Browns VP: We’re Open To Josh Gordon Return
We have some conflicting word out of Cleveland regarding Josh Gordon. Last week, it was reported that the Browns will either trade or release Gordon if he is granted reinstatement this year. Publicly, at least, Browns executive vice president Sashi Brown is singing a different tune. 
[RELATED: Josh Gordon Applies For Reinstatement]
“We’re not in position at wide receiver to turn down a guy like Josh if we feel he’s settled himself,” Brown said (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Tony Grossi).
When he’s on the field, Gordon is one of the best wide receivers in the entire NFL. Unfortunately for Cleveland, we haven’t seen him out there since the final six weeks of the 2014 season. The league reinstated Gordon last year, but the 25-year-old (26 in April) went to rehab and did not play in 2016. For now, he is banned indefinitely, but he has applied for reinstatement and his camp is hopeful about a return for 2017.
In 2013, Gordon’s last full season, he had 87 catches, a league-leading 1,646 yards, and nine touchdowns in 14 games. That’s the kind of production Cleveland could use at wide receiver, particularly after losing Terrelle Pryor in free agency. For now, the Browns have free agent pickup Kenny Britt, rising sophomores Corey Coleman and Ricardo Louis, and six others under contract at wide receiver.
Browns Re-Sign Jamie Meder
- The Browns have re-signed defensive tackle Jamie Meder, the club announced today. Meder was an exclusive rights free agent, meaning he had no opportunity to leave Cleveland once the club tendered him an offer. The 25-year-old was a starter for the first time in his career in 2016, as he started 15 contests and racked up 48 tackles and one sack. Pro Football Focus wasn’t a fan of Meder’s work, however, grading him as just the No. 105 interior defender among 127 qualifiers.
Browns Host Gareon Conley
- Ohio State cornerback Gareon Conley will take a predraft visit with the Browns on Friday, per Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal. Although Conley attended college in-state, he won’t work out at Cleveland’s local prospect day, meaning he will count against the Browns’ 30-prospect limit. Conley is a projected first-round pick, and could be in the mix for the Browns at pick No. 12.
Browns Won’t Trade No. 1 Pick For QB
The Browns will not trade the No. 1 overall selection for a quarterback, head coach Hue Jackson tells Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. While the Browns are expected to “make another run” at Patriots signal-caller Jimmy Garoppolo, any potential deal will have to be consummated without the first overall pick involved.
[RELATED: Browns Haven’t Discussed Colin Kaepernick]
“Until we have the guy that we feel comfortable with that will be the face of our franchise, and play QB the way we want them top play, we’re going to keep searching,” said Jackson. “There’s the draft that’s coming up. There’s trade opportunities hopefully. We’ll exhaust every opportunity.’’
Garoppolo is likely the only quarterback for whom Cleveland would have considered parting with the No. 1 pick, but as Jackson says, the club will continue to hunt for another passer this offseason. In addition to Garoppolo, the Browns could consider trading for Bengals backup A.J. McCarron, whom Jackson coached in Cincinnati. While the Bengals aren’t necessarily shopping McCarron, they’re likely open to proposals, and Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com hinted earlier this week that Cincinnati could consider a trade of McCarron and pick No. 9 for pick Nos. 12 and 33.
The Browns could also target a quarterback in the draft, either at selection No. 1 or No. 12, and they’ve been linked to a list of options that includes Mitch Trubisky, Deshaun Watson, DeShone Kizer, and Patrick Mahomes.
Browns To Take Another Run At Jimmy Garoppolo?
Savage is only atop the Texans’ depth chart now because of the horrid play of Brock Osweiler, whom they traded to the Browns earlier this month. The move was “a shocker” for McNair, who “couldn’t believe” general manager Rick Smith was able to dump Osweiler’s contract on the Browns (albeit at the cost of a second-round pick). Osweiler is just a year into the four-year pact the Texans handed him as a free agent last offseason. Featuring high cap hits and $37MM in guarantees, the deal quickly became an albatross, and McNair has a theory on why things went so poorly for Osweiler in Houston (via McClain). “(O’Brien) didn’t have a chance to get to know him. That’s one of the problems with free agency,” lamented McNair. “In the draft, we’re able to bring them to Houston, sit down with them, watch them interviewed by a bunch of coaches, and you have time to check them out. You can’t talk to them before they become a free agent. You can’t work them out. We didn’t know him that well.”
- “An NFL source familiar with all the principals involved” speculates the Browns will “make another run” at Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo at the league meetings, ESPN.com’s Tony Grossi writes. Business tends to go down at the league meetings with everyone in the same place and we could see trade talks get a jumpstart this week in Phoenix. If a trade does happen, however, the same source says it might not occur until closer to the draft on April 27.
Browns Notes: Trubisky, Osweiler, Pryor
The Browns will host North Carolina quarterback Mitch Trubisky for a private workout Friday, reports Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com. Trubisky’s workout won’t count as one of the Browns’ 30 allotted pre-draft visits because it’s a pro day for prospects who are either from the area (Trubisky’s an Ohio native) or attended college there. While the Browns have two first-round picks (Nos. 1 and 12), they’re only considering using the second selection on Trubisky, relays Cabot. They’re primed to spend the top choice on Texas A&M edge defender Myles Garrett.
- At least one of the Browns’ current QBs, Brock Osweiler, isn’t a lock to stay on their roster. “Brock could be on our team or we could trade him,” owner Jimmy Haslam told Nate Ulrich of Ohio.com. “There’s lots of options out there.” Haslam’s noncommittal attitude toward Osweiler isn’t remotely surprising, as the expectation is the Browns will cut or trade him. It’s fair to say Cleveland only acquired Osweiler (and his $16MM base salary) from Houston this month as a way to pick up a second-round pick. Haslam noted that the Browns are “excited” about that selection.
- More information on the Browns, who “made a very aggressive” and “long-term” offer to re-sign wide receiver Terrelle Pryor before he inked a one-year, $6MM deal with Washington, Haslam confirmed (via Ulrich). The Browns were reportedly willing to give Pryor $8.5MM per year.
Latest On Colin Kaepernick
While it’s possible that free agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick‘s polarizing views have contributed to his inability to find a job this offseason, at least one team wouldn’t let his politics stand in the way of a deal. Browns owner Jimmy Haslam revealed Monday that he’d be open to adding Kaepernick, reports Nate Ulrich of Ohio.com.
“If football people came and recommended [him], we’d go with the football people,” said Haslam, though he noted that he and his co-owner and wife, Dee, “have not been involved in any conversations regarding Colin Kaepernick.”
Head coach Hue Jackson has chased Kaepernick in the past, and the Browns’ current veteran QB – Brock Osweiler – might not be on their roster next season. However, Jackson echoed Haslam’s sentiment in telling the NFL Network on Monday that the Browns haven’t had “any discussion” regarding Kaepernick.
Like the Browns, the Broncos also gone after Kaepernick before, but they no longer view him as a fit for their offense (and they like the QBs they have on hand), according to general manager John Elway (Twitter link via Tom Pelissero of USA Today). The potentially backup-needy Lions don’t think Kaepernick is a match for their system, either, per GM Bob Quinn (Twitter link via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press).
Having drawn no interest from teams in need of a No. 1 passer, it’s clear the 29-year-old Kaepernick, a longtime starter, will have to settle for a reserve role – if anyone signs him. One team that could be in the market for a backup is Seattle, whose No. 2 option, Trevone Boykin, is facing two misdemeanor charges stemming from a weekend arrest.
The 23-year-old Boykin could easily continue with the Seahawks, but it’s worth noting that Kaepernick has a high opinion of head coach Pete Carroll, a source told Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. The two are quite familiar with each other, of course, as Kaepernick spent the first six years of his career with NFC West rival San Francisco and engaged in some memorable tilts with the Seahawks when he was a quality starter and the 49ers were contenders. It’s unclear, though, if Carroll is bullish on Kaepernick or if he’d be willing to ditch Boykin. What is clear, according to Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times, is that the Seahawks don’t want to invest much money in a backup for Russell Wilson. That could rule out any chance of a Kaepernick-Seahawks union.
Browns Sign OT Matt McCants
- The Browns have announced the signing of offensive tackle Matt McCants. The five-year vet is already a journeyman at the age of 25, as he’s now on his fifth team. McCants set career highs in games (13) and starts (three) in 2013 with the Raiders, but he hasn’t started in any of his 15 appearances since.
Latest On Brock Osweiler, Browns
While the Browns are likely to move on from newly acquired quarterback Brock Osweiler before he ever plays a down in Cleveland, head coach Hue Jackson indicated Sunday the 26-year-old will have a chance to compete for the team’s No. 1 job, tweets Jeff Schudel of The News-Herald. It’s difficult to take Jackson seriously in this case, however, and Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com senses that he’s uninterested in trying to transform the former Bronco and Texan into a viable starter. As such, the Browns remain on track to jettison Osweiler via trade or release, Cabot writes.
Browns Eyeing Utah O-Lineman
- There were a number of offensive line coaches at Utah’s Pro Day, including staff from the Jets, Browns, Jaguars, and Lions. Offensive tackle Sam Tevi was impressive during the workouts, and the big man has drawn particular interest from both the Saints and Patriots.
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