Packers, Browns, Bucs, Cowboys Looking For Safeties
The Packers, Browns, Buccaneers, and Cowboys are among the clubs searching for free agent safety help, as Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com writes in a wide analysis of what has been a stagnant safety market.
Safeties who still remain unsigned including starting options such as Eric Reid, Tre Boston, Kenny Vaccaro, Tyvon Branch, and Ron Parker. Mitigating factors could be at play — none of the players listed qualifies as a star, while Reid’s national anthem protests may be limiting his appeal — but it’s still extremely surprising that high-quality players are still available at an important position. Free agent defensive backs have in fact been communicating with one another in an attempt to elucidate the overall lack of interest, per La Canfora.
“We’re barely even getting phone calls, and we’re not the only ones,” an agents tells La Canfora. “You can’t even get (BS) offers. We’re literally getting nothing. I’m not even talking one year, $3 million. Nothing. And it’s not just us.”
The highest-paid free agent safety of 2017 will almost certainly end up being Lamarcus Joyner, whom the Rams will pay $11.287MM under the terms of the franchise tag. While other defensive backs such as Tyrann Mathieu, Kurt Coleman, an Marcus Gilchrist have also signed, Mathieu’s $7MM salary (on a one-year deal) is the most expensive figure in the non-franchise-tender department.
Green Bay and Tampa Bay are both losing free agent safeties in Morgan Burnett and T.J. Ward, respectively, so their interest in adding more defensive backs isn’t a total surprise. Dallas, too, could look to add more depth, especially if it moves Byron Jones to cornerback, but Cleveland has already added Damarious Randall (via trade) to play alongside Jabrill Peppers in the back end.
Sam Darnold To Browns Looking Increasingly Likely
- We already heard that top QB prospect Sam Darnold looked very good at USC’s recent pro day, and per Albert Breer of SI.com, Darnold himself said he is “trying to go to Cleveland” (meaning, of course, that he wants to be the No. 1 overall selection). Indeed, one AFC executive who attended the pro day told Breer, “Everyone out there today saw the Browns’ franchise quarterback.” Breer adds that post-combine buzz has pointed towards a Darnold-Cleveland marriage.
Terrelle Pryor Hoped To Return To Browns
Terrelle Pryor had hoped to return to the Browns, prior to agreeing to a deal with the Jets, but the Browns offer didn’t come close to the Jets’ in terms of money, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. The former Ohio State and Raiders quarterback is coming off a disappointing season with the Redskins, in which he was ranked 109th out of 166 wide receiver candidates, per Pro Football Focus.
It’s not shocking that Pryor, 28, wished to return to Cleveland under Hue Jackson. The Browns converted him into a wide receiver full-time prior to the 2015 season and Pryor caught 77 passes for 1,007 yards receiving and four touchdowns in 2016.
Luckily for Pryor, one of the quarterbacks behind his superb 2016 campaign, Josh McCown, is back on a one-year deal with the Jets. The Browns have already added Jarvis Landry to their receiving corps this offseason but are still looking for upgrades at receiver, and were also reportedly interested in Allen Hurns before he signed with the Cowboys.
- Browns owner Jimmy Haslam was among the team’s contingent to take in Josh Allen‘s pro day Friday, per Kabot. The Browns hold the first and fourth overall picks in the upcoming draft. The Browns were one of 13 teams in attendance to watch the Wyoming quarterback throw but their group of eight officials was the largest of any team, according to Andrew Groover of NFL Network (on Twitter).
- The Browns, Bills and Jets, along with the Giants, have held private workouts for Josh Rosen, the former UCLA quarterback said Friday on the Rich Eisen Show (via Calvin Watkins of Newsday)
Browns To Sign CB E.J. Gaines
The Browns have reached an agreement with free agent cornerback E.J. Gaines, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (Twitter link). It’s a one-year deal worth $4MM, while an additional $1MM is available via incentives, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com first reported Cleveland was nearing a deal with Gaines.
After ranking 27th in pass defense DVOA in 2017, Cleveland has overhauled its secondary this offseason. Not only did the Browns trade veteran Jason McCourty to the Patriots in exchange for pennies, but they’ve also signed free agents T.J. Carrie and Terrance Mitchell to multi-year deals. With Gaines in tow, Cleveland will now have a bit of depth in a defensive backfield that also includes Jamar Taylor and Briean Boddy-Calhoun.
Heading into free agency, PFR ranked Gaines as the fourth-best cornerback on the market and the No. 18 free agent overall. While other corners such as Trumaine Johnson, Malcolm Butler, and Aaron Colvin quickly flew off the board, Gaines’ market took longer to develop. He wasn’t exactly wanting for interest, though, as the Jets, Cardinals, and Texans all expressed some level of intrigue in Gaines.
Gaines, 26, appeared in 11 games for the Bills a season ago after being traded as part of the Sammy Watkins deal. During that time, Gaines ranked 12th in Pro Football Focus’ cornerback grades and ninth in Football Outsiders’ success rate. A former sixth-round pick, Gaines has started 37 total games and posted three interceptions during his four-year NFL career.
With Gaines off the market, the free agent cornerback class is now comprised of options such as Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Bashaud Breeland, Delvin Breaux, Dontae Johnson, and Jeremy Lane.
[RELATED: Browns Depth Chart]
Rams, Browns Interested In Junior Galette
The Rams and Browns both have interest in Redskins free agent edge rusher Junior Galette, according to Chick Hernandez of CSN Washington (Twitter link). While Los Angeles and Cleveland are indeed eyeing Galette, neither club has made an official offer, reports John Keim of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
Galette, of course, was once a double-digit sack force with the Saints from 2013-14, but injuries and off-field issues have turned him into more a rotational player. After suffering torn Achilles tendons in both 2015 and 2016, Galette finally got in a full season with the Redskins in 2017, and played extremely well on 37% of the club’s defensive snaps.
While he only posted three sacks, Galette managed 25 pressures and graded as the league’s No. 30 edge defender among 106 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus. Reports last week indicated Washington was working to retain Galette, but Keim says the Redskins expect another team to make a better offer. Washington has already lost one free agent pass rusher this offseason, as Trent Murphy inked a three-year deal with Buffalo.
The Rams make sense as a Galette destination not only because they need edge rushing help (especially after trading Robert Quinn), but because Los Angeles coaches Sean McVay and Joe Barry each worked with Galette in Washington. If signed by the Rams, Galette would likely be in for a major role, as the club’s current crop of outside linebackers — Matt Longacre, Samson Ebukam, and Carlos Thompson — don’t offer a ton of experience.
The Browns, too, have connections to Galette, as front office consultant Scot McCloughan brought Galette to Washington as the Redskins’ general manager, while defensive coordinator Gregg Williams held the same title in New Orleans during the early portion of Galette’s career. Cleveland ranked 17th in adjusted sack rate a season ago, and its only free agent addition on the edge (thus far) is former Bengal Chris Smith, although the Browns did attempt to trade for Quinn.
13 Teams Watched Johnny Manziel At USD Pro Day
Former NFL quarterback Johnny Manziel threw passes at Thursday’s University of San Diego pro day, and 14 NFL clubs were on hand to watch him perform, reports Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
The Bears, Browns, Chargers, Giants, Chiefs, Jets, Patriots, Raiders, Titans, Lions, Jaguars, Panthers and Buccaneers, were all present at today’s workout, per Williams. Of course, those clubs weren’t necessarily in town just to see Manziel, as USD had its own prospects on the field.
Manziel was thought to be interested in working out a deal to play in the Canadian Football League during the 2018 campaign, and was in fact offered a contract by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in January. However, Manziel and his team reportedly weren’t pleased with the terms of the pact, and he’s now scheduled to play in the upcoming Spring League. The former first-round pick is reportedly amenable to a minimum salary or a practice squad slot.
Manziel is still only 25 years old, but he hasn’t played in the NFL since the 2015 campaign. In eight career starts for the Browns, the former Heisman trophy winner completed 57% of his passes for 1,675 yards, seven touchdowns, and seven interceptions.
Browns Meet With QB Drew Stanton
The Browns have met with free agent quarterback Drew Stanton, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (Twitter link). While Stanton didn’t actually venture to Cleveland, he did “run into” the Browns’ decision-makers on the West Coast, so the club reported the conversation as a visit, tweets Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal.
Cleveland has already added one quarterback to their roster this offseason, as the club acquired Tyrod Taylor from the Bills in exchange for a third-round pick. Cody Kessler and Kevin Hogan comprise the remainder of the Browns’ signal-caller depth chart, and general manager John Dorsey & Co. are fully expected to select a quarterback with one of their two top-five draft picks.
Stanton, 33, hasn’t generated any other known interest on the open market, and that’s perhaps unsurprising given his recent track record. In five starts with the Cardinals in 2017, Stanton completed just 49.7% of his passes for 894 yards, six touchdowns, and five interceptions. Among the 40 quarterbacks with at least 150 attempts last season, Stanton finished 37th in passer rating and 38th in adjusted net yards per attempt.
While the top tier of free agent quarterbacks came off the board fairly quickly, there are still a number of backup types available. Aside from Stanton, the list of No. 2 passers on the market includes Blaine Gabbert, Derek Anderson, Brock Osweiler, Matt Moore, and Geno Smith.
Browns/Seahawks C.J. Smith Trade Cancelled
C.J. Smith won’t be going to the Seahawks after all. Seattle acquired the cornerback in a trade earlier this week, but that swap has been nullified, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). 
Smith failed a physical upon arriving in Seattle, tweets Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal. The trade saw only a conditional seventh-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft going to Cleveland, so it’s not a major loss for the Browns.
Smith, 25 in May, spent most of the year on the Browns’ practice squad. Towards the end of the year, he earned a promotion to the varsity squad and was on the roster for the final three regular season games.
The Seahawks were in need of some depth at cornerback after releasing Richard Sherman and Jeremy Lane, prompting the Smith trade. The cancelled deal may push the Seahawks to re-sign Byron Maxwell, who is still a free agent.
Johnny Manziel Works Out For NFL Teams
Johnny Manziel showed his stuff in a Thursday morning audition at the University of San Diego, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). There were a dozen NFL teams in attendance and multiple people on hand tell Schefter that Manziel looked solid, despite some light rain. 
Manziel is set to participate in the Spring League, which begins on April 7. His overall goal, of course, is to land an NFL contract and he is reportedly willing to accept a practice squad deal with no guaranteed money to prove that he belongs in the league.
The former Browns quarterback and Texas A&M star says that he has his substance abuse problems under control and claims that he has now rededicated himself to football. He has not played in the NFL since the 2015 season, so he has a lot to prove.
In eight career starts for Cleveland, Manziel completed just 57% of his passes for 1,675 yards with a 1:1 touchdown/interception ratio.
Jets, Browns To Meet With E.J. Gaines
The Jets and Browns have plans to meet with free agent cornerback E.J. Gaines, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets. He’ll visit the Jets on Thursday and the Browns on Friday.
Gaines met with the Cardinals last week, but left Arizona without a deal. Prior to that, he drew some interest from the Texans, but they seem pretty set at cornerback after adding Aaron Colvin and re-signing Johnathan Joseph.
Gaines, 26, appeared in 11 games for the Bills last year after coming over in the Sammy Watkins trade. He finished out as Pro Football Focus‘ No. 12 ranked cornerback and placed ninth in Football Outsiders’ success rate. Before the start of free agency, we ranked Gaines as the fourth-best corner on the market and the No. 18 free agent overall. It’s somewhat surprising to see him still on the board at this stage.
The Bills have not ruled out re-signing Gaines, but the addition of Vontae Davis probably means they’ll be moving on.