Cleveland Browns News & Rumors

2022 NFL Draft Results By Round

The 2022 NFL Draft is here! We’ll be keeping tabs here, from pick No. 1 through No. 262:

Round 1

1) Jacksonville Jaguars: Travon Walker, Edge (Georgia) (signed)
2) Detroit Lions: Aidan Hutchinson, DE (Michigan) (signed)
3) Houston Texans: Derek Stingley Jr., CB (LSU) (signed)
4) New York Jets: Ahmad Gardner, CB (Cincinnati) (signed)
5) New York Giants: Kayvon Thibodeaux, DE (Oregon) (signed)
6) Carolina Panthers: Ikem Ekwonu, OL (NC State) (signed)
7) New York Giants (from Bears): Evan Neal, OT (Alabama) (signed)
8) Atlanta Falcons: Drake London, WR (USC) (signed)
9) Seattle Seahawks (from Broncos): Charles Cross, OT (Mississippi State)
10) New York Jets (from Seahawks): Garrett Wilson, WR (Ohio State) (signed)
11) New Orleans Saints (from Commanders): Chris Olave, WR (Ohio State) (signed)
12) Detroit Lions (from Vikings): Jameson Williams, WR (Alabama) (signed)
13) Philadelphia Eagles (from Browns through Texans): Jordan Davis, DT (Georgia) (signed)
14) Baltimore Ravens: Kyle Hamilton, S (Notre Dame) (signed)
15) Houston Texans (from Dolphins through Eagles): Kenyon Green, OG (Texas A&M) (signed)
16) Washington Commanders (from Colts through Eagles and Saints): Jahan Dotson, WR (Penn State) (signed)
17) Los Angeles Chargers: Zion Johnson, OL (Boston College)
18) Tennessee Titans (from Saints through Eagles): Treylon Burks, WR (Arkansas) (signed)
19) New Orleans Saints (from Eagles): Trevor Penning, OT (Northern Iowa) (signed)
20) Pittsburgh Steelers: Kenny Pickett, QB (Pittsburgh)
21) Kansas City Chiefs (from Patriots): Trent McDuffie, CB (Washington) (signed)
22) Green Bay Packers (from Raiders): Quay Walker, LB (Georgia) (signed)
23) Buffalo Bills (from Cardinals through Ravens): Kaiir Elam, CB (Florida) (signed)
24) Dallas Cowboys: Tyler Smith, OT (Tulsa) (signed)
25) Baltimore Ravens (from Bills): Tyler Linderbaum, C (Iowa)
26) New York Jets (from Titans): Jermaine Johnson, DE (Florida State) (signed)
27) Jacksonville Jaguars (from Buccaneers): Devin Lloyd, LB (Utah) (signed)
28) Green Bay Packers: Devonte Wyatt, DT (Georgia) (signed)
29) New England Patriots (from 49ers through Dolphins and Chiefs): Cole Strange, OG (UT-Chattanooga)
30) Kansas City Chiefs: George Karlaftis, DE (Purdue) (signed)
31) Cincinnati Bengals: Daxton Hill, S (Michigan) (signed)
32) Minnesota Vikings (from Rams through Lions): Lewis Cine, S (Georgia) (signed)

Round 2

33) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (from Jaguars): Logan Hall, DE (Houston) (signed)
34) Green Bay Packers (from Lions through Vikings): Christian Watson, WR (North Dakota State)
35) Tennessee Titans (from Jets): Roger McCreary, CB (Auburn) (signed)
36) New York Jets (from Giants): Breece Hall, RB (Iowa State)
37) Houston Texans: Jalen Pitre, S (Baylor) (signed)
38) Atlanta Falcons (from Panthers through Jets and Giants): Arnold Ebiketie, OLB (Penn State)
39) Chicago Bears: Kyler Gordon, CB (Washington)
40) Seattle Seahawks (from Broncos): Boye Mafe, DE (Minnesota)
41) Seattle Seahawks: Kenneth Walker III, RB (Michigan State)
42) Minnesota Vikings (from Commanders through Colts): Andrew Booth, CB (Clemson)
43) New York Giants (from Falcons): Wan’Dale Robinson, WR (Kentucky)
44) Houston Texans (from Browns): John Metchie III, WR (Alabama) (signed)
45) Baltimore Ravens: David Ojabo, OLB (Michigan) (signed)
46) Detroit Lions (from Vikings): Josh Paschal, DE (Kentucky)
47) Washington Commanders (from Colts): Phidarian Mathis, DT (Alabama)
48) Chicago Bears (from Chargers): Jaquan Brisker, S (Penn State)
49) New Orleans Saints: Alontae Taylor, CB (Tennessee)
50) New England Patriots (from Dolphins through Chiefs): Tyquan Thornton, WR (Baylor)
51) Philadelphia Eagles: Cam Jurgens, C (Nebraska)
52) Pittsburgh Steelers: George Pickens, WR (Georgia) (signed)
53) Indianapolis Colts (from Raiders through Packers and Vikings): Alec Pierce, WR (Cincinnati) (signed)
54) Kansas City Chiefs (from Patriots): Skyy Moore, WR (Western Michigan) (signed)
55) Arizona Cardinals: Trey McBride, TE (Colorado State) (signed)
56) Dallas Cowboys: Sam Williams, DE (Ole Miss) (signed)
57) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (from Bills): Luke Goedeke, OL (Central Michigan)
58) Atlanta Falcons (from Titans): Troy Andersen, LB (Montana State) (signed)
59) Minnesota Vikings (from Packers): Ed Ingram, OG (LSU)
60) Cincinnati Bengals (from Buccaneers through Bills): Cam Taylor-Britt, CB (Nebraska) (signed)
61) San Francisco 49ers: Drake Jackson, DE (USC)
62) Kansas City Chiefs: Bryan Cook, S (Cincinnati) (signed)
63) Buffalo Bills (from Bengals): James Cook, RB (Georgia) (signed)
64) Denver Broncos (from Rams): Nik Bonitto, LB (Oklahoma) (signed)

Round 3

65) Jacksonville Jaguars: Luke Fortner, C (Kentucky)
66) Minnesota Vikings (from Lions): Brian Asamoah, LB (Oklahoma)
67) New York Giants: Joshua Ezeudu, OG (North Carolina)
68) Cleveland Browns (from Texans): Martin Emerson, CB (Mississippi State) (signed)
69) Tennessee Titans (from Jets): Nicholas Petit-Frere, OT (Ohio State) (signed)
70) Jacksonville Jaguars (from Panthers): Chad Muma, LB (Wyoming)
71) Chicago Bears: Velus Jones, WR (Tennessee) (signed)
72) Seattle Seahawks: Abraham Lucas, OT (Washington State)
73) Indianapolis Colts (from Commanders): Jelani Woods, TE (Virginia) (signed)
74) Atlanta Falcons: Desmond Ridder, QB (Cincinnati)
75) Houston Texans (from Broncos): Christian Harris, LB (Alabama)
76) Baltimore Ravens: Travis Jones, NT (Connecticut) (signed)
77) Indianapolis Colts (from Vikings): Bernhard Raimann, OT (Central Michigan) (signed)
78) Cleveland Browns: Alex Wright, DE (UAB) (signed)
79) Los Angeles Chargers: JT Woods, S (Baylor)
80) Denver Broncos (from Saints through Texans): Greg Dulcich, TE (UCLA) (signed)
81) New York Giants (from Dolphins): Cordale Flott, CB (LSU) (signed)
82) Atlanta Falcons (from Colts): DeAngelo Malone, LB (Western Kentucky)
83) Philadelphia Eagles: Nakobe Dean, LB (Georgia) (signed)
84) Pittsburgh Steelers: DeMarvin Leal, DE (Texas A&M) (signed)
85) New England Patriots: Marcus Jones, CB (Houston) (signed)
86) Tennessee Titans (from Raiders): Malik Willis, QB (Liberty)
87) Arizona Cardinals: Cameron Thomas, DE (San Diego State)
88) Dallas Cowboys: Jalen Tolbert, WR (South Alabama) (signed)
89) Buffalo Bills: Terrel Bernard, LB (Baylor) (signed)
90) Las Vegas Raiders (from Titans): Dylan Parham, OG (Memphis) (signed)
91) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Rachaad White, RB (Arizona State) (signed)
92) Green Bay Packers: Sean Rhyan, OL (UCLA) (signed)
93) San Francisco 49ers: Tyrion Davis-Price, RB (LSU)
94) Carolina Panthers (from Chiefs through Patriots): Matt Corral, QB (Ole Miss) (signed)
95) Cincinnati Bengals: Zachary Carter, DL (Florida) (signed)
96) Indianapolis Colts (from Rams through Broncos): Nick Cross, S (Maryland) (signed)
97) Detroit Lions: Kerby Joseph, S (Illinois) (signed)
98) Washington Commanders (from Saints): Brian Robinson, RB (Alabama) (signed)
99) Cleveland Browns: David Bell, WR (Purdue) (signed)
100) Arizona Cardinals (from Ravens): Myjai Sanders, DE (Cincinnati) (signed)
101) New York Jets (from Saints through Eagles and Titans): Jeremy Ruckert, TE (Ohio State)
102) Miami Dolphins (from 49ers): Channing Tindall, LB (Georgia) (signed)
103) Kansas City Chiefs: Leo Chenal, LB (Wisconsin)
104) Los Angeles Rams: Logan Bruss, OG (Wisconsin)
105) San Francisco 49ers: Danny Gray, WR (SMU)

Round 4

106) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (from Jaguars): Cade Otton, TE (Washington) (signed)
107) Houston Texans (from Lions through Browns): Dameon Pierce, RB (Florida) (signed)
108) Cleveland Browns (from Texans): Perrion Winfrey, DT (Oklahoma) (signed)
109) Seattle Seahawks (from Jets): Coby Bryant, CB (Cincinnati)
110) Baltimore Ravens (from Giants): Daniel Faalele, OT (Minnesota)
111) New York Jets (from Panthers): Max Mitchell, OT (Louisiana) (signed)
112) New York Giants (from Bears): Daniel Bellinger, TE (San Diego State) (signed)
113) Washington Commanders: Percy Butler, S (Louisiana)
114) New York Giants (from Falcons): Dane Belton, S (Iowa)
115) Denver Broncos: Damarri Mathis, CB (Pittsburgh)
116) Denver Broncos (from Seahawks): Eyioma Uwazurike, DT (Iowa State)
117) New York Jets (from Vikings): Michael Clemons, DE (Texas A&M) (signed)
118) Minnesota Vikings (from Browns): Akayleb Evans, CB (Missouri) (signed)
119) Baltimore Ravens: Jayln Armour-Davis, CB (Alabama)
120) Carolina Panthers (from Commanders through Saints): Brandon Smith, LB (Penn State)
121) New England Patriots (from Dolphins through Chiefs): Jackie Jones, CB (Arizona State)
122) Las Vegas Raiders (from Vikings through Colts): Zamir White, RB (Georgia) (signed)
123) Los Angeles Chargers: Isaiah Spiller, RB (Texas A&M) (signed)
124) Cleveland Browns (from Eagles through Texans): Cade York, K (LSU)
125) Miami Dolphins (from Steelers): Erik Ezukanma, WR (Texas Tech) (signed)
126) Las Vegas Raiders (from Raiders through Vikings): Neil Farrell, DT (LSU) (signed)
127) New England Patriots: Pierre Strong, Jr., RB (South Dakota State)
128) Baltimore Ravens (from Cardinals): Charlie Kolar, TE (Iowa State)
129) Dallas Cowboys: Jake Ferguson, TE (Wisconsin) (signed)
130) Baltimore Ravens (from Bills): Jordan Stout, P (Penn State)
131) Tennessee Titans: Hassan Haskins, RB (Michigan) (signed)
132) Green Bay Packers: Romeo Doubs, WR (Nevada)
133) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jake Camarda, P (Georgia)
134) San Francisco 49ers: Spencer Burford, OL (UTSA)
135) Kansas City Chiefs: Joshua Williams, CB (Fayetteville State) (signed)
136) Cincinnati Bengals: Cordell Volson, OL (North Dakota State) (signed)
137) New England Patriots (from Rams through Texans and Panthers): Bailey Zappe, QB (Western Kentucky)
138) Pittsburgh Steelers: Calvin Austin III, WR (Memphis
139) Baltimore Ravens: Isaiah Likely, TE (Coastal Carolina)
140) Green Bay Packers: Zach Tom, OT (Wake Forest)
141) Baltimore Ravens: Damarion Williams, CB (Houston) (signed)
142) Los Angeles Rams: Decobie Durant, CB (South Carolina State)
143) Tennessee Titans: Chigoziem Oknonkwo, TE (Maryland)

Round 5

144) Washington Commanders (from Panthers through Jaguars): Sam Howell, QB (North Carolina) (signed)
145) Kansas City Chiefs (from Seahawks): Darian Kinnard, OG (Kentucky) (signed)
146) New York Giants (from Jets): Micah McFadden, LB (Indiana) (signed)
147) New York Giants: D.J. Davidson, DT (Arizona State) (signed)
148) Buffalo Bills (from Texans through Bears): Khalil Shakir, WR (Boise State) (signed)
149) Washington Commanders (from Panthers): Cole Turner, TE (Nevada) (signed)
150) Houston Texans (from Bears): Thomas Booker, DT (Stanford) (signed)
151) Atlanta Falcons: Tyler Allgeier, RB (BYU) (signed)
152) Denver Broncos: Delarrin Turner-Yell, S (Oklahoma) (signed)
153) Seattle Seahawks: Tariq Woolen, CB (Texas-San Antonio) (signed)
154) Jacksonville Jaguars (from Commanders through Eagles): Snoop Conner, RB (Ole Miss) (signed)
155) Dallas Cowboys (from Browns): Matt Waletzko, OT (North Dakota)
156) Cleveland Browns (from Vikings through Ravens): Jerome Ford, RB (Cincinnati) (signed)
157) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (from Vikings through Jaguars): Zyon McCollum, CB (Sam Houston State) (signed)
158) Seattle Seahawks (from Dolphins through Patriots and Chiefs): Tyreke Smith, DE (Ohio State) (signed)
159) Indianapolis Colts: Eric Johnson, DT (Missouri State) (signed)
160) Los Angeles Chargers: Otito Ogbonnia, DT (UCLA) (signed)
161) New Orleans Saints: D’Marco Jackson, LB (Appalachian State) (signed)
162) Denver Broncos (from Eagles through Texans): Montrell Washington, WR (Samford) (signed)
163) Tennessee Titans (from Steelers through Jets): Kyle Phillips, WR (UCLA) (signed)
164) Los Angeles Rams (from Patriots through Raiders): Kyren Williams, RB (Notre Dame)
165) Minnesota Vikings (from Raiders): Esezi Otomewo, DE (Minnesota) (signed)
166) Cincinnati Bengals (from Cardinals through Eagles, Texans and Bears): Tycen Anderson, S (Toledo) (signed)
167) Dallas Cowboys: Daron Bland, CB (Fresno State)
168) Chicago Bears (from Bills): Braxton Jones, OT (Southern Utah State) (signed)
169) Minnesota Vikings (from Titans through Raiders): Ty Chandler, RB (North Carolina) (signed)
170) Houston Texans (from Buccaneers through Patriots): Teagan Quitoriano, TE (Oregon State) (signed)
171) Denver Broncos (from Packers): Luke Wattenberg, C (Washington) (signed)
172) San Francisco 49ers: Samuel Womack, CB (Toledo)
173) New York Giants (from Chiefs through Ravens): Marcus McKethan, OG (North Carolina) (signed)
174) Chicago Bears (from Bengals): Dominique Robinson, OLB (Miami University) (signed)
175) Las Vegas Raiders (from Rams): Matthew Butler, DT (Tennessee) (signed)
176) Dallas Cowboys: Damone Clark, LB (LSU)
177) Detroit Lions: James Mitchell, TE (Virginia Tech) (signed)
178) Dallas Cowboys: John Ridgeway, DT (Arkansas) (signed)
179) Green Bay Packers (from Colts through Broncos): Kingsley Enagbare, DL (South Carolina) (signed)

Round 6

180) Buffalo Bills (from Jaguars through Buccaneers): Matt Araiza, P (San Diego State) (signed)
181) Philadelphia Eagles (from Lions): Kyron Johnson, LB (Kansas) (signed)
182) New York Giants: Darrian Beavers, LB (Cincinnati) (signed)
183) New England Patriots (from Texans): Kevin Harris, RB (South Carolina) (signed)
184) Minnesota Vikings (from Jets): Vederian Lowe, OT (Illinois) (signed)
185) Buffalo Bills (from Panthers): Christian Benford, CB (Villanova) (signed)
186) Chicago Bears: Zach Thomas, OG (San Diego State) (signed)
187) San Francisco 49ers (from Broncos): Nick Zakelj, OT (Fordham)
188) Detroit Lions (from Seahawks through Jaguars and Eagles): Malcolm Rodriguez, LB (Oklahoma State) (signed)
189) Carolina Panthers (from Commanders): Amare Barno, Edge (Virginia Tech) (signed)
190) Atlanta Falcons: Justin Shaffer, OG (Georgia) (signed)
191) Minnesota Vikings (from Ravens through Chiefs): Jalen Nailor, WR (Michigan State) (signed)
192) Indianapolis Colts (from Vikings): Andrew Ogletree, TE (Youngstown State) (signed)
193) Dallas Cowboys (from Browns): Devin Harper, LB (Oklahoma State)
194) New Orleans Saints (from Colts through Eagles): Jordan Jackson, DT (Air Force) (signed)
195) Los Angeles Chargers: Jamaree Salyer, OG (Georgia) (signed)
–) New Orleans Saints: Selection forfeited
196) Baltimore Ravens (from Dolphins): Tyler Badie, RB (Missouri) (signed)
197) Jacksonville Jaguars (from Eagles): Gregory Junior, CB (Ouachita Baptist) (signed)
198) Philadelphia Eagles (from Steelers through Jaguars): Grant Calcaterra, TE (SMU) (signed)
199) Carolina Panthers (from Raiders): Cade Mays, OG (Tennessee) (signed)
200) New England Patriots: Sam Roberts, DT (Northwest Missouri State) (signed)
201) Arizona Cardinals: Keaontay Ingram, RB (USC) (signed)
202) Cleveland Browns (from Cowboys): Mike Woods, WR (Oklahoma) (signed)
203) Chicago Bears (from Bills): Trestan Ebner, RB (Baylor) (signed)
204) Tennessee Titans: Theo Jackson, CB (Tennessee) (signed)
205) Houston Texans (from Packers): Austin Deculus, OL (LSU) (signed)
206) Denver Broncos (from Buccaneers through Jets and Eagles): Matt Henningsen, DT (Wisconsin)
207) Chicago Bears (from 49ers through Jets and Texans): Doug Kramer, OG (Illinois) (signed)
208) Pittsburgh Steelers (from Chiefs): Connor Heyward, TE (Michigan State) (signed)
209) Buffalo Bills (from Bengals): Luke Tenuta, OT (Virginia Tech) (signed)
210) New England Patriots (from Rams): Chasen Hines, C (LSU) (signed)
211) Los Angeles Rams: Quentin Lake, S (UCLA)
212) Los Angeles Rams: Derion Kendrick, CB (Georgia)
213) Atlanta Falcons: John FitzPatrick, TE (Georgia) (signed)
214) Los Angeles Chargers: Ja’Sir Taylor, CB (Wake Forest) (signed)
215) Arizona Cardinals: Lecitus Smith, OG (Virginia Tech) (signed)
216) Indianapolis Colts: Curtis Brooks, DT (Cincinnati) (signed)
217) Detroit Lions: James Houston, Edge (Jackson State) (signed)
218) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (from Rams): Ko Kieft, TE (Minnesota) (signed)
219) Tennessee Titans: Chance Campbell, LB (Ole Miss) (signed)
220) San Francisco 49ers: Kalia Davis, DT (Central Florida)
221) San Francisco 49ers: Tariq Castro-Fields, CB (Penn State)

Round 7

222) Jacksonville Jaguars: Montaric Brown, CB (Arkansas) (signed)
223) Cleveland Browns (from Lions): Isaiah Thomas, DE (Oklahoma) (signed)
224) Miami Dolphins (from Texans through Patriots and Ravens): Cameron Goode, DE (California) (signed)
225) Pittsburgh Steelers (from Jets): Mark Robinson, LB (Ole Miss) (signed)
226) Chicago Bears (from Giants through Bengals): Ja’Tyre Carter, C (Southern) (signed)
227) Minnesota Vikings (from Raiders through Panthers): Nick Muse, TE (South Carolina) (signed)
228) Green Bay Packers (from Bears through Texans): Tariq Carpenter, LB (Georgia Tech) (signed)
229) Seattle Seahawks: Bo Melton, WR (Rutgers) (signed)
230) Washington Commanders: Chris Paul, OG (Tulsa) (signed)
231) Buffalo Bills (from Falcons): Baylon Spector, LB (Clemson) (signed)
232) Denver Broncos: Faion Hicks, CB (Wisconsin)
233) Seattle Seahawks (from Vikings through Chiefs): Dareke Young, WR (Lenoir-Rhyne) (signed)
234) Green Bay Packers (from Browns through Lions and Broncos): Jonathan Ford, DT (Miami) (signed)
235) Los Angeles Rams (from Ravens through Jaguars and Buccaneers): Daniel Hardy, OLB (Montana State)
236) Los Angeles Chargers: Deane Leonard, CB (Ole Miss) (signed)
237) Detroit Lions (from Saints through Eagles): Chase Lucas, CB (Arizona State) (signed)
238) Las Vegas Raiders (from Dolphins through Rams): Thayer Munford, OT (Ohio State) (signed)
239) Indianapolis Colts: Rodney Thomas II, S (Yale) (signed)
240) Washington Commanders (from Eagles through Colts): Christian Holmes, CB (Oklahoma State) (signed)
241) Pittsburgh Steelers: Chris Oladokun, QB (South Dakota State) (signed)
242) Carolina Panthers (from Patriots through Dolphins): Kalon Barnes, CB (Baylor)
243) Kansas City Chiefs (from Raiders through Patriots): Jaylen Watson, CB (Washington State) (signed)
244) Arizona Cardinals: Christian Matthew, CB (Valdosta State) (signed)
245) New England Patriots (from Cowboys through Texans): Andrew Stueber, OG (Michigan) (signed)
246) Cleveland Browns (from Bills): Dawson Deaton, C (Texas Tech) (signed)
247) Miami Dolphins (from Titans): Skylar Thompson, QB (Kansas State) (signed)
248) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Andre Anthony, DE (LSU) (signed)
249) Green Bay Packers: Rasheed Walker, OT (Penn State) (signed)
250) Las Vegas Raiders (from Vikings through 49ers and Broncos): Brittain Brown, RB (UCLA) (signed)
251) Kansas City Chiefs: Isaih Pacheco, RB (Rutgers) (signed)
252) Cincinnati Bengals: Jeffrey Gunter, DE (Coastal Carolina) (signed)
253) Los Angeles Rams: Russ Yeast, S (Kansas State)
254) Chicago Bears (from Chargers): Elijah Hicks, S (California) (signed)
255) Chicago Bears (from Chargers): Trenton Gill, P (NC State) (signed)
256) Arizona Cardinals: Jesse Luketa, OLB (Penn State) (signed)
257) Arizona Cardinals: Marquis Hayes, OG (Oklahoma) (signed)
258) Green Bay Packers: Samori Toure, WR (Nebraska) (signed)
259) Kansas City Chiefs: Nazeeh Johnson, S (Marshall) (signed)
260) Los Angeles Chargers: Zander Horvath, FB (Purdue) (signed)
261) Los Angeles Rams (from Buccaneers): AJ Arcuri, OT (Michigan State)
262) San Francisco 49ers: Brock Purdy, QB (Iowa State)

Minor NFL Transactions: 5/20/22

Here are the day’s minor moves:

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Las Vegas Raiders

Seattle Seahawks

Minor NFL Transactions: 5/18/22

Here are Wednesday’s minor moves:

Cleveland Browns

Green Bay Packers

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

New Orleans Saints

Washington Commanders

  • Waived (failed physical): T Drew Himmelman

2022 NFL General Manager Search Tracker

Along with the head coaches being fired, a few NFL teams are looking for new general managers. Listed below are the GM candidates that have been linked to each of the teams with vacancies, along with their current status.

If and when other teams decide to make GM changes, they’ll be added to this list. Here is the current breakdown:

Updated 5-24-22 (9:03pm CT)

Chicago Bears

Las Vegas Raiders

Minnesota Vikings

New York Giants

Pittsburgh Steelers

Browns Submit Offer To TE David Njoku

David Njoku finds himself in an interesting position. The Browns hit the former first-round pick with the franchise tag, despite the veteran tight end’s history of inconsistent production. Njoku now has an offer to consider, but he is also set to play with a three-time Pro Bowl quarterback this season.

This year’s tight end franchise tag came in at $10.9MM, but the Browns’ offer is believed to be beyond $13MM annually, according to ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler (ESPN+ link). Considering Njoku’s production history, landing top-five money at his position would be quite the coup. But the guarantee structure is not yet known.

[RELATED: Browns Confident They Will Extend Njoku]

The Browns have been discussing a deal with Njoku’s camp for months, and the five-year veteran said last year he wanted to reach a long-term agreement to stay in Cleveland. This would be a turnaround development for Njoku, who sought a trade at multiple points in 2020. He compiled just 213 receiving yards and two touchdowns that year, when the Browns gave Austin Hooper a $10.5MM-per-year deal. Hooper is now out of the picture, having been cut in March.

Four tight ends — George Kittle, Travis Kelce, Dallas Goedert and Mark Andrews — earn more than $14MM per year. No one else at this position is signed to a contract worth $13MM-plus. Njoku, who has one season with more than 500 receiving yards (2018), would not seem to have a case to join that top tier. But it is clear the Browns value the 2017 first-round pick, who caught 36 passes for 475 yards and four touchdowns last season. He joined Mike Gesicki and Dalton Schultz in receiving the tag, and GM Andrew Berry was with the team when it selected Njoku out of Miami five years ago.

Njoku, 25, has a chance to post career-best numbers with Deshaun Watson at the controls. That said, it is unknown how much of this season Watson will play. That stands to affect Njoku, who would go into a critical year should he opt to play on the tag to push for a bigger payday. The Browns have just one other pass catcher (Amari Cooper) signed to a notable veteran contract and hold the NFL’s most cap space, at more than $27MM. Cleveland has until July 15 to extend Njoku.

Minor NFL Transactions: 5/17/22

Here are today’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Buffalo Bills

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

Denver Broncos

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

New Orleans Saints

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Minor NFL Transactions: 5/16/22

Here are Monday’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Cleveland Browns

  • Waived: CB Junior Faulk

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Jacksonville Jaguars

Las Vegas Raiders

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

  • Signed: LS Ross Reiter
  • Waived: DB Devin Hafford, QB/WR D’Eriq King

Philadelphia Eagles

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

  • Claimed (from Broncos): T Drew Himmelman
  • Signed: CB Nijuel Hill, LB Bryce Notree
  • Waived: G Zack Bailey, LB Jordan Kunaszyk

NFL Officials To Meet With Deshaun Watson

There will be an important step in the ongoing NFL investigation into Deshaun Watson in the coming days. CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson reports (on Twitter) that league officials will meet with him in Texas this week. 

The news comes not long after the civil suits the quarterback is still facing were amended to include counts of negligence and gross negligence. While it remains to be seen what effect doing so will have on the overall outcome of Watson’s upcoming legal proceedings, it was seen as a victory for the plaintiffs with respect to discovery and a wider range of potential punishments.

The NFL investigation remains, of course, separate from the case, which has on two occasions resulted in no criminal charges being filed. The question of whether or not the 26-year-old violated the league’s Personal Conduct Policy remains unanswered, and this sit-down represents the next step in the investigation. A suspension is still a possibility at this point, though it is widely believed Watson will not land on the Commissioner’s Exempt List.

A league spokesperson said, “We will decline comment as the review is active and ongoing” (Twitter link via NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport). While this is a significant step towards a final disciplinary decision being made, the league still has months between now and the beginning of the season to arrive at that decision. Any trial proceedings resulting from the civil cases, meanwhile, will not take place between August 1 of this year and March 1 of 2023, to avoid overlap with the NFL season.

Minor NFL Transactions: 5/15/22

We will keep track of today’s minor moves right here:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Carolina Panthers

Cleveland Browns

  • Signed: QB Felix Harper

Jacksonville Jaguars

Las Vegas Raiders

New Orleans Saints

NFL Investigation Does Not Substantiate Hue Jackson’s Claims That Browns Incentivized Tanking

The investigation into former Browns head coach Hue Jackson‘s allegations that Cleveland incentivized tanking during Jackson’s time as HC has concluded. In a statement released by the league, it was announced that the investigation — which was conducted by former U.S. Attorney and SEC Chair Mary Jo White, along with a team of lawyers from the Debevoise law firm — could not substantiate any of Jackson’s claims.

According to the statement, the investigation saw full cooperation from the Browns, including owner Jimmy Haslam and current and former members of the organization. Jackson himself originally agreed to meet with investigators but ultimately declined to do so.

Jackson, who has also claimed that the Browns set him up for failure by pitting him against an analytics-driven front office, accused the team of paying bonus money to him, current GM Andrew Berry, current chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta, and former executive VP Sashi Brown to tank during the 2016-17 seasons.

We were paid for it,” Jackson said in February. “You’re going to see it as losing, but the way the team was built there was no chance to win at a high level. My record that year [2016] was 1-15. There was a four-year plan that was crafted, and I have documentation that any coach would cringe if he saw it, because it talked things that had nothing to do with winning. Aggregate rankings, being the youngest team, having so many draft picks — none of those things lead to winning.”

After 2016’s 1-15 campaign that Jackson referenced, the Browns finished 0-16 the following year and started the 2018 season 2-5-1 before Jackson was fired. Under interim HC Gregg Williams, Cleveland finished 2018 on a 5-3 run, which the team was quick to point out when Jackson first levied his accusations.

So while Haslam is still dealing with the PR backlash of the Deshaun Watson acquisition and the uncertainty that continues to swirl around that matter, he has at least avoided the type of fallout that would have ensued had the league substantiated Jackson’s allegations.

Jackson, meanwhile, was recently hired to be Grambling State’s head coach.