Browns Hire QBs Coach David Lee
- The Browns have agreed to hire former Bills quarterbacks coach David Lee for the same role, tweets Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. Lee, 63, has coached offenses and QBs since the mid-1970s, and most recently had two separate stints with the Buffalo interrupted by a run with the Jets. In Cleveland, he’ll work with Cody Kessler, Kevin Hogan, and — if he’s retained — Robert Griffin III. Previously reported staff changes that included moving tight ends coach Greg Seamon to QBs coach were only in place for the Senior Bowl, adds Cabot (Twitter link).
- Hall wasn’t the only coach hired by the Bills this week, as Buffalo also announced that its hired Bobby Babich as assistant defensive backs coach. Babich, the son of longtime NFL defensive coordinator Bob Babich, will serve under newly-installed DBs coach Gill Byrd. Babich, who spent the 2016 campaign with Florida International, has also spent NFL time with the Browns and Panthers.
Browns Release QB Josh McCown, CB Tramon Williams
We can now add another name to the list of free agent quarterbacks. Mike Garafolo of NFL.com reports (via Twitter) that the Browns have released veteran signal-caller Josh McCown. Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com reports (via Twitter) that the team will also be releasing veteran cornerback Tramon Williams.
McCown, 37, will now be looking to join the eighth team of career, as Garafolo notes that the quarterback is hoping to continue playing next season.
“We appreciate the Browns making this move now so Josh has a chance to catch on with another team,’‘ agent Mike McCartney told Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. “Josh plans to continue his playing career.”
The 14-year veteran was solid this past season in his five games (three starts), completing 54.5-percent of his passes for 1,100 yards, six touchdowns, and six interceptions. McCown was even better in 2015, throwing for 12 touchdowns and only four picks. The move isn’t particularly surprising, as the organization has been connected to a number of quarterbacks via the draft or trade. Releasing the veteran will also erase his nearly $5MM cap hit, leaving the organization with a bit more than $600K in dead cap.
McCown would be a solid choice for teams seeking a veteran backup quarterback. ESPN.com’s Mike Rodak suggests (via Twitter) that the Bills could be a destination, especially if they’re able to get rid of Tyrod Taylor. Cameron Wolfe of The Denver Post even says (via Twitter) the Broncos could be an option if the team opts to sign a “mentor.”
Following eight productive seasons with the Packers, Williams signed a three-year, $21MM contract with the Browns prior to the 2015 season. After starting 15 games during his first year in Cleveland, the 33-year-old only played in 12 games (seven starts) this past season. The veteran finished the campaign with 36 tackles, five passes defended, and one interception – his lowest totals since the 2007 season. Releasing the veteran will save the organization nearly $7MM.
In total, Grossi estimates that the two moves will save the Browns nearly $11.3MM in cap space (Twitter link). Former agent Joel Corry tweets that the Browns will now have around $105MM in cap space this offseason.
Opinion: Garoppolo Is Browns' Best Option
- In his latest mailbag, a reader asks Tony Grossi of ESPN.com why Jimmy Garoppolo has seemingly been anointed as the Browns’ best choice at quarterback. In Grossi’s view, Garoppolo is an instant starter and it’s not clear if anyone in his year’s draft fits the bill. With three years as an NFL backup, the Pats signal caller already knows the NFL routine and the speed of the pro game. The Patriots believe that Tom Brady still has lots of football left in him, so they’re willing to trade Garoppolo this offseason. In addition to the Browns, the 49ers and Bears are said to have him on the radar.
- Justin Gilbert was released by the Steelers on Monday and one former teammate says the former No. 8 overall pick hasn’t put in the necessary work to succeed in the NFL. “If you don’t like football, it doesn’t matter how talented you are, your star will burn out quick,” Browns left tackle Joe Thomas tweeted. Former Cleveland teammates Donte Whitner and Karlos Dansby have made similar comments about Gilbert in the past.
Browns Claim Tyvis Powell
The Browns announced they have claimed defensive back Tyvis Powell off waivers from the Seahawks. Powell, an Ohio native, is entering his second season out of Ohio State. 
The 6’2″, 211 pound athlete joined Seattle as an undrafted free agent last year. After that, Powell spent the entire regular season on the Seahawks’ active roster and made cameos in eight games. He didn’t see a ton of action, but he did notch three special-teams tackles. The Browns saw more film on him during his Ohio State days, when he appeared in 42 games and let the team in interceptions during his final season there.
Powell may or may not stick with the Browns roster, but he now has the distinction of being the first player claimed off of waivers in the 2017 offseason system.
2017 NFL Draft Order Set
With the Super Bowl in the rear view mirror, the offseason is officially underway for all 32 teams. We now have the complete draft order for the entire first round, with one exception which is noted below.
The Patriots, of course, will have the honor of having the last pick. The Falcons, after losing in heartbreaking fashion, will have the penultimate selection in the first round.
Here is the complete order, via ESPN.com’s Field Yates (Twitter links):
1. Browns
2. 49ers
3. Bears
4. Jaguars
5. Titans
6. Jets
7. Chargers
8. Panthers
9. Bengals
10. Bills
11. Saints
12. Browns
13. Cardinals
T-14. Eagles (via the Vikings)
T-14. Colts (Note: The Vikings and Colts have identical records and the same strength of schedule. The tie will be broke by coin flip with the winner getting pick No. 14 and the other team getting the No. 15 pick.)
16. Ravens
17. Redskins
18. Titans
19. Buccaneers
20. Broncos
21. Lions
22. Dolphins
23. Giants
24. Raiders
25. Texans
26. Seahawks
27. Chiefs
28. Cowboys
29. Packers
30. Steelers
31. Falcons
32. Patriots
Cabot: Browns Would Offer No. 12 For Garoppolo
The Patriots ultimately traded linebacker Jamie Collins to the Browns in late October for a third-round pick, but the Pats initially had their sights set much higher. We learned back in December that New England tried to deal Collins to New Orleans for receiver Brandin Cooks, and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com wrote today that the Patriots also tried to trade Collins to the Texans for DeAndre Hopkins. Unsurprisingly, Houston was unwilling to entertain that offer, but New England also attempted to pry Johnathan Joseph from the Texans in exchange for Collins. Houston was more intrigued by that proposal but valued Joseph too highly to pull the trigger.
- More trades: we learned in recent weeks that the team is willing to deal backup Jimmy Garoppolo and that the 49ers, Browns, and Bears could be among the teams with interest. In her latest mailbag, Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer believes the Browns would be willing to part with their No. 12 overall selection as part of a Garoppolo deal if that’s what it takes to land the young signal-caller.
Johnny Manziel Will Volunteer For Drug Tests
It’s going to be extremely hard for any team to trust Johnny Manziel and that’s why the quarterback is taking extra steps to try and repair his image. To show that he is serious this time around, Manziel plans to volunteer for testing under the NFL’s drug policy as a part of his comeback attempt, a source tells Alex Marvez of the Sporting News. 
[RELATED: Manziel Says He’s Sober]
The skeptic’s take on this would be that Manziel is simply volunteering for something that would be required of him anyway. Now, considered a “Stage Two” offender under the league’s drug policy, he would already be subject to random drug testing if signed by an NFL team. It remains to be seen whether Manziel is going to offer himself up to an even more rigorous random testing standard in the style of USADA’s monitoring.
Manziel has started working with quarterback guru George Whitfield Jr. to polish his skills and get back into football shape, Marvez hears. This week, he appeared in Houston to sign autographs but he declined to speak to the press.
Browns Interviewed Jeff Garcia For QBs Coach
The Browns have interviewed Jeff Garcia for their vacant quarterbacks coach position, tweets Tony Grossi of ESPN.com. Cleveland is aiming to replace Pep Hamilton, who served as QBs coach in addition to acting as associate head coach, after he joined the University of Michigan staff. Garcia, 46, enjoyed a long NFL career as a signal-caller that included a stint with the Browns (2004). His only professional coaching experience, however, came with the Montreal Alouettes in 2014 and the Rams in 2015.
Browns Will Try To Acquire Jimmy Garoppolo
The Browns are on track to enter this year’s draft with the first and 12th picks, two places where they could select their next starting quarterback, but their signal-caller of the future might already be in the NFL. The club has real interest in Patriots backup Jimmy Garoppolo and will attempt to swing a trade for the 25-year-old this offseason, reports Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com.
AFC champion New England, which is set under center with the 39-year-old Tom Brady, is reportedly open to moving Garoppolo in the coming months. The Patriots could request at least a first- and fourth-round pick for Garoppolo, whose rookie contract will expire after next season.
For the Browns, acquiring Garoppolo would likely mean parting with the 12th selection, where they were supposedly set to zero in on national championship-winning Clemson QB Deshaun Watson. However, Watson’s decision to skip last week’s Senior Bowl may have hurt his standing with the Browns, who specifically asked him to play.
In addition to surrendering at least one high-round draft choice for Garoppolo, the team that acquires the three-year veteran would have to award him a hefty contract extension, writes Joel Corry of CBS Sports. The likelihood is that Garoppolo would want a deal similar to the four-year, $72MM pact (including $37MM) in guarantees the Texans gave ex-Broncos backup Brock Osweiler in free agency last winter.
While signing Osweiler has blown up in the Texans’ faces, Garoppolo’s limited sample of playing time has been far more impressive than Osweiler’s was with Denver. Garoppolo began the season as New England’s starter because of Brady’s four-game Deflategate ban, and he completed 42 of 59 passes for 496 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions in wins over the Cardinals and Dolphins. The second game was Garoppolo’s last start of the year – and perhaps his Pats tenure – as he suffered a sprained AC joint on a hit from Dolphins linebacker Kiko Alonso and sat out for the remainder of Brady’s suspension.
Even though Garoppolo would likely fetch a quality return via trade this offseason, the Patriots could be inclined to keep him, observes Corry. As great as Brady is, he’ll turn 41 in 2018 – the same year in which Garoppolo is slated to become a free agent – meaning the Patriots could elect to retain the understudy to guard against the elder’s potential decline. That would mean either placing the franchise tag on Garoppolo or handing him a short-term contract worth “top backup money” (as much as $12MM per year, including incentives). It could help the Pats’ cause that their rapport with Garoppolo’s representatives at Yee & Dubin Sports is “excellent,” per Corry.
Cabot: Deshaun Watson's Senior Bowl Decision Could Have Hurt His Status With Browns
Barrows’ sources also suggest that Bears’ assistant special-teams coach Richard Hightower could become the 49ers’ special teams coordinator. Hightower worked under Shanahan in 2014 as an offensive quality control coach for the Browns.
- Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson, one of the top three quarterback prospects in this year’s draft class, will not participate in the Senior Bowl despite the Browns‘ specifically requesting that he do so. Although the Browns were reportedly not planning to use their No. 1 overall selection on Watson, Mary Kat Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer suggests that Watson’s decision not only denied him the chance to change the team’s mind in that regard, it may make it tougher for Cleveland to select him with their No. 12 overall choice.