This Date In Transactions History: Browns Extend OL John Greco
The 2013 offseason was a busy one for the Cleveland Browns. The organization replaced general manager Tom Heckert Jr. with Michael Lombardi, and they hired Rob Chudzinski as head coach after canning Pat Shurmur. The team also made significant changes to the roster, ditching former third-round quarterback Colt McCoy and signing veteran Jason Campbell to a two-year deal. The front office also traded former third-overall pick Trent Richardson. 
One of the moves that went under the radar was a move made on July 23rd, 2013. On that date, the organization signed offensive lineman John Greco to a five-year, $13MM deal. The contract featured only $3MM in guaranteed money.
Greco originally joined the Browns before the 2011 season, as the Rams traded their former third-round pick to Cleveland for a conditional seventh-rounder. Greco appeared as a backup in 15 games during the 2011 campaign, but he endeared himself to the organization in 2012 when he started 10 games in place of Jason Pinkston.
The Browns proceeded to ink Greco to a surprisingly lengthy extension, but the organization ended up getting plenty out of the offensive guard. The lineman started 56 games for Cleveland between 2013 and 2016, including a stint at center when regular starter Alex Mack was sidelined.
While Greco dealt with a handful of injuries during his tenure in Cleveland, he emerged as a dependable, reliable option for the coaching staff. While he certainly wasn’t a household name, the lineman consistently ranked in the top-20 of Pro Football Focus’ offensive guard rankings.
Cleveland made some changes to their offensive line before the 2017 season, adding Kevin Zeitler and center J.C. Tretter. Greco was ultimately cut by the Browns at the end of the preseason. He didn’t end up seeing the field during his subsequent stint with the Saints, but he appeared in 21 games (with seven starts) for the Giants between the 2017 and 2018 seasons.
While Greco’s career ended unceremoniously, he’s getting his time in the (PFR) limelight today.
Shaquem Griffin Visits Dolphins
The Dolphins will host linebacker Shaquem Griffin on a visit today (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero). Griffin, 26, has spent the last three years with the Seahawks but remains available on the verge of training camp. 
Griffin recently spent some time in Denver but left without a deal. For what it’s worth, Broncos coaches were reportedly impressed with his on-field work. The door may still be open there, but the Dolphins could snag him first.
Griffin has mostly played as a special teamer, or an on-ball linebacker when on defense. This year, he’s hoping to transition into a full-time pass-rusher. He’s suited up for a total of 46 games for the Seahawks across three seasons with one start. All in all, he’s notched 25 total tackles, one sack, and one pass defensed.
Both Griffin brothers played their entire pro careers with the Seahawks, up until now with the Seahawks. Earlier this year, twin brother Shaquill landed a big deal from Jacksonville to bolster their cornerback group.
NFL Draft Pick Signings: 7/22/21
We’ll keep track of today’s later round signings here:
Denver Broncos
- LB Baron Browning (third-round, Ohio State)
Los Angeles Rams
- LB Ernest Jones (third-round, South Carolina)
Tennessee Titans
- CB Elijah Molden (third-round, Washington)
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/22/21
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Baltimore Ravens
- Placed on NFI list: OT Ja’Wuan James
Cincinnati Bengals
- Claimed off waivers (from Cardinals): C Lamont Gaillard
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Placed on Reserve/COVID-19 list: QB Jake Luton
New York Giants
- Placed on IR: RB Taquan Mizzell
- Placed on Reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Kadarius Toney
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Waived: S Curtis Riley
Mychal Kendricks Sentenced To Three Years Probation
Mychal Kendricks has been sentenced to one day in prison, three years of probation, and 300 hours of community service for his involvement in insider trading (Twitter link via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com). This concludes a lengthy process which began all the way back in 2018. 
In June of 2018, Kendricks joined the Browns on a one-year, $2.25MM deal, which seemed like a solid value pickup. What we didn’t know at the time was that Kendricks was involved in a federal investigation for insider trading. The Browns were aware of the situation, but they say they weren’t clued in on all of the details.
The linebacker never played a down for Cleveland, but he soon found a home with the Seahawks, playing in 18 games between 2018 and 2019. In ’19, he notched three sacks and eight tackles for loss. Towards the end of last year, Washington plucked him off of Pete Carroll‘s taxi squad, using him in a December game and in the team’s lone playoff contest.
With the possibility of serious prison time behind him, Kendricks could be on the verge of finding his next NFL home. Given his age (31 in September) and injury history, we expect him to fetch a low-cost, one-year deal with little in the way of guarantees.
Cowboys Place Amari Cooper, DeMarcus Lawrence On PUP
The Cowboys have placed wide receiver Amari Cooper and defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence on the Physically Unable to Perform list to begin training camp (Twitter link via Todd Archer of ESPN.com). Cooper is still recuperating from a lingering ankle issue while Lawrence has been hampered by back problems. 
Cooper, a seventh-year veteran, was previously scratched from Cowboys minicamp. He underwent minor ankle surgery in January but the latest trouble surfaced in May. The Pro Bowl wideout has been here before — a sprain cost him time in 2017 and reemerged in early last season. To date, Cooper has not missed a game as a Cowboy. But, if his recovery drags, they’ll be leaning more on Michael Gallup and CeeDee Lamb.
Lawrence nearly opted out last year, but ultimately went on to appear in all 16 games for the Cowboys with 6.5 sacks. Statistically, his best work came in 2017 and 2018 as he registered a combined 25 sacks. The Cowboys hope that he can quickly put his back (and shoulder) injuries behind him to resume his Pro Bowl form.
The stars will be joined on the list by kicker Greg Zuerlein (back), defensive tackle Trysten Hill (knee), newly-signed rookie defensive end Chauncey Golston (hamstring), and offensive tackle Mitch Hyatt (knee). The Cowboys will also place UDFA receiver T.J. Vasher on the non-football injury list as he works his way back from a knee injury suffered at Texas Tech.
Steelers Considered Justin Houston
The Steelers were in contact with free agent edge rusher Justin Houston as recently as last week (Twitter link via Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports). However, with Melvin Ingram in the fold, the Steelers probably won’t look to add another veteran like Houston to the mix.
[RELATED: Steelers Sign Melvin Ingram]
Houston, one of the most fearsome pass rushers in the league during his heyday with the Chiefs, is coming off of a two-year stint with the Colts. He’s no longer a First Team All-Pro talent, but he was still productive in Indy, averaging 9.5 sacks per year over his two Colts campaigns. Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics assigned him middling grades in both run and pass D, but the 32-year-old would be an asset to most any pass rushing corps.
That list would have included the Steelers, who could have slotted him opposite of two-time All-Pro T.J. Watt. Instead, they chose Ingram, who offers a much stronger resume than the likes of Quincy Roche, youngster Alex Highsmith, and Cassius Marsh.
Houston should be able to land a deal, though the other clubs previously tied to him have also found DE help elsewhere. The Colts snagged Michigan’s Kwity Paye in the first round while the Ravens landed Penn State’s Odafe Oweh. On the other hand, the Ravens might be willing to give Houston a low-cost, one-year deal now that they’re without Matt Judon and Yannick Ngakoue.
Colts, Darius Leonard Nearing Deal
Darius Leonard and the Colts are on the verge of a new deal (Twitter link via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com). Once completed, it’s expected to be a four-year extension worth upwards of $19MM per year.
“You know what you’ve done, and you know what you deserve,” Leonard said earlier this year, an indication that he wouldn’t be giving Indy much of a hometown discount. “Hopefully, they see as much value as I see.”
On Wednesday, the 49ers locked up All-Pro Fred Warner with a five-year, $95MM extension. That deal made him the highest-paid inside linebacker in NFL history, but it doesn’t sound like he’ll hold that mantle for long. Even though Leonard’s deal will be slightly shorter, his AAV is expected to trump Warner’s $19MM/year. Meanwhile, Seahawks star Bobby Wagner — making $18MM annually — will drop to No. 3 on the ILB earnings list.
Taken with the No. 36 overall pick in 2018, Leonard was an instant difference maker for the Colts. He’s proven to be a great second-round value, though his slot did not provide Indy with a fifth-year option. As a result, he’s currently on course for free agency in the spring of 2022.
Leonard, 26 in July, made an All-Pro team in each of his first three seasons. That includes his first year when he also captured the Defensive Rookie of the Year trophy.
NFL Draft Pick Signings: 7/21/21
We’ll keep track of today’s later round signings here:
Denver Broncos
- Signed: OL Quinn Meinerz (third round, Whitewater)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: OL Robert Hainsey (third round, Notre Dame)
Ravens Sign Brandon Stephens, Wrap Draft Class
That’s a wrap. On Wednesday, the Ravens inked third-round defensive back Brandon Stephens to his rookie deal. With Stephens taken care of, the Ravens now have their entire 2021 draft class in the fold.
Stephens began his collegiate career as a running back at UCLA. Then, he transferred to SMU, switched to the secondary, and put himself on the NFL’s radar. Last year, Stephens notched ten passes defensed to lead the American Athletic Conference and also came away with one interception. Between ’19 and ’20, he batted down 22 passes in total, showing the length and coverage skills needed to make it at the next level.
Stephens spent most of his time on campus as a cornerback, but the Ravens believe that he can play both corner and safety. As the No. 104 pick, he’s slotted for a four-year, $4.8MM deal. That sum includes an $840K signing bonus with escalating salaries from now through 2024.
With less than a week to go before rookies report for duty, here’s the full recap of the Ravens’ 2021 class:
- Round 1: No. 27 Rashod Bateman, WR (Minnesota) (signed)
- Round 1: No. 31 (from Chiefs) Jayson Oweh, DE (Penn State)
- Round 3: No. 94 (from Chiefs) Ben Cleveland, G (Georgia)
- Round 3: No. 104 Brandon Stephens, CB (SMU)
- Round 4: No. 131 Tylan Wallace, WR (Oklahoma State) (signed)
- Round 5: No. 160 (from Cardinals) Shaun Wade, CB (Ohio State) (signed)
- Round 5: No. 171 Daelin Hayes, LB (Notre Dame) (signed)
- Round 5: No. 184 Ben Mason, FB (Michigan) (signed)