That’s part of why the Browns wouldn’t move Garrett to the Rams unless Verse was included in the deal. He’s stepping into massive expectations, and while that’s a heavy load for anyone, he has the chip on his shoulder and the upside to become the next defensive star in Cleveland.
In Other News...
Browns Fans Are Getting A Powerful New Reminder About Jared Verse
Jared Verse is already giving Browns fans a fresh reminder of why the front office was so eager to add him to the mix. After arriving in Cleveland in the Myles Garrett trade with the Rams, the young edge rusher has quickly looked like the kind of player who can anchor a defense for years, and his early NFL production has only strengthened that view.
A new CBS Sports redraft pushed Verse all the way up to No. 4 overall, a sign of how highly he is being viewed after two strong seasons. The numbers back up the buzz, with Verse ranking among the league leaders in quarterback hurries, pressures and pressure rate, and analysts expect him to keep climbing as he settles into a bigger role with the Browns. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Fans Know This QB Question Could Define Everything Again
The Browns are heading into another season with the most important spot on the roster still carrying more questions than answers, and this time the uncertainty comes with a different kind of upside. Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel and Taylen Green are all part of the conversation, which at least gives Cleveland more possible paths than it has had at quarterback in recent years.
What makes this situation especially worth watching is how much it could shape the teams direction beyond this fall. If the group plays to its ceiling, the Browns could finally get real clarity at the position and start building with more confidence, but if the season turns into another scramble for answers, the front office could be forced back into the same search it has tried so hard to escape. [Read more 🡒]