Are the Browns a legit threat to sign Charles Harris away from the Lions?

As the Lions consider their offer for Charles Harris, are the Browns a real threat to sign him away?

Amid their run of one-year deals in 2021 free agency, the Lions took a flier on former first-round pick Charles Harris. Safe to say it paid off, as Harris registered career-highs across the board (7.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, 16 quarterback hits).

Harris is now lined up to get a multi-year deal in free agency this month. The Lions have to consider where their offer will come in, and if what Harris did in 2021 is sustainable in their eyes. But the premium on pass rushers assures he’ll have other suitors, and that may push his market toward the ceiling of what he could command in terms of years and money.

Spotrac has calculated Harris’ projected contract at two years and just shy of $19.8 million. How the 2022 cap number would come out is unclear, but that $9.8 million average off the top would be more than one-third of Detroit’s available cap space right now (via Over the Cap).

Are the Browns a legit threat to sign Charles Harris away from the Lions?

Across all positions, Justin Melo of The Draft Network named six free agents the Cleveland Browns should target. With Jadeveon Clowney a free agent himself, Harris is tabbed as a prospective replacement opposite Myles Garrett.

"A former first-round selection of the Miami Dolphins, Charles Harris finally broke out of his shell in 2021 by recording a career-high 7.5 sacks as a member of the Detroit Lions. Harris was productive on a one-year prove-it deal in Detroit, and will now look to land long-term security via free agency. Despite experiencing a breakout campaign, Harris should still be more affordable than Clowney. Playing opposite Garrett places his teammates in such a favorable situation, and was largely responsible for Clowney’s productivity in 2021. Harris is fully capable of taking advantage of the one-v-one looks he’d receive from opposing offensive linemen."

Right now, via Over the Cap, the Browns are just above the Lions in cap space with about $27.7 million (compared to $26.5 million for Detroit). But as it is with every team, Cleveland could free up more cap space with cuts, contract restructures, etc.

Given the choice between two comparable contract offers from the Lions and Browns, it’s easy to think Harris would choose to stay in the place he had a breakout season and in a scheme that unleashed him. But the Browns look like a legit potential suitor, and if they’re willing to push the envelope a bit they may be able to snag Harris and leave the Lions looking to replace him.