Cleveland Browns sign S Zion Washington

Signing Zion Washington to a three-year deal at a $1.035M AAV earns a C+ Contract Value Index (CVI) — a fair deal at the margins, but nothing that moves the needle for a Cleveland Browns roster that carries a 5-12 record and is clearly in need of more than depth-piece additions. At that salary, Washington slots in firmly as a replacement-level or roster-filler signing, the kind of move that populates the back half of a depth chart rather than addresses a genuine starter need. The near-zero guaranteed money — just $5,000 — tells you everything about how the Browns view this commitment: Washington will have to earn his roster spot in camp, and the franchise carries essentially no financial risk if he does not. That structure is standard for a player at this tier, but it also signals limited organizational conviction; this is a low-floor, low-ceiling flier on a safety who has not demonstrated enough to command real security. Spread across three years, the $3.105M total keeps the contract manageable, and if Washington develops into even a solid special-teamer or emergency starter, the Browns will have extracted genuine value from a negligible cap commitment. The CVI reflects that balance — not a steal because the production profile does not justify enthusiasm, but not an overpay given how little is actually guaranteed. In a rebuilding environment where every dollar of flexibility matters, this is the right kind of low-risk swing, even if it is unlikely to be remembered come September.