Browns See Kendricks As 3-Spot LB
- The Browns believe Mychal Kendricks can play all three linebacker positions, per Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal. Lining up the ex-Eagles starter — who is set to sign with the Browns on Monday — in the middle would give him the best chance of starting, with Jamie Collins and Christian Kirksey on the outside. However, Joe Schobert started all 16 Browns games as the middle linebacker and was the top-rated (per Pro Football Focus) Browns ‘backer last season. Kendricks was unhappy with his role with the Eagles, but in Cleveland, the Browns’ recent futility notwithstanding, he’s going to be playing with a deeper group of linebackers. A three-down role won’t be guaranteed. Of course, the previous Browns regime re-signed Collins and extended Kirksey, which could complicate matters a bit as John Dorsey steps into his first full season with the franchise.
- Also in Cleveland, Browns coaches are high on Duke Johnson, despite the team signing Carlos Hyde and drafting Nick Chubb, and Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com envisions an extension coming to fruition this offseason. The Browns have nearly $70MM in cap space, and Johnson would seemingly fit alongside either Hyde or Chubb as a passing-down back. The sides have been discussing a re-up for a bit now.
- Despite being open to Joel Bitonio as Joe Thomas‘ replacement, the Browns kept him at left guard at OTAs this week, per Terry Pluto of cleveland.com. Bitonio would prefer to stay at guard, and the Browns — who drafted Austin Corbett, Bitonio’s left tackle successor at Nevada — in Round 2. Corbett is currently working behind Shon Coleman at left tackle.
Browns Finalizing Mychal Kendricks Deal
This appears to be real this time. Jordan Schultz of Yahoo.com reports (via Twitter) confirms a report from earlier today via Ian Rapoport of NFL.com indicating Mychal Kendricks will sign with the Browns.
Schultz adds the Browns will pay Kendricks up to $3.5MM on his one-year deal, and Rapoport confirms he’ll make at least $3MM in 2018 (Twitter link). Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com reported Kendricks is expected to sign the deal Monday. Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press confirms Schultz’s report (Twitter link).
This process became rather strange when the linebacker emphatically refuted Rapoport’s initial report of him being Cleveland-bound. And Kendricks continued to be evasive Sunday night, hanging up when Tomasson attempted to contact him regarding Schultz’s report of the $3.5MM agreement (Twitter link).
Kendricks visited the Browns, Vikings and Raiders this week but will be the latest high-profile newcomer to make a trip to Cleveland, joining the likes of Tyrod Taylor, Jarvis Landry, Baker Mayfield and others. A seventh-year player, Kendricks will be in line to start alongside Jamie Collins and Christian Kirksey in the Browns’ 4-3 scheme. Even if Kendricks reaches that $3.5MM mark, he’ll be the third-highest-paid Browns linebacker. Collins is on Cleveland’s books at $12.2MM in 2018, with Kirksey slotting in at a $6.2MM cap number.
The 27-year-old ‘backer will add to a talented Browns defensive second level, having graded as Pro Football Focus’ No. 9 linebacker last season. He did this despite being involved in Eagles trade rumors for years. Extended during Chip Kelly‘s one year with personnel control, Kendricks was soon seen as an ill-fitting piece in Jim Schwartz’s system. He served as the third linebacker for Philadelphia in 2016, behind Jordan Hicks and Nigel Bradham, but became a key cog during the Eagles’ Super Bowl campaign after Hicks went down with a season-ending injury.
It will be interesting to see how Gregg Williams deploys Kendricks, since he already has two sub-package ‘backers in Collins and Kirksey. And Pro Bowler Joe Schobert started 16 games for Cleveland last season. Nevertheless, the Browns will attempt to fit the ex-Eagle into the fold, and he figures to play considerably in 2018 — a year that will serve as an audition year for Kendricks as free agency could again loom in March.
Latest On Mychal Kendricks
Mychal Kendricks emphatically said he remains a free agent, despite a report earlier Sunday that tabbed the linebacker as Cleveland-bound. However, this process may still be headed toward that conclusion.
The former Eagles linebacker vehemently denied the report he’s agreed to terms with the Browns, but Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports Kendricks is close to signing with Cleveland. She adds the deal is expected to be done by Monday.
The older brother of Vikings linebacker Eric Kendricks told Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press (Twitter links) he’s still on the market, but if Cabot’s report is accurate, he may not be for long. If the 27-year-old off-ball linebacker does end up with the Browns, his staunch denial he’d agreed to Cleveland’s terms will signify an interesting start to his tenure with the franchise.
Cleveland remains the favorite to land the linebacker, per agent Doug Hendrickson (via Jordan Schultz of Yahoo.com, on Twitter), and NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Derrick Gunn reports Kendricks texted him he’s still negotiating with “a number of teams” (Twitter link).
Kendricks visited the Browns, Vikings and Raiders. Should he join the Browns, he’d be part of one of the better (and more expensive) sets of linebacking contingents in the game considering Jamie Collins and Christian Kirksey are already tied to the Browns long-term. Although the Browns have eight-figure-per-year payments lined up for both Collins and Kirksey, they have by far the most cap space in the league at $69MM-plus. The Vikings hold $17.6MM, and the Raiders sit at barely $2MM.
Browns To Sign LB Mychal Kendricks?
3:37pm: Kendricks denies that he’s signed with the Browns, tweets Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
2:14pm: The Browns have agreed to sign free agent linebacker Mychal Kendricks to a one-year deal, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).
Kendricks, who was released by the Eagles on May 22, drew immediate interest on the open market, and took meetings with both the Raiders and Vikings before visiting the Browns on Friday. After leaving Oakland and Minnesota without a contract, Kendricks has now landed a single-season pact with Cleveland, a deal which will allow the 27-year-old to hit free agency again next spring.
At first glance, the Browns are something of an odd fit for Kendricks, as Cleveland already employs two linebackers — Christian Kirksey and Joe Schobert — who played 100% of the club’s defensive snaps a year ago. Jamie Collins is expected to return from injury as a full-time player, leaving even less potential playing time for Kendricks. A future trade could hypothetically be possible, but both Kirksey and Collins recently signed long-term deals with the Browns, while Schobert is under contract at cheap rates for the next two seasons.
Cleveland still has the most salary cap space in the NFL (Over the Cap listed the Browns with nearly $70MM in reserves prior to the Kendricks signing), so perhaps the club is merely looking to add depth. Oakland and Minnesota are also largely set at linebacker, meaning Kendricks may have experienced limited playing time in either of those destinations, so he likely accepted his largest financial offer. And while Kendricks hasn’t typically been a special teams ace, he did play roughly 30% of the Eagles’ ST snaps in 2016, so he can be a factor there.
Long a subject of trade rumors, Kendricks appeared in 15 games and made 13 starts for Philadelphia in 2017. A season-ending injury to fellow linebacker Jordan Hicks allowed Kendricks to reclaim his spot in the Eagles’ starting lineup, and he subsequently posted 51 tackles and two sacks while grading as the NFL’s No. 9 linebacker, per Pro Football Focus.
QB Tyrod Taylor Discusses Offseason Trade
Quarterback Tyrod Taylor has had nearly three months to reflect on his trade from the Bills to the Browns. While in Buffalo, the veteran’s hold on the starting gig was tenuous, and he discussed that situation with Vic Carucci of The Buffalo News. Specifically, Taylor touched on his relationship with Bills head coach Sean McDermott.
“Whether I was or whether I wasn’t [his guy], I’m not there anymore. That’s his decision moving forward,” he said. “I still feel that I’d done more than enough to stay where I was. But at the end of the day, they made a decision to move forward. And that’s their decision.”
Taylor acknowledged that he expected major changes when the team first hired McDermott in 2017. He was also appreciative that the head coach and general manager Brandon Beane kept him informed about the trade that would eventually send him to Cleveland.
After his breakout 2015 campaign, Taylor proved to be a reliable, turnover-limiting quarterback. While his job seemed relatively secure when he was playing for Rex Ryan, McDermott was never willing to full commit to the former sixth-rounder. Despite being benched one game for Nathan Peterman, Taylor still put up solid numbers in 2017, completing 62.6-percent of his passes for 2,799 yards, 14 touchdowns, and four interceptions. He also compiled 427 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 84 carries.
Still, while his tenure with the Bills ended unceremoniously, Taylor still has fond memories of his time with the team.
“It was special to be a part of a team last year that was able to break a 17-year (playoff) drought,” he said. “We didn’t finish the season the way we wanted to, but at the end of the day, we were able to change the culture. That was something that I set as a goal for the team. The main goal, to win a Super Bowl, wasn’t accomplished, but we were able to do some very special things in the three years that I was there and I have nothing to regret or to hang my head (about) in my time there. There’s nothing to be disappointed about.”
Browns Meet With Mychal Kendricks
The Browns will meet with linebacker Mychal Kendricks on Friday, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. The Browns scheduled a visit with Kendricks earlier this week and his powwow with the team means that his previous meetings with the Vikings and Raiders have not yielded a deal – at least, not yet.
[RELATED: Several Big Name NFL Free Agents Still Available]
Kendricks, ostensibly, is looking for a decent payout on his next deal. He also says that he’s looking for significant playing time.
“I kind of understood the situation,’ Kendricks told Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. “It’s something that I’ve been asking for. … I didn’t ask to be released but I asked for a trade a year prior to this. So, yeah, I’m trying to be in a situation where I can play a big role and really contribute.”
With the Browns, Kendricks would join a linebacker group that is presently headlined by Jamie Collins, Christian Kirksey, Joe Schobert, and James Burgess. The Browns may also represent his best opportunity at a big payday as they are armed with a league-high $71MM in cap space. That’s significantly more money to work with than most teams and nearly $20MM more than the Colts, who have the second-most cap room in the NFL.
Last year, Kendricks had 51 tackles and two sacks in 15 games for the Eagles. He also earned a start in the Eagles’ Super Bowl victory and finished the game with four tackles.
Mychal Kendricks To Visit Browns, Raiders
We learned earlier today that former Eagles linebacker Mychal Kendricks met with the Vikings, and it sounds like he’s got several more visits on his docket. Chris Tomasson of St. Paul Pioneer Press reports (via Twitter) that the free agent will also visit with the Raiders and Browns. The 27-year-old expects to make a decision before the end of the week.
It didn’t take long for Kendricks, who was released by the Eagles last week, to start garnering some suitors. While the former second-rounder’s production has dropped the past two seasons, he’d still be a solid veteran presence for any team. After requesting a trade prior to the 2017 season, Kendricks went on to compile 51 tackles and two sacks in 15 games (13 starts) for Philly. He also earned a start during his team’s Super Bowl victory, finishing the game with four tackles.
While their depth charts are in good shape, the Browns and Raiders could use an additional body at linebacker. Jamie Collins, Joe Schobert, and Christian Kirksey are slotted in as Cleveland’s starting grouping. The latter two were solid in 2017, and Collins is the most accomplished of the three, but Kendricks could compete for a starting gig. Meanwhile, the Raiders have three free agent additions – Tahir Whitehead, Derrick Johnson, and Emmanuel Lamur – penciled in as their starters, so another free agent addition (Kendricks) would provide additional competition at the position.
Tomasson also passes along (via Twitter) that the Vikings haven’t made a definitive offer to Kendricks. When asked about Minnesota’s salary cap constraints, the linebacker acknowledged that he hasn’t “even thought that far.”
Browns May Look To Trade WR
- The Browns may look to trade one of their surplus wide receivers, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer opines. After trading for Jarvis Landry and drafting Antonio Callaway and Damion Ratley, the Browns’ wide receiver room is a bit crowded. Cabot thinks returning players Corey Coleman, Ricardo Louis, and Rashard Higgins all will be available for trade at some point this summer. With Josh Gordon in the mix as well, the Browns simply have too many receivers, and will need to deal or cut at least a couple of them.
Browns Dismiss Several Scouts
- Neil Stratton of InsideTheLeague.com (via Twitter) details a few more changes to the Browns‘ scouting department that were not covered several days ago.
Jabrill Peppers To Move To Strong Safety
- The Browns have made some adjustments to their front office and scouting department, and Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com expects that to continue. She targets the VP of player personnel decision as a possible turnover spot. Alonzo Highsmith, Ken Kovash and Andrew Berry currently reside in that role. John Dorsey just hired Highsmith, and Cabot reports Berry is safe from a change despite being an integral part of the previous regime. The Browns promoted Kovash shortly after the Sashi Brown regime took over in 2016 after he’d previously worked as the franchise’s director of football research.
- Converted cornerback Damarious Randall will be the Browns’ starter at free safety this season, relocating Jabrill Peppers to strong safety, per Cabot. Gregg Williams‘ deep placement of Peppers, sometimes more than 25 yards off the ball, became a constant source of discussion and derision among Browns fans, and Peppers himself may be a bit tired of the jokes. But the Browns will now place him closer to the line of scrimmage, which is similar to the role he had at Michigan.