While the Browns could use the franchise tag to stop pending free agent wide receiver Terrelle Pryor from hitting the open market, the team would much rather retain him on a multiyear contract, reports Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com. As a result, the Browns are “redoubling efforts” to re-sign Pryor and will meet with agent Drew Rosenhaus this week, tweets Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports. Cleveland and Rosenhaus will have “strong discussions,” a source told Cabot.
As a 27-year-old who possesses size (6-foot-4, 223 pounds) and speed, Pryor will be among the most sought-after players available this offseason if he actually reaches free agency. It’s arguable he’s currently among the top two unsigned wideouts in the NFL, joining the Bears’ Alshon Jeffery, after Pryor broke out last season as part of a one-win team. Despite having to work with five quarterbacks, most of whom were mediocre or worse, Pryor (an ex-QB himself) piled up 77 receptions, 1,007 yards and four touchdowns on 140 targets in his first serious action as a receiver.
Notably, both Pryor and the coach who has developed him as a pass catcher, the Browns’ Hue Jackson, have spoken highly of each other over the past year. Pryor has made it known that he’d like to stay under Jackson’s tutelage, though he cautioned in December that “it’s got to come down to what my agents think is right for me.” Those agents might not have as much say as they’d like if the Browns slap the estimated $15.826MM franchise tag on their client between Feb. 15 and March 1. A long-term pact, on the other hand, could net Pryor at least $10MM per year and $28.5MM in guarantees (the same deal the Rams gave Tavon Austin last summer), CBS Sports’ Joel Corry posited in November.
Regardless of whether they tag or re-sign Pryor, the Browns – with a league-high amount of cap space – shouldn’t have difficulty retaining him if that’s their goal. The team has already stopped its top pending defensive free agent, linebacker Jamie Collins, from getting to the market, having awarded him a four-year, $50MM deal in January.
Get it done!
They fkn better be!!!
Why would any sort of talent wanna sign with this organization? Hell! Drafts picks come out and ask the Browns not to draft them.
Maybe because there are only 32 teams in the league and money is the same whether its from New England, Dallas or Cleveland….and what draft pick said they didn’t want the Browns to take them?
Jalen Ramsey last year tweeted to the browns that if they drafted him he’d retire
It’s easy to say that, until the multimillion dollar contracts get put on the table. All those zeros have a way of convincing you not to retire especially when you’re coming out of college
we have seen guys refuse to play for the teams that have drafted them e.g. Elway and Eli Manning
Those are the exception and not the norm. The number one pick in the draft has a little more pull than everyone else…
do the browns not hold the #1 pick? im just saying it happens and happens with guys that aren’t first overalls as well, e.g. Rich Gannon, Kelly Stouffer, Cornelius Bennett
Well, to be fair, money isn’t the same everywhere you go. As in, money isn’t the same in Texas or Florida as it is in New York because of income taxes.
Hey dumbo, all 260+ draftees this year wish they coudl play for their hometown team. QB Mitch Trubisky is from the CLeveland area and stated he would love to play for his Browns, the team he grew up with. Nothing new there, all draftees had a hometown NFL team they rooted for.
Also, with 100 million + in CAP and five draft picks in forst 65, + 18 rookies returning who gained valuable experience last year, CLE is on the rise, much like the Raiders who were int he dumpster in 2014 and had a similar situation.
Hue is such a great person to b there head coach. He may not b in the top 20. But 90% of his ex players love the guy. Eventually they will become respectable.
I know this is going to rattle some chains but he should sign with Minnesota they desperately need a fast WR
Speaking of Kaepernick I hear the toilet flushing now!!!!! He’s Done