Extra Points: NFL, NFLPA, Browns, QBs
The NFL has sent out a memo to teams regarding tampering and trades. Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com obtained that memo, noting that it specifically relates to “granting players permission to shop themselves to a new team via trade.” Most importantly, the NFL noted that permission must be obtained from the player’s current team before talks with another organization can take place.
“Under no circumstances should a new club rely upon any written or oral representation by a player or his agent that he has received permission to enter into discussions for a trade for contract,” the memo states. “Nor should a new club rely upon a letter from the employer club to the agent or player granting such permission since employer clubs typically reserve the right to withdraw permission at any time, and may have already done so. Permission must be received directly from the employer club.”
As Florio notes, it’s uncertain if this is just a yearly reminder or if it “arises from a specific incident that has occurred in recent weeks.” If that’s the case, Florio expects the respective team to be disciplined.
Here’s the latest from around the league on the eve of the tampering window.
- The NFL Players Association has announced (via Twitter) that veteran offensive lineman Eric Winston has been re-elected as union president. This will be the 34-year-old’s third two-year term. Florio points out that Winston may not even play next year, but he was eligible to run in 2018 since he played last season. If Winston doesn’t play in 2019, he won’t be eligible to run in 2020. Florio observes that this is an important note, as the current labor deal is likely to expire after 2020. In that case, there may be a new president in place when the next work stoppage arises.
- Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller talked to one league executive who believes the Browns recent moves indicate that general manager John Dorsey is in control of the organization instead of head coach Hue Jackson. “The Browns trading for Tyrod [Taylor] and not signing [A.J.] McCarron tells you who’s running the show,” the executive said (via Twitter).
- As part of a recent series, former NFL agent (and current CBS Sports writer) Joel Corry analyzed what contracts top free agents should pursue. For quarterbacks, Corry focuses on a five-year, $150MM contract ($100MM guaranteed) for Kirk Cousins, a three-year, $85MM deal ($60MM guaranteed) for Drew Brees, and three-year, $50MM deal ($34MM guaranteed) for McCarron.
More Details On Danny Shelton Trade
- Ben Volin of the Boston Globe tweets that the newly-acquired Danny Shelton will count for $2.03MM against the Patriots‘ cap in 2018 (which matches his base salary). As we learned yesterday, New England will have to decide whether to exercise Shelton’s fifth-year option, which has a projected value of roughly $7MM, by early May. The Browns, meanwhile, will be saddled with about $1.7MM in dead money as a result of the trade, and Mike Reiss of ESPN.com says the 2018 fifth-round pick the Patriots received in the Shelton swap is expected to be Cleveland’s lower pick in the round, No. 159 overall. Reiss adds that New England, which shipped a 2019 third-rounder to the Browns, could recoup a third-round pick in next year’s draft through the compensatory system.
Browns Considering RB Saquon Barkley With First Pick?
Following the Browns’ assortment of moves late last week, Bleacher Report’s Mike Freeman believes the organization has made it clear who they’ll select with the top-overall pick in the upcoming draft. After having added quarterback Tyrod Taylor, team executives and coaches believe the Browns are now eyeing Penn State running back Saquon Barkley with the first-overall pick.
According to Freeman, much of this sentiment is attributed to Taylor, who many believe is “far more talented than he’s give credit for.” Furthermore, since the Browns have the luxury of picking both first and fourth, they could opt for Barkley with the top pick and still take a top-tier quarterback with their second selection. While selecting a running back first overall isn’t considered optimal value, Freeman notes that general manager John Dorsey is an “old-school football man,” meaning he might ignore this modern mindset.
Another team official suggested that the Browns could alternatively shop the first-overall selection and acquire multiple picks. Freeman is also hearing that Cleveland could still select a quarterback with the first pick and then take North Carolina State defensive end Bradley Chubb with their next selection.
With Taylor, Jarvis Landry, and Josh Gordon on the roster, the Browns already look like they’ll have a much-improved offense in 2018. Of course, adding Barkley would only provide the organization with another intriguing weapon. The running back had another standout campaign in 2017, running for 1,271 yards and 18 touchdowns on 217 carries. He also added another 54 receptions for 632 yards and three scores. Currently, the Browns are rostering five running backs, including Duke Johnson, Matt Dayes, Darius Jackson, Kelvin Taylor, and Josh Rounds.
Joe Thomas: Browns’ Moves Won’t Impact Retirement Decision
Browns offensive tackle Joe Thomas previously hinted that he was unsure if he’d continue playing in 2018. While the veteran told ESPN.com’s Pat McManamon that Cleveland’s recent moves were certainly encouraging, he also said that they’d have no impact on his decision to retire or not.
“My decision will be based purely on my health,” Thomas said. “But I’m excited by the moves [general manager] John [Dorsey] made.”
As the writer notes, Thomas previously said that his decision to continue playing would come down to three factors: “Does he still love the game? Can he play at a high level? And is he healthy enough?” After having never missed a start during his first 10 years in the league, Thomas was limited to only nine contests in 2017 after suffering a torn triceps tendon. However, the lineman indicated that it’s injuries to his knee and back that have him considering hanging up his cleats.
The Browns handed Thomas a $3MM raise in November, making him the league’s highest paid offensive lineman in 2018 at a $13.5MM salary. Thomas is due to collect on a $3MM bonus on March 18. His status as the highest-paid lineman is still well deserved, as Pro Football Focus ranked Thomas fourth among 81 offensive tackle candidates.
“I don’t think there’s any real rush at this point,” Thomas previously said about his decision. “Obviously, they want to know before the draft and free agency, so that if they have make different plans if I’m not going to be there, they want to know about it. I told them I’ll make a decision when I’m ready and let them know and give them as much time as I possibly can.”
The Browns were mighty busy last week. On Thomas’ side of the ball, the team added quarterback Tyrod Taylor and wideout Jarvis Landry. With Josh Gordon and a pair of top-five picks, Cleveland could be eyeing their most talented offense in seasons.
Browns Trade DT Danny Shelton To Patriots
Another day, another Browns trade. ESPN’s Field Yates reports (via Twitter) that Cleveland has traded defensive tackle Danny Shelton to the Patriots for a conditional draft pick. ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets that the Browns will receive a 2019 third-round pick from the Patriots, while New England added a 2018 fifth-round pick from Cleveland. The two teams had been discussing the trade for several days, reports TheMMQB’s Albert Breer (via Twitter).
The 2015 first-round pick has spent the past three seasons in Cleveland, starting 45 of his 46 appearances. Following a productive campaign in 2016, Shelton’s numbers took a step back in 2017, as he finished the season with 33 tackles and zero sacks in 14 games. After ranking Shelton favorably during his sophomore season, Pro Football Focus listed him 35th among 122 interior defender candidates following his 2017 performance.
Still, 6-foot-2, 335-pound Shelton will provide the Patriots with a big-body replacement for Alan Branch. The 24-year-old, who is set to earn a base salary of $2.03MM in 2018, will presumably slide into the Patriots starting lineup, displacing either Lawrence Guy or former first-rounder Malcom Brown. New England is also rostering Vincent Valentine and Adam Butler. As ESPN’s Mike Reiss tweets, Shelton has shown the ability to perform in various schemes, and Bill Belichick will surely appreciate the lineman’s versatility. The Patriots will also have to decide whether they want to pick up Shelton’s fifth-year option by early May. As NESN’s Doug Kyed tweets, the project cost for a defensive tackle will be around $7MM.
This is the Browns fourth trade in less than 24 hours. Yesterday, the Browns completed deals for Jarvis Landry, Tyrod Taylor, and Damarious Randall, and they sent out 2017 second-rounder DeShone Kizer in the process. With Shelton now out of the picture, the Browns are rostering four defensive tackles: Larry Ogunjobi, Trevon Coley, Caleb Brantley, and Jeremy Faulk.
Reaction To Browns Trades
In a span of less than two hours on Friday, the Browns completely retooled their offense and added a piece to their secondary by acquiring Jarvis Landry, Tyrod Taylor and Damarious Randall from the Dolphins, Bills and Packers respectively.
The flurry of moves drastically improves the teams offense and provides a veteran stopgap quarterback — assuming no longterm deal is made — that can bridge to the signal-caller the team is presumably going to tab with one of its two first-round picks.
Leaving Cleveland was 2017 second-round pick DeShone Kizer, who was sent to Green Bay in the Randall deal. The teams also agreed to swap fourth- and fifth-round picks in the upcoming draft. For Landry, the Browns only parted with a 2018 fourth-round pick (No. 123) and 2019 seventh-round selection. In the Taylor deal, Cleveland sent one of its third-round picks (No. 65) in exchange for the turnover-averse passer.
These deals can not be officially completed until Wednesday, the first day of the 2018 season.
Here’s more on Cleveland’s busy day:
- The Browns do not have a long-term deal in place for Landry at the moment but both sides are interested, the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson tweets. Jackson also notes (Twitter link) that Landry likes the situation in Cleveland and is excited to work with new offensive coordinator Todd Haley.
- Sticking with Landry, the Ravens, Titans and Jets were all involved in talks for the receiver late this week before the Browns landed him, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler tweets. The Ravens were widely reported as suitors for the dynamic slot receiver, but both the Jets and Titans flew under the radar.
- ESPN’s Pat McManamon believes the trade of Kizer and the acquisition of Taylor emphasizes the Browns believe in one of the quarterbacks in the upcoming draft. He writes the plan is for Taylor to hold the spot in 2018 and let the drafted passer take the role in 2019.
- Several other teams were interested in adding Taylor, including the Cardinals and Broncos, the Buffalo News’ Vic Carucci reports (Twitter link). Both teams were not willing to meet the Browns’ offer of a third-round pick. Kent Somers of AZ Central Sports, however, hears that the Cardinals were not involved in talks for the quarterback (Twitter link).
- Heavily linked with Cleveland due to his ties with head coach Hue Jackson, A.J. McCarron will have to find a new suitor. ESPN’s Adam Schefter (Twitter link) noted the obvious candidates — Arizona, Denver and now Buffalo — as potential landing spots for the former Alabama signal-caller.
Browns Deal Kizer For Damarious Randall
In the deal that sent 2015 first-round cornerback Damarious Randall to the Browns, the Packers received in return quarterback DeShone Kizer, Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network tweets. 
In addition to Randall and Kizer, the teams agreed to swap picks in the fourth and fifth rounds, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets.
A second-round selection in 2017, Kizer started 15 games with Browns as a rookie and did not win a game, posting just 11 touchdowns with a league-leading 22 interceptions. The writing appeared on the wall that the Notre Dame product was not in the Browns’ future plans after the team swung a deal for Tyrod Taylor on Friday. Just moments later, the team was able to find Kizer a new home in the Randall deal.
Boasting prototypical size and a cannon for an arm, Kizer entered the 2017 NFL Draft as a potential franchise signal-caller who could go in the first round. With the move to Green Bay, he will be able to learn the ropes from one of the best in the business in Aaron Rodgers while battling Brett Hundley, who has one year remaining on his rookie deal, for backup duties.
With the deal, the Packers cleared $1.4 MM in cap space. The Browns will have a fifth-year option on the cornerback they will have to declare by May 3, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Tom Silverstein reports (Twitter link).
A first-round selection (No. 30 overall) in 2015, Randall has appeared in 39 games with 30 starts in Green Bay and has made 10 interceptions. In 2017, the cornerback registered four interceptions and returned one for a touchdown in 12 starts.
The trade can be made official as early as Wednesday.
[RELATED: Browns Depth Chart]
Browns Trade For Packers CB Damarious Randall
Before the dust is settled from one deal, the Browns move on to the next. Just minutes after executing a trade for Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor, the team was at it again by striking a deal for Packers cornerback Damarious Randall, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets.
Details of what the Browns were sending back to the Packers were not immediately available. With the deal, the Packers cleared $1.4 MM in cap space. The Browns will have a fifth-year option on the cornerback they will have to declare by May 3, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Tom Silverstein reports (Twitter link).
A first-round selection (No. 30 overall) in 2015, Randall has appeared in 39 games with 30 starts in Green Bay and has made 10 interceptions. In 2017, the cornerback registered four interceptions and returned one for a touchdown in 12 starts.
Browns Trade For Tyrod Taylor
The Browns’ busy day isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. After pulling off a deal for Dolphins wide receiver Jarvis Landry, the team has now struck another blockbuster deal by acquiring Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor for a third-round draft pick (No. 65), ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets. 
With the move, the Browns locked in their veteran quarterback for the 2018 season while maintaining all their first- and second-round selections and without spending big money on a veteran like Case Keenum or A.J. McCarron. The Bills now are in the market for a quarterback and could potentially package the third-round pick it just picked up in an effort to move up to grab one of the top signal-callers in the upcoming draft.
In his third season as the starter in Buffalo, Taylor continued to limit turnovers while being able to make plays down the field and with his legs. He threw for 14 touchdowns with only four interceptions and added 427 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. In Cleveland, Taylor will be outfitted with his most impressive receiver corps in his stint as a starter with Landry, Josh Gordon and Corey Coleman out wide.
The acquisition of Taylor presumably gives the Browns a stopgap under center, allowing the team to use one its first-round picks (No. 1 and 4) to tab a quarterback in the upcoming draft. Taylor is signed through the 2018 season at a cap number of $18 MM — $10 MM of which is guaranteed.
The move of Taylor away from Buffalo shouldn’t come as a shock. The team had refused to commit to the Virginia Tech product and it was reported in February the quarterback refused to take a pay cut after taking one the year before. Due a $6 MM roster bonus at the beginning of the new league year, it only made sense for the Bills to move on.
If the Bills do not attempt to package picks to move up in the draft, the team will enter the 2018 campaign with Nathan Peterman as its starter, barring any m0ves in free agency.
[RELATED: Browns Depth Chart]
Dolphins Trade WR Jarvis Landry To Browns
The Browns have acquired wide receiver Jarvis Landry from the Dolphins, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). Miami will receive a fourth-round pick in 2018 (No. 123) and a seventh-round pick in 2019, the MMQB’s Albert Breer tweets.
The Dolphins used the franchise tag on Landry in February with the sole intent of trading him instead of losing him for nothing. The Dolphins did not want to give Landry a contract that would put him near the top of the wide receiver market, but the Browns apparently do not have reservations about giving him a monster deal.
For the time being, the Browns will assume Landry at the cost of his one-year placeholder, worth nearly $16MM. Presumably, terms of a long-term pact have already been hammered out between the two sides, and that deal should come with an average annual value of no less than $13MM per season. Landry, 25, was rumored to be seeking a $14MM annual salary and $30MM in guarantees during his talks with the ‘Fins.
The Bears and Ravens were also linked to Landry, but the Browns – who count wide receiver amongst their many positional needs this offseason – have stepped up to acquire the dangerous slot target. As of this writing, Landry is the highest-paid player on the roster for 2018.
Over the last four years, Landry has hauled in 400 passes for 4,038 yards and 22 touchdowns for Miami. Landry finished the 2017 season with 987 receiving yards, though his yards per catch average dipped to a career low 8.8 per catch. The Browns still have to figure out their quarterback situation, but they have a lethal 1-2 at wide receiver in Landry and Josh Gordon. Former first round pick Corey Coleman is also in the mix and the Browns are hoping that he can take a step forward with a more talented QB throwing to him.
[RELATED: Browns Depth Chart]