The Browns have agreed to sign free agent running back Carlos Hyde to a three-year, $15MM deal that includes $6MM in 2018, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).
Hyde, 27, ranked as PFR’s No. 2 available running back and the No. 33 overall free agent. Among our list of the top free agent backs, only Dion Lewis, Isaiah Crowell, and Chris Ivory (who was released early and thus could sign earlier) have landed new contracts. Lewis, whom PFR tabbed as the best back on the market, received four years and $20MM from the Titans, outpacing Hyde in contact length but matching him in annual value.
Now that they’ll pair Hyde with a pass-catching back in Duke Johnson, the Browns may be out of the Saquon Barkley sweepstakes. Cleveland had reportedly been considering the Penn State standout with the first overall selection, but with a pair of veteran runners now poised to dominate carries in their backfield, the Browns could use that No. 1 pick — and the No. 4 overall slot they acquired from the Texans — on other positions, namely quarterback.
Hyde spent the first four seasons of his career with the 49ers, and had toted the ball more than 200 times in each of the past two seasons. Last year, Hyde put up 938 yards and a career-high eight touchdowns, but also posted a career-low 3.9 yards per carry. In the pass game, Hyde finished sixth among running backs with 59 receptions, but also graded as the single-worst pass-blocking back in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus.
With Hyde off the board, the best remaining free agent running backs include Jerick McKinnon, Rex Burkhead, Frank Gore, and Orleans Darkwa.
[RELATED: Browns Depth Chart]
There goes Saquon Barkley.
Nahhh he’s still in their plans
i don’t see how Barkley is still in their plans. Hyde is signed for 3 years. Why sign a used up RB when you could get the best RB of this generation, Dammit Dorset, you started off so strong
Similar to the cowboys signing Darren McFadden and Alfred Morris right before drafting Ezekiel Elliot right???? So browns aren’t far off give them a break
Just because it says 3 years doesn’t mean it’s 3 years guaranteed. They needed a veteran to replace the underachiever they let go.
Look at contracts and what Barkley would warrant as a top 5 pick
What would he warrant?
A top 5 pick lol
why is this bad? it actually gibes them a ton of flexibility. If you don’t sign a RB you are forced into drafting Barkley and a QB and may not get both your targets. by signing Hyde you get a capable starter and flexibility. you could still draft Barkley if you think your future QB is at 4. or you can move #1 Or #4 and get the QB you want. Or you draft QB at 1 and Fitzpatrick at 4.
this doesn’t put them out of the saquon sweepstakes, just gives them flexibility if they get an amazing offer for either pick plans gives them more time to evaluate the draft buzz
Barkley will still be 1, because Hyde can’t stay healthy for 1 year, but he is a good running back and signing
He’s coming off the best season of his career where he didn’t miss a game.
First of his career, and he sat out quite a bit a lot of games although technically playing in most of them. He was injured the majority of his time in SF. That’s just facts.
best season? that’s debatable. He had 137 more total yards than in ’16, in 23 more rushing attempts and 32 out 55 more passing opportunities, over the course of only 3 more games. Clearly, the pace he was on in ’16 was better than ’17.
Take two qbs at 1 and 4. The Browns have to get it right at some point . I know it’s not logical. I’m poking fun at their inability to draft a qb
That’s probably the dumbest thing I’ve ever read in my entire life
They’ve never had a problem drafting QBs. They’ve had a problem drafting QBs who stick.
Well I knew they’d muck it up. What was the point of doing this? You have all this cap space, and you waste some on a 28 yr old mediocre RB?
Mentor for the rookie at #1.
Barkley doesn’t need a mentor. If you draft a back #1 you give it him 350 times. You don’t sign a back like Hyde and expect him to be a mentor. Browns screw it up again.
Big difference between the college and pro games. All rookies need someone to show them the ropes.
Zeke and AP and all the other past great backs would disagree with you. They didn’t need a mentor as rookies, all they wanted was the rock. If Barkley is the greatest running back prospect in the last 25 years like all the know it alls claim, then he doesn’t need a mentor and he sure isn’t going to want to share the ball with Hyde. Hyde just gets in the way. Wasted dough.
Not much was “wasted” on him, and like Mack83 said, they needed a mentor for the guy or guys they’ll draft at RB.
Okay, you’ve all missed something here. The Browns signed a former BUCKEYE!!
Thank you!!
The browns aren’t going to commit $12-13mm at the rb position just to draft Barkley now, unless duke is out, plain and simple
I don’t really think there’s any correlation. If they really want Barkley, they aren’t going to let signing an average running back stop them from picking him.
I think the Hyde signing is a good one in a vacuum. I’d prefer the Browns trade down. I just don’t see it with any of these qbs. Still think Barkeley and Chubb/Fitzpatrick is the way to go. Maybe trade Duke Johnson and allow Barkeley to break in as 3rd down and passing back?
With Carlos Hyde signed, Dorset can choose to trade down if he gets a good offer. Without the Hyde signing, trading down is out. Hyde can always be traded post-draft. You’d get good value. Jay Gruden and Alex Smith over in Washington could use a back like Carlos Hyde if their draft doesn’t pan out.