Browns Notes: Osweiler, Jefferson
The Browns are reportedly trying to trade Brock Osweiler after acquiring him (and more specifically, his contract) from the Texans yesterday, and while Cleveland might be willing to pay Osweiler’s deal down to $8MM or so, some executives don’t think the Browns will find a taker. “Get the [expletive] out of here,” said one personnel man, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. Another evaluator: “No one will do their new trade … but I don’t blame them for trying.”
- Free agent safety Tony Jefferson reportedly turned down a better proposal from the Browns before signing with the Ravens, and Jefferson himself says Cleveland $1.5MM more than Baltimore, per Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (Twitter link), Jefferson claims the Jets offered him the same overage, although Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News disputes that assertion (Twitter link).
Browns Wanted To Keep Terrelle Pryor
Wide receiver Terrelle Pryor signed with the Redskins on Friday, which came after he insisted throughout last season that he wanted to remain with the Browns. However, after Washington offered Pryor a one-year deal worth up to $8MM, he never went back to the Browns to see if they’d match it, reports Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com. The Browns likely would have done so had he given them the opportunity, per Cabot.
Fresh off a breakout 2016, his first full season as a receiver after converting from the quarterback position, the expectation was that Pryor would sign a far richer deal. He had designs on a pact worth up to $15MM per annum, according to Cabot, who adds that Cleveland’s original proposal was worth $8MM to $9MM annually. While Cabot doesn’t specify the length of the offer, Tony Grossi of ESPN.com writes that the Browns were willing to give Pryor $17MM in guarantees. One could surmise, then, that the Browns had a four-year offer on the table. After all, they handed fellow free agent wideout Kenny Britt $17MM in guarantees Thursday on a four-year, $32.5MM accord.
Going forward, a quality showing for Pryor in 2017 – his age-28 season – should lead to a much better payday by next March. Despite having to catch passes from five less-than-ideal quarterback options last year, Pryor hauled in 77 receptions for 1,004 yards and four touchdowns. The Redskins, meanwhile, have an established signal-caller, Kirk Cousins, who’s coming off a near-5,000-yard season. Cousins is among the NFL’s most prolific gunslingers, and if the Redskins don’t trade the franchise-tagged passer by next season, Pryor shouldn’t have difficulty producing in Washington’s offense and making his case for a multiyear deal in the process.
No Jimmy Garoppolo Trade Imminent
In the middle of the night, a post appeared on Jimmy Garoppolo‘s Instagram which prompted mass speculation online that the Patriots quarterback had been traded. 
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“So grateful for my time in New England. Peace out Boston ✌🏻,” the caption read, below a smiling photo of the 25-year-old.
Apparently, there’s nothing to it. Garoppolo has no knowledge of any trade and his agent says the post was the result of a hack, a source close to the quarterback tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter links). In fact, at this point, there have been no trade talks between the Browns and Patriots, Rapoport adds (Twitter link). Of course, a Garoppolo pursuit has been rumored for some time now for the Browns and they are still mulling the idea, even after acquiring Brock Osweiler.
Typically, we don’t write about bogus rumors here at Pro Football Rumors, but this Instagram post send the football world into a frenzy and woke up a number of reporters around 5:30am ET, so it needed to be debunked. Browns fans and Patriots fans can take a deep breath, for now: Garoppolo has not been traded (as of this writing) and he remains on the Pats’ depth chart as Tom Brady‘s backup.
Extra Points: Raiders, Holmes, Whitworth
The latest from around the NFL:
- The Raiders are still in the mix for wide receiver Andre Holmes, Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com tweets. At least five other teams have shown interest in signing him this week.
- Left tackle Andrew Whitworth left the Bengals for the Rams because of his desire for long-term security, agent Pat Dye tells Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com. Whitworth’s deal with L.A. is a three-year, $36MM pact with $15MM guaranteed. The Bengals refused to go past one-year at $10MM.
- Jairus Byrd will be designated a June 1 cut, Nick Underhill of The Advocate tweets. The Saints informed Byrd of his release earlier this week.
- The Bengals are not interested in offensive lineman D.J. Fluker, Jim Owczarski of The Enquirer tweets.
- Kevin Zeitler says his best contract offers came from the Saints and Browns, Alex Marvez of SiriusXM tweets. His agent recommended Cleveland based on the money offered and that’s the direction he ultimately went in.
Browns Still Eyeing Jimmy Garoppolo
Just because the Browns currently have two polarizing members of the 2012 quarterback class doesn’t mean they’re giving up a pursuit of Jimmy Garoppolo. Cleveland still intends to try and trade for the Patriots’ backup quarterback, league sources tell Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com.
Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets this remains the Browns’ intention (Twitter link), but Rapoport believes the Patriots want to hang onto Garoppolo. A league source told Cabot a package fronted only by Cleveland’s No. 12 pick this year won’t be enough to land Garoppolo. The Patriots are believed to want the Browns’ No. 1 overall pick, which Cleveland is expected to use to take Myles Garrett.
The Browns, though, have now acquired an extra second-round pick thanks to their unorthodox Brock Osweiler acquisition. Cleveland now has two first-rounders and two second-rounders this year and three second-round selections in 2018. A combination of those would be enough ammunition to get the Patriots to consider trading Garoppolo, in all likelihood.
As for Osweiler, the Browns are shopping him across the league after acquiring the sixth-year quarterback and a second-round pick.
The new-era front office is trying to trade Osweiler and a late-round pick for a 2018 third-round selection, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com tweets. In making these trade inquiries, the Browns are informing teams they are prepared to eat at least half of Osweiler’s $16MM price tag in order to facilitate this trade, per La Canfora (on Twitter). The reporter adds the Browns are “fixated” on a third-round pick, leading many to believe they’re ready to deal a collection of picks to the Patriots for Garoppolo (Twitter link).
The Patriots initially pulled Garoppolo off the trade market but may want either two first-rounders or a first and a second for their longtime backup. Cabot reiterates the Patriots are likely to want a first this year and the Browns’ 2018 first-round selection. New England’s asking price may stem from wanting to make sure it has a backup plan in case a soon-to-be 40-year-old Tom Brady begins to slip despite not showing much evidence of that during his age-39 season.
While expected to take a quarterback in the draft, Cleveland is believed to be ready to release Robert Griffin III.
AFC Rumors: Browns, Jets, Chiefs, Dolphins
NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport has provided some more insight on the Browns‘ quarterback plans following their acquisition of Brock Osweiler earlier today (Twitter link). The reporter notes that the team is likely to release Robert Griffin III, and they’ll continue shopping Osweiler as they search for a proper deal. Rapoport also expects the organization to select a signal-caller in the draft.
Let’s take a look at some other AFC notes on a busy day around the NFL…
- Rams free agent running back Benny Cunningham is set to visit the Jets, reports Jason La Canfora (via Twitter). The former undrafted free agent has spent his entire four-year career with the Rams. He finished last season with 101 rushing yards and 16 receptions while serving primarily as a third-down back.
- Linebacker Gerald Hodges will visit the Chiefs, according to ProFootballTalk (via Twitter). The former 49ers defender had a career-season in 2016, finishing with 83 tackles, three sacks, two interceptions, and one forced fumble.
- The Dolphins have restructured defensive end Nick Williams‘ contract, reports Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald (via Twitter). The 27-year-old played in 10 games between the Chiefs and Dolphins last season, finishing with eight tackles.
- Lawrence Timmons will be visiting the Dolphins on Friday, tweets ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter. The veteran linebacker spent his entire 10-year career with the Steelers, and he finished last season with 114 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and two interceptions.
Browns Claim C Marcus Martin Off Waivers
The Browns claimed center Marcus Martin off waivers, according to longtime NFL reporter Howard Balzer (on Twitter). Martin was waived by the 49ers on Wednesday.
The former third-round pick started 24 of his 26 games over three seasons with the Niners. Martin only played in five games last season before being placed on the injured reserve. In college, the lineman started 33 starts over three seasons with USC.
Martin will now serve as a backup for center J.C. Tretter. Tretter signed with Cleveland today on a lucrative three-year deal. After missing more than half of the 2016 season, Tretter will need a quality understudy. The Browns may feel they have that with Martin.
Latest On Browns, Brock Osweiler
Now owning Brock Osweiler‘s rights after arguably today’s strangest move, the Browns now must proceed with this uniquely acquired asset. There are conflicting reports as to how they will do that.
One option would be to outright cut him, and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (on Twitter) the Browns plan to do that — unless they can find a trade partner. And, interestingly, Adam Schefter reports teams have already reached out to the Browns about Osweiler (Twitter link).
One Browns source told ESPN.com’s Josina Anderson (Twitter link) the focus of this deal was the second-round pick and not Osweiler, who finds himself in limbo after an underwhelming season. A year ago, the Texans made Osweiler a rich man by signing him to a four-year, $72MM deal. Now, it’s uncertain where he’ll play after being traded following an underwhelming season.
The Browns only have Robert Griffin III and Cody Kessler on their roster but have been linked to likely first-round quarterbacks Mitch Trubisky and Deshaun Watson, along with Jimmy Garoppolo in a trade. The team, though, has put itself in an unusual position by acquiring Osweiler and his $16MM financial attachment. Cleveland’s brass hasn’t made a final decision on RG3 just yet.
Texans Trade Brock Osweiler To Browns
Whoa! The Texans are trading quarterback Brock Osweiler and a 2018 second-round pick to the Browns in order to move his $16MM salary off the books, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (Facebook link). The deal will also see the Browns’ fourth-round pick go to Houston and the Texans’ sixth-round choice to go Cleveland. The Texans have made the deal official, announcing its completion via press release.
This type of deal rarely goes down in the NFL and is more of an NBA or MLB type of transaction. In this swap, the Browns are absorbing an albatross of a deal in order to acquire significant draft compensation. The wheeling and dealing might not stop here: Cleveland is not committed to keeping Osweiler and is likely to try to trade him, sources tell Schefter.
On the other hand, maybe they’ll keep him. The Browns are expected to move on from Robert Griffin III and the Brock Osweiler acquisition should clear the way for that, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
The move clears out tons of cap space for the Texans who are expected to use that money towards signing Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, Schefter writes. The deal saves $10MM in cap space for the Texans and $16MM in cash.
The Texans signed Osweiler to a four-year, $72MM roughly one year ago today with the hope that he would be their QB of the future. That, obviously, did not work out. Osweiler’s deal calls for him to earn $16MM guaranteed this year. After that, he has $18MM and $17MM non-guaranteed salaries in 2018 and 2019.
The Browns came into this week with upwards of $100MM to spend and Schefter writes that they would have struggled to spend all of it. Still, this seems like a very strange way to utilize that space. The only way this trade would make real sense for the Browns, in my view, is if they already have a final leg of the trade set up in which they deal Osweiler for something else of value. As of this writing, the Browns are spending $16MM in cash to acquire a second-round choice and that is not good business.
Browns To Sign Kevin Zeitler
The Browns will give Kevin Zeitler a five-year, $60MM deal that includes $31.5MM guaranteed, a source tells ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). The deal will make Zeitler the highest-paid guard in NFL history.
Nearly every NFL front office was reportedly interested in Zeiter, who was the top free agent guard on the market and ranked as PFR’s No. 5 overall free agent. In addition to the Browns, the Colts, Jaguars, and Saints were all linked to Zeitler, who hasn’t missed a start in either of the past two seasons. With his new pact, Zeitler will eke past Kelechi Osemele as the league’s highest-paid interior offensive lineman.
Zeitler, 26, has made 71 starts at right guard since Cincinnati selected him in the first round of the 2012 draft, and in 2016 Zeitler graded as the league’s seventh-best guard, according to Pro Football Focus. Zeitler played the 2016 campaign under the terms of his fifth-year option which paid him $8.07MM, a figure that should have represented the bare minimum in contract negotiations.
Cleveland has revamped its offensive line today, adding Zeitler to play right guard, J.C. Tretter to man center, and extending left guard Joel Bitonio on a long-term deal. The Browns’ front five ranked near the bottom of the league in both adjusted line yards and adjusted sack rate, so the club clearly needed to address the position group.
For Cincinnati, the loss of Zeitler represents the second major offensive line defection of the day, as left tackle Andrew Whitworth signed with the Rams this morning.