Jeopardy! free agency

Time to play NFL free-agency Jeopardy! Don't forget to answer in the form of a question.

I'll take Cleveland Browns for $200, Alex. 

Late marginal improvement

Correct question: What did the Browns accomplish when free agency in the National Football League officially kicked off the league's 2023 season Wednesday afternoon?

Cleveland General Manager Andrew Berry was radio silent until early evening after officially announcing what we already knew through leaks during the legal-tampering period. 

Beefy tackle Dalvin Tomlinson and small edge rusher Ogbo Okoronkwo became the newest members of the defensive line, while center Ethan Pocic, linebacker Sione Takitaki and cornerback A. J. Green returned from last season with small-term contracts.

Not mentioned were the loss of defensive tackle Taven Bryan (addition by subtraction) and versatile substitute offensive lineman Hjalte Froholdt (should have kept him) to Indianapolis and Arizona, respectively.

Cleveland Browns for $400, please.

Juan Thornhill

Correct question: Who will replace John Johnson III at free safety after the Browns release him in early June for fiscal reasons? 

The Browns and Thornhill, who has won two Super Bowl rings in his four seasons in Kansas City, agreed to a three-year, $21 million deal early Wednesday evening, a move that provided some salary cap relief compared to the loftier final year of Johnson's contract.

Johnson has been somewhat of a disappointment in his two seasons. The Cleveland secondary has been beset the last couple of seasons by numerous blown pass coverages and the chief culprit, although it has never been publicly revealed, was thought to have been Johnson, the de facto captain of the secondary.

Thornhill, a converted cornerback, is considered more of a ballhawk than Johnson, who has only 12 interceptions in eight NFL seasons, just one last season, But he also compiled 101 total tackles last season, second only to strong safety Grant Delpit. Thornhill has picked off eight passes with the Chiefs.

Cleveland Browns for $800, Alex.

Yannick Ngakoue

Correct question: What veteran -- and very productive -- free-agent pass rusher did the Browns pass on to sign the less productive and much cheaper Okoronkwo?

In an effort to replace the departed Jadeveon Clowney, Berry ignored Ngakoue's seven-year totals of 65 sacks (eight a season, 9.5 last season with the Colts), 65 tackles for loss, 135 quarterback hits and 21 forced fumbles.

His asking price might be somewhat lofty, but the guy produces. And he turns just 28 (his prime) at the end of this month. The Browns' pass rush under new defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz would thrive with him and Myles Garrett terrorizing opposing quarterbacks. This is not the time to get penurious at that position. He's still out there.

And finally, Alex, Cleveland Browns for $1,000.

John Sherman Smith-Schuster

Correct question: Who is the former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver (better known as JuJu) who won a Super Bowl ring with Kansas City a couple of months ago and was snubbed by Berry before taking himself off the free-agent market by signing with New England Wednesday?

Smith-Schuster, who bedeviled the Browns in his five seasons with the Steelers, agreed to a three-year deal for just $33 million with the Patriots. That's all it took and Berry puzzlingly passed. Sheesh. S-S would have fit in perfectly with Amari Cooper as prime targets for Deshaun Watson. 

JuJu's the guy who dissed the Browns prior to their AFC wild-card playoff game in 2020. "They're still the same Browns I play every year." he said, quietly referring to the Steelers' dominant success against them. "The Browns is the Browns." That's the game the Browns won, 49-37.

Berry will probably wind up with some lesser talent than the abundantly talented and still-young-at-26 wideout at the position instead of loading up for his wealthy quarterback. Sure would have been nice to see him in Seal Brown and Orange playing against his former team twice a season.

Maybe Smith-Schuster was right. In a situation like this, The Browns is the Browns.