The Browns will sign tight end Darren Fells to a three-year, $12MM contact , tweets Mike Garafolo of NFL.com. The deal contains more than $6MM in guarantees.
Cleveland had been on the lookout for a veteran tight end since releasing Gary Barnidge prior to the 2017 campaign. Fells, who turns 32 years old next month, will now team with former first-round pick David Njoku and Seth DeValve to give Cleveland a solid trio of tight ends.
Fells has never been a major part of his club’s passing attack, whether during his tenure in Arizona or his one-season run in Detroit. Last year, Fells collected 17 of 26 targets for 177 yards, but did manage to get into the end zone three times. As a blocker, Fells is roughly league-average in the run game but a top-10 option in the passing game, per Pro Football Focus.
Although they boast the most cap space in the league, the Browns have refrained from adding top-of-the-market players, preferring to sign mid-tier options (at least thus far). In addition to Fells, Cleveland has brought in Carlos Hyde, Donald Stephenson, Chris Hubbard, and Chris Smith.
A 32 year old TE… good job Dorsey again. this signing makes no sense
Possibly a mentor for Njoku?
What part of looking for a veteran TE makes no sense? The Browns are the youngest team in the league, they need experienced players
Couldn’t have come for a better person…grew up playing ball with his older brother Daniel and my son has done their local football camp they put on together…great family, nice to see him get paid…best of luck helping the Dog Pound get back on track!
Could make sense if he was a great blocker. But he’s average at best. Even with the most cap space most of these signings make 0 sense in making the team better
It says his pass blocking rated favorably and there are always certain intangibles that can’t be measured…not every signing is going to be a superstar player…they have the draft coming up and have already made some big splashes so overall I’d say that they’re making the right moves this offseason