Seahawks, Browns On DE Derrick Shelby’s Visit Schedule
Derrick Shelby sought a Falcons release last week in order to get a head start on free agency, and the veteran defensive end is now gauging the market.
Shelby met with the Seahawks on Thursday and plans to head to Cleveland for a Browns summit before free agency begins, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
The Falcons released Shelby late last week after he’d started 14 games last season. However, the 29-year-old edge defender has only registered one sack over the past two seasons (22 games). Pro Football Focus graded Shelby as one of the better run defenders among 4-3 ends, however, and the Seahawks and Browns could be eyeing him as a rotational pass-rushing option.
The Seahawks traded Michael Bennett on Wednesday to deplete their defensive end corps, and the Browns don’t have a surefire starter opposite Myles Garrett. Although, Carl Nassib graded as a better run-stopper than Shelby did in 2017.
Money will be no object for Cleveland, but the seventh-year player — PFR’s No. 12 edge defender free agent — is not expected to command an especially lucrative contract.
Fallout From Michael Bennett Trade
The Seahawks and Eagles hammered out a major trade on Wednesday, as defensive lineman Michael Bennett will now head to Philadelphia in a deal that also included a swap of draft picks. Seattle, for their part, looks to be undergoing an overhaul on the defensive side of the ball: not only have the Seahawks made a change at coordinator, but Cliff Avril, Kam Chancellor, and — most recently — Richard Sherman are among the veterans who could be moving on. Along its defensive line, Seattle is likely betting former draft bust Dion Jordan can play a larger role in 2018, while trading Bennett will also clear cap space that could be used to re-sign defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson.
Here’s more fallout and reaction to today’s deal:
- Philadelphia wasn’t the only club interested in acquiring Bennett, as the Patriots, Browns, Buccaneers, and the previously-reported Falcons also had their eye on the veteran — and versatile — defensive lineman, tweets Dianna Russini of ESPN.com. None of the reported teams should come as complete surprises: the Patriots, for one, have landed Bennett’s brother Martellus on two separate occasions, while the Browns boast the most salary cap space and draft capital in the league. Tampa Bay, meanwhile, also reportedly discussed acquiring edge rusher Robert Quinn before Los Angeles dealt him to Miami.
- The Eagles and Seahawks first struck agreement on Tuesday morning, but a third team jumped in and the deal stalled, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). While it’s unclear what club approached Philadelphia at the last second, it would make sense if it were one of the teams listed above. By Tuesday night, it was apparent Bennett would be dealt to the Eagles, but Philadelphia’s front office was still researching the deal, per Rapoport. While this is purely speculation, it’s possible Seattle was able to wrangle a bit more compensation for Bennett given that unnamed third team’s interest.
- With Bennett now in Philadelphia, the Eagles seem incredibly likely to part ways with fellow defensive lineman Vinny Curry. More than half ($5MM of $9MM) of Curry’s 2018 base salary will become fully guaranteed on March 18, so the Eagles will likely need to make a decision on his fate before that date. While reports initially indicated Curry would be released, the Eagles are — or at least, were — working to retain Curry at a cheaper salary. Philadelphia was projected to be $10MM+ over the cap before acquiring Bennett, so it likely won’t be able to afford a luxury like Curry.
- Speaking of cap space, Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com provided a good breakdown of where the Eagles now stand following the Bennett trade, and also examined several players whom Philadelphia could cut or trade in order to comply with the cap.
Rams To Host CB Sam Shields
Free agent cornerback Sam Shields will meet with the Rams on Tuesday, according to Michael Cohen of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Shields is also planning on visiting with the Browns in the near future, but his meeting with Los Angeles will occur first, per Cohen.
Shields, now 30 years old, suffered the fifth concussion of his career in Green Bay’s 2016 season opener and hasn’t played since. He spent the rest of that 2016 campaign on injured reserve, and the Packers subsequently released him once the season concluded. Shields never drew any interest during the 2017 free agent period, but he’s now back to working on practice fields with the intent of playing in 2018.
It’s unclear if any team will take a chance on Shields, especially given the NFL’s continued focus on head injuries. Shields is confident he will be signed this spring, while at least one personnel executive recently told Cohen that Shields could land a deal if his health checks out. For what it’s worth, Shields says he will end his playing career if he suffers even one more concussion, reports Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal.
Shields, who served as Green Bay’s No. 1 corner for a three-year stretch, agreed to forgo free agency in 2014 by agreeing to a four-year, $39MM deal. A former undrafted free agent, Shields spent seven years with the Packers, starting 62 games and racking up 18 interceptions during that span. He earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2014.
The Rams, for their part, have already acquired a new shutdown defensive back, as their trade for ex-Chiefs cornerback Marcus Peters will become official when the new league year begins on March 14. Trumaine Johnson remains unlikely to re-sign with Los Angeles, and Nickell Robey-Coleman is a pending free agent, leaving the Rams with Kayvon Webster, Troy Hill, and Blake Countess, among others, behind Peters.
Browns To Meet With CB Sam Shields
Former Packers cornerback Sam Shields is looking to resume his NFL career and will start visiting teams this week, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. The Browns will be among his first visits. 
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Shields, 30, suffered the fifth concussion of his career in Green Bay’s 2016 season opener and hasn’t played since. He didn’t draw any interest in the 2017 offseason, but he began training again this winter with the hope of playing once again.
It remains to be seen if a team will gamble on Shields’ health, but we heard last month that the cornerback is confident that he’ll find a job and at least one personnel executive told Michael Cohen of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that Shields could land a contract if he is medically cleared by team doctors.
Adding talent to the secondary is among the Browns’ top priorities this offseason, as PFR’s Sam Robinson recently noted. The Browns have the cap room to add big names such as Trumaine Johnson, Malcolm Butler and Kyle Fuller, but Shields could be an intriguing veteran addition, even if he’s not brought in as a Week 1 starter.
Shields, a former undrafted free agent, spent seven years with the Packers. He started 62 games and tallied up 18 interceptions during that span.
Peter King On Browns, McCarron, Tannehill
Here’s the latest from Peter King of The MMQB:
- The Browns have four picks in the top 35 of this year’s draft, but coach Hue Jackson is still pushing for the team to acquire A.J. McCarron, King hears. If the team does go for McCarron in March, the plan would be for the team to also draft a rookie quarterback to be groomed behind him. The Browns, of course, nearly landed McCarron before last year’s trade deadline before a paperwork snag tanked the deal. One has to wonder if McCarron would be skeptical about the Browns’ level of commitment to him in such a scenario, particularly after seeing how Mike Glennon‘s arrangement worked out with the Bears. Then again, McCarron might be faced with a similar scenario with any team that shows interest him.
- It has been said that the Dolphins are committed to Ryan Tannehill at quarterback, but King is not convinced after speaking with executives at the combine. Miami is look at QBs at No. 11 overall and several people who spoke with King believe they’ll select a signal caller there. Tannehill has missed the last 19 Dolphins games with back-to-back ACL tears.
- After speaking with several GMs, scouts, and coaches, this is King’s rough consensus for the top ten player’s in the draft: Penn State running back Saquon Barkley, USC quarterback Sam Darnold, North Carolina State edge rusher Bradley Chubb, Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen, Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield, UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen, Notre Dame guard Quenton Nelson, Alabama defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick, Ohio State cornerback Denzel Ward, and Georgia linebacker Roquan Smith.
Dorsey's Discussed Crowell Deal
- Demario Davis enjoyed a solid contract year after an offseason trade with the Browns sent him back to the Jets, but he might be set to relocate again. A considerable gap between Davis’ expectations and the Jets’ valuation of him exists, with Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reporting Davis is eyeing a deal that would pay him between $8-$10MM annually. The Jets, conversely, see him as a $3-$4MM-per-year player and are not prepared to pay him what he’s currently targeting. Cimini notes that in a buyer’s market that has several younger non-rush linebacker options, Davis will have to adjust his price point. While the sides were talking earlier this offseason, this kind of gap could route Davis elsewhere. Although the 29-year-old inside linebacker had a strong 2017 season, he hasn’t been especially consistent. And only five 3-4 ILBs earn $8MM per year. Davis signed for $4MM per year with the Browns in 2016.
- Last offseason, Isaiah Crowell hired Drew Rosenhaus to negotiate with the Browns on an extension, but a deal didn’t come to pass. Not much has transpired on a Crowell/Cleveland future in recent months, but John Dorsey said he’s had discussions with Rosenhaus about keeping Crowell in the fold. However, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal notes Hue Jackson didn’t express much optimism about Crowell staying. The Browns are a prime candidate to draft Saquon Barkley, possibly at No. 1 overall, so that would make Crowell somewhat superfluous.
Browns Tried To Trade For Robert Quinn
The Buccaneers weren’t the only team that tried (and failed) to trade for Rams edge rusher Robert Quinn. The Browns also attempted to land Quinn, according to Jenna Laine of ESPN.com, but both Tampa Bay and Cleveland ultimately lost out to the Dolphins, who acquired the veteran defensive end last week.
The Browns own the most draft capital of any club in the NFL, so they likely could have topped any offer made by the Dolphins. Cleveland owns nine picks inside the top 150, while Miami sent fourth- and sixth-round picks to Los Angeles in exchange for Quinn and a sixth-rounder. However, the Browns only offered a fifth-round selection, tweets Laine.
Cleveland, notably, also possesses the most cap space in the league, meaning it could easily fit the remainder of Quinn’s contract on its books. Quinn, 27, is due roughly $24.377MM over the next two seasons.
In 2017, the Browns 17th in adjusted sack rate, 21st in sacks, and 23rd in pressure rate, and while Myles Garrett clearly fills one defensive end spot, Quinn would have joined a Cleveland edge rushing group that also includes Emmanuel Ogbah, Carl Nassib, and Nate Orchard. As he will with the Dolphins (and would’ve with the Buccaneers), Quinn will now shift back to a 4-3 scheme after spending last with the Rams in a 3-4 front.
Browns Open To Saquon Barkley At No. 1
Penn State running back Saquon Barkley is “firmly in the mix” to be selected by the Browns with the first overall pick, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Indeed, Barkley would likely be Cleveland’s choice if the draft occurred today, per Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (Twitter link).
Barkley is fresh off dominating the NFL’s scouting combine, as he ranked in the 96th percentile or greater among halfbacks in the 40-yard dash, bench press, and vertical jump. He also topped 1,000 yards rushing in each of his three seasons with the Nittany Lions, and reached the end zone 43 times over his final two collegiate years.
Selecting Barkley at No. 1 overall would mean the Browns would likely select a quarterback at No. 4, and Cleveland reportedly likes Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield “a lot,” per Garafolo. Of course, if the Browns don’t select Mayfield — or another signal-caller –with the first overall selection, there’s no guarantee their preferred option would be available three picks later. However, given the small three-space gap in their first-round slots, the Browns would be assured of landing one of Mayfield, Josh Rosen, Sam Darnold, or Josh Allen at No. 4.
As Rapoport notes, a running back has not been drafted first overall since the Bengals took Ki-Jana Carter — like Barkley, a Penn State alum — in 1995. Running back has become something of a devalued position, especially contractually, but Barkley would be entitled to a $8.2MM annual salary if selected at No. 1. That figure would immediately place Barkley among the top-three highest-paid running backs in the NFL.
Browns HC: We Want Josh Gordon For A "Long Time"
In a departure from comments made last offseason, Browns coach Hue Jackson says that he wants wide receiver Josh Gordon to be in Cleveland for a “long time.”
Gordon is an exclusive rights free agent, meaning that he’ll be back with the Browns on an inexpensive one-year deal. It’s not clear whether the Browns have discussed a multi-year extension with Gordon, but Jackson would be a proponent of a new contract.
Browns Open To Trading No. 1 Pick
The Browns, once again, own the top pick in the draft. Many expect Cleveland to stand pat and draft one of this year’s top quarterbacks, but new GM John Dorsey says the team has not ruled out trading the pick, as Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com tweets. 
“Give me a call and see what’s up,” Dorsey said with regards to the top selection.
Of course, the Browns have misfired in each of the last two drafts by trading down instead of selecting franchise quarterbacks themselves. In 2016, they sent the No. 2 overall pick in the draft to the Eagles, who selected Carson Wentz. Last year, they gave up the No. 12 pick to the Texans, clearing the way for Houston to select Deshaun Watson. The trades yielded considerable draft capital for Cleveland – including this year’s No. 4 overall pick, courtesy of Houston – but those deals may haunt the Browns for years to come.
The Browns will likely ask for a king’s ransom if they are to move out of the top spot, but it’s conceivable that Dorsey is not completely sold on Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen, or Josh Allen, all of whom would be candidates for the No. 1 pick. If Dorsey is higher on a QB such as Baker Mayfield, he’ll likely be able to select him at either No. 4 or a pick further down the line while filling one of the team’s many holes elsewhere. The Browns could also punt on all of this year’s top prospects if they are able to snag an established veteran such as Kirk Cousins in free agency.
Browns fans may not want to hear that Dorsey is willing to trade down from No. 1, but it would be foolish for Dorsey to not at least listen to offers.