In the red zone! The Cleveland Browns reached the red zone area in the 2024 season for about 62.26% of the time. However, still they couldn’t capitalize on red-zone opportunities much – as they wrapped up the year with just 3 wins and 14 massive losses. Now the offseason has begun. GM Andrew Berry’s Browns have found themselves again in the red zone. But this time, it’s not the gridiron—it’s about the salary cap status.

Browns are sitting tightly in the red in salary cap space with an estimated $30 million while entering the offseason. However, the NFL announced a new salary cap number, which finally led them to reduce it to $24 million. The Browns need to work out something quick. Some strategic moves might be enough to clear the remaining gap and get them back on track. And that move could be of Jack Conklin.

According to Over The Cap, Browns’s OT Jack Conklin signed a four-year deal worth a $60 million contract extension. We can say that if they trade him to another team this offseason, the Browns might save up to $16 million in cap space. Now, as per rumors, Mike MacDonald’s Seattle Seahawks are eyeing Conklin, given their current offensive situation.

The Seahawks barely missed the playoffs last season, and their struggling offensive line was a big reason behind that. According to Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report, “Seattle ranks 29th in cap dollars allocated to the offensive line and has spent all of one top-50 pick on the O-line over the last eight drafts.” So, now as GM Andrew Berry’s Cleveland’s Conklin is emerging as a potential trade target, Mike MacDonald might get some offensive help.

No doubt, Seattle’s cap situation makes it tough to acquire him, but quality tackles aren’t easy to find. Conklin is a former first-round pick and two-time All-Pro. He has been a solid presence in the league for years. Despite being a veteran with 106 games under his belt, he’s still performing at a respectable level, especially in pass blocking (67.9) and run blocking (average 59.6). So, if the Hawks make this decision on a $60 million player, it will help the Browns a lot. But let us remind you that this single move will not end their cap problems completely.

Andrew Berry and the Browns have planned an aggressive offseason?

The NFL gave the Browns a lifeline by allocating $22–26 million in 2025 for the teams. This move reduced the cap challenges for Andrew Berry and the Browns, if not eliminating them entirely.

However, as we stated earlier, the team still needs to make some roster moves in 2025. First, trading Jack Conklin could help. And if the Browns decide not to trade him for some reason, they will have to restructure his contract along with others.

For instance, a few smart moves like—maybe cornerback Greg Newsome II’s deal, or adjusting Deshaun Watson’s massive cap hit – could set things right. But let’s not forget the Myles Garrett trade! As he has demanded to exit, this move will blow things up for Andrew Berry’s Browns. It will push his cap hit to $36 million.

Cleveland has big plans for this offseason. And now, with an extra $6 million in unexpected breathing room from the NFL, they might just make some noise. Let’s see the impact of this noise!