Browns' 2020 offseason, three years later: Short-term successes, mostly long-term busts

BEREA — Andrew Berry was hired as the Browns' executive vice president and general manager on Jan. 28, 2020. Just under two months later, he went through his first free-agency period in that role, hoping to establish the foundation for long-term success.

Three years later, the Browns did find success from many of the moves Berry and the front office made that offseason. The only problem is those successes were almost all in the short term.

The Browns finished the 2020 season with an 11-5 record, their best since 1994. They also made just their second playoff appearance since the franchise's 1999 rebirth and won their first playoff game since Jan. 1, 1995.

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Many of the players acquired in the months leading up to that season played a role in those successes. However, many of those players were on one-year deals and didn't carry those successes on to the ensuing season.

The ones who were signed to multi-year deals, though, mostly failed to live up to the hype. There's one notable exception to that rule who remains a foundation piece for what the Browns hope is a resurgence as the Berry-Kevin Stefanski combination heads into its fourth year.

Looking back on the moves Berry made in the offseason before the start of the 2020 training camp, it starts with one that didn't really pay off in either short- or long-term ways.

Andrew Billings, defensive tackle

The Browns knew all about Billings when they signed him because of his three seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals. What they didn't know when they signed him on March 26, 2020, was that the COVID pandemic was going to lead to player opt-outs for that season. Specifically, the Browns didn't know that Billings would be one of the players who chose to opt out. Billings did return to the field for the 2021 season, but only played in six games before the Browns released him in November.

Grade: D

Adrian Clayborn, defensive end

Clayborn set the mold of the kind of defensive lineman Berry has pursued over his first three seasons as a former first-round pick who, in his case, was getting a little long in the tooth after nine combined seasons in Atlanta, New England and Tampa Bay. Originally signed to a two-year deal, Clayborn played in 15 of the 16 regular-season games, as well as starting both playoff games in 2020. He finished with 3.5 sacks, a forced fumble, seven quarterback hurries and four quarterback knockdowns. The Browns elected to move on from him the following April, and Clayborn hasn't played since.

Grade: B-minus

Jack Conklin, offensive tackle

Conklin was the top offensive tackle on the free-agent market when it opened in March of that year. The Browns made the former Tennessee Titan a priority and landed him on a three-year deal. Conklin, who had been an All-Pro as a rookie in 2016, proved more than worth it in his first season with the Browns, earning his second All-Pro recognition. His second year with the Browns, in 2021, was defined by injuries. Conklin was limited to just seven game due to injuries, including a ruptured patellar tendon in late November that cost him the rest of the season. Conklin returned to the field for the third game of 2022 and played every game until an ankle injury cost him the season finale. Still, he and the Browns came to an agreement right before Christmas on a four-year extension, solidifying the right tackle spot and making Conklin the only player acquired during the 2020 offseason to still be with the team in 2023.

Grade: B-plus

B.J. Goodson, linebacker

One of three free-agent signings the Browns made when it opened in March, Goodson was brought in on a one-year deal to provide some veteran leadership in the linebacking corps. He had spent the previous four seasons with the New York Giants and Green Bay Packers. Goodson played the first 14 games before missing the last two regular-season games due to COVID. He finished with 91 total tackles, two interceptions, a fumble recovery and six passes defensed. Goodson was back in time for the playoffs, recording 16 combined tackles. He moved on to the New York Jets the following season, playing one game before retiring.

Grade: B

Austin Hooper, tight end

The first player the Browns signed when the free-agent period began was the first whiff of Berry's tenure. Hooper was signed to a three-year contract after back-to-back 70-plus-catch seasons with the Falcons. The tight end never came close to that production over the two seasons he ended up playing for the Browns. Hooper finished with 46 catches for 435 yards and four touchdowns in 13 regular-season games, plus another nine playoff catches, in 2020. His number decreased to 38 catches for 345 yards and three touchdowns in 16 games in 2021. The Browns released Hooper in March 2022, taking a dead cap hit of $11.25 million over the 2022 and 2023 season. Hooper signed with the Titans five days after he was released by the Browns.

Grade: D

Andy Janovich, fullback

The same day Berry signed Hooper, Conklin and Goodson as free agents, he also swung a deal with the Denver Broncos to acquire Janovich for a seventh-round pick. The fullback played 27 regular-season and two playoff games over two seasons with the Browns, with most of his snaps on special teams. Janovich signed with the Houston Texans after the 2021 season, but was released in August.

Grade: C-minus

Kevin Johnson, cornerback

The Browns took a swing on another former first-round pick in Johnson. The 16th pick of the 2015 draft by the Texans had played just 41 career games with Houston and Buffalo when he was signed to a one-year deal by Cleveland. Johnson provided depth at the cornerback position, which was much needed due to the number of players at that spot the Browns went through during the COVID-impacted 2020 season. He ended up playing 13 regular-season and one playoff game, including seven combined starts. He recorded half a sack, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and three passes defensed. Johnson retired from the NFL in 2021.

Grade: B-minus, because the low-risk signing provided much-needed depth.

Karl Joseph, safety

Another former first-round pick the Browns took a chance on with a one-year deal in the secondary. The 14th pick of the 2016 draft by the then-Oakland Raiders, Joseph ended up playing 14 regular-season games in his lone season in Cleveland. In those 14 games, he had an interception, two fumble recoveries, four passes defensed and 67 total tackles. Joseph also played in both playoff games, where he was an impact player with an interception and a fumble recovery for a touchdown on the opening play of the wild-card win at Pittsburgh. Joseph played two games for the Steelers in 2021, and spent the 2022 season on injured reserve.

Grade: B

Case Keenum, quarterback

The second wave of March free-agent signings in 2020 started with the Browns bringing in a quarterback with whom coach Kevin Stefanski was quite familiar in Keenum. The coach and quarterback were together with the Minnesota Vikings during the 2017 season when they reached the NFC Championship Game. Keenum signed a three-year deal with the Browns after having spent the 2019 season in Washington. The quarterback was brought it to be a dependable backup to Baker Mayfield, while also helping Mayfield get up to speed with Stefanski's offseason. Keenum appeared in just two games in 2020, but saw his playing time go up in 2021 due to Mayfield's shoulder injury. Keenum started two of the seven games in which he appeared, leading the Browns to wins over the Broncos in Week 7 and what was essentially the Bengals' backups in the season finale. The Browns traded Keenum to the Bills after the season in exchange for a seventh-round pick.

Grade: C-plus

Andrew Sendejo, safety

Sendejo was signed to a one-year deal as another veteran for the Browns to count on in the secondary. Instead, he became one of the top targets for the fans' frustration throughout his one and only season in Cleveland. Sendejo played in 14 regular-season and two playoff games, starting all 14 of those regular-season games. He did not record an interception or a fumble recovery, and had just one forced fumble. Often, though, Sendejo seemed to be in the wrong place on some of the biggest plays against the Browns. He signed with the Indianapolis Colts for the 2021 season, playing 12 games.

Grade: D

Contact Chris at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com.

On Twitter: @ceasterlingABJ

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns' 2020 offseason reassessed: Short-term wins, long-term losses