The Cleveland Browns were aggressive last offseason just like they’ve often been with this current regimen.

While some free agents worked out well and I’ll get to those this weekend, a few signings just didn’t go as planned.

Whether it is for health, scheme fit, or another reason, we often see free-agent signings flop in the NFL. This isn’t anything new and we see pretty substantial signings not work out all the time.

I’ve labeled three free agent signings for the Browns last cycle below that just didn’t work for Cleveland.

QB Joshua Dobbs

Cleveland signed Dobbs back to be their backup for the 2023 season, though that never happened. Dobbs was outplayed by rookie QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson and lost his backup spot. Cleveland then went on to trade him to the Arizona Cardinals for a fifth-round pick.

While Cleveland was able to grab a late pick for Dobbs, or was still a bad signing that didn’t work out for them. The trade did not work out for the Cardinals who traded for him, nor did it work out for the Minnesota Vikings who traded for him even later in the season.

WR Marquise Goodwin

Health was the biggest downfall for Goodwin with the Browns. An unfortunate blood clot issue hit him in training camp and forced him to be sidelined for all of it. Goodwin caught just four passes for 67 yards. A big play of 57 yards accounted for the majority of the yardage. Goodwin played in just 12 games as a Brown, a nasty concussion kept him out for several weeks.

Cleveland wanted Goodwin to be their deep threat and he was never able to do that.

TE Jordan Akins

Akins was coming off a career-high in yards last season at just under 500 on a bad Texans team. Cleveland signed Akins and it was thought that some of his past chemistry with Deshaun Watson would pay off. He accounted for 132 yards on 15 catches in 17 games.

While he and Watson were able to play just a few games together, Akins never really found his footing with the Browns.