Browns Owner: No Changes To Leadership
Despite his club only posting one win during the 2016 season, Browns owner Jimmy Haslam confirmed today the Cleveland won’t be making any major changes to its decision-making structure, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. As such, EVP of football operations Sashi Brown, chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta, VP of player personnel Andrew Berry, and head coach Hue Jackson will all stay in their current roles.
[RELATED: Browns Clinch No. 1 Pick]
“I think we have the right people in place,” Haslam said. “I could not be more pleased with the job that Hue and his staff are doing. You wouldn’t think this was a team that was 1-14 that was out there battling. What did we play today? 70-plus minutes of football? So really pleased with Hue and really pleased with our personnel group.
“It took us a while to get there and I’ll take all the responsibility there as I’ve said in the past,” Haslam added. “I think this time last year we said this was going to be multi-year rebuilding. It is. Has this year been harder than we thought it would be? Yes, but I promise you this: We will work hard. I think we’ve got the right people in place, and there’s really three keys going forward…Number one: we’ve got resign our key players. Number two: we’ve got to be appropriately aggressive in free agency. And number three: we’ve got to have a great draft.”
Additionally, while a report earlier today indicated that the Browns coaching staff would like to install a proven talent evaluator in the club’s front office, Haslam denied that he has any intention of hiring such an individual. However, Haslam did say the trifecta of Brown, DePodesta, and Berry will have control of personnel hires, and would be able bring in new voices if they so choose.
Browns Clinch 2017 No. 1 Overall Pick
By losing to the Steelers today, the Browns have officially secured the first overall selection in the 2017 NFL draft.
[RELATED: Cleveland Browns Depth Chart]
Squarely in the midst of a massive rebuild, the Browns will now get their choice of collegiate players next spring, and will have the option of selecting a quarterback if they so choose. The club has been linked to both Mitch Trubisky and DeShone Kizer, but it’s unclear if Cleveland would feel comfortable using the first overall pick on either signal-caller. Meanwhile, the Browns reportedly have placed an “astronomical” grade on Texas A&M pass rusher Myles Garrett, who is fully expected to declare for the draft.
Thanks to a series of trades, Cleveland is well-armed in the 2017 draft, and the club will have an additional first-rounder (via Philadelphia) to pair with the first overall pick. All told, the Browns currently have eight picks secured, including two in each of the first two rounds. A new voice could assist in selecting players at those spots, as a report earlier today indicated that Cleveland may look to hire another executive to its front office.
Coaching/GM Notes, Pt. 2: Arians, Gase, Wolf
Here is Part 2 of our coaching/GM rumors post. Part 1 can be found here.
- Despite his health concerns, Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians expects to return in 2017, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). Schefter tweets that one of Arians’ top assistants, offensive coordinator Harold Goodwin, is expected to interview for a head coaching job with the Rams, Jaguars, and Bills.
- As the 49ers get prepared to search for a new head coach and GM, a ghost from the past has reared its ugly head. According to Jay Glazer of FOX Sports (via Twitter), San Francisco was prepared to hire current Dolphins head coach Adam Gase two years ago. The team informed Gase that he was the choice, but GM Trent Baalke intervened at the last moment and convinced ownership not to hire Gase. The 49ers chose Jim Tomsula instead, and it has been all downhill from there.
- The Packers are not expected to make major coaching changes–although offensive coordinator Edgar Bennett could get head coaching interviews–but GM Ted Thompson could step aside and become a senior scouting adviser, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. One reason, according to Rapoport, is that Director of Football Operations Eliot Wolf is a highly-coveted football mind, and if he’s not promoted soon, Green Bay could lose him.
- The Bengals are not expected to fire Marvin Lewis, who is signed through 2017, according to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports. However, Lewis is not expected to get another one-year extension this offseason, which means that another disappointing campaign in 2017 could spell the end of his tenure as Cincinnati’s head coach.
- Jets head coach Todd Bowles will likely be back for a third season, but offensive coordinator Chan Gailey is expected to be fired, according to Brian Costello of the New York Post.
- The Ravens are expected to part ways with OC Marty Mornhinweg, and assuming they do, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets that Greg Roman is someone to “keep an eye on.”
- Browns coaches have “deep concerns” with the direction of the team’s personnel department and are expected to push owner Jimmy Haslam for changes in that regard, according to La Canfora. While head coach Hue Jackson is not planning to request the removal of top football man Sashi Brown, the coaching staff would like a proven, old-school talent evaluator involved in player selection to provide something of a checks-and-balance system to Brown’s analytics-based approach.
- La Canfora suggests that, if the Lions miss the playoffs this season, GM Bob Quinn could at least think about a coaching change, and his Patriots ties could lead him to consider Josh McDaniels and Matt Patricia, with whom he established strong relationships during his time in New England. While I personally could imagine Quinn’s being interested in McDaniels, I cannot see Patricia as a legitimate head coaching candidate at this point.
Jamie Collins Open To Re-Signing With Browns
Linebacker Jamie Collins‘ stint with the Browns will go down as a rather short-lived one if the in-season trade acquisition departs Cleveland as a free agent during the offseason. Collins did plenty of winning with his previous team, the Patriots, and is now part of the NFL’s worst club, but he’s nonetheless open to re-signing with the Browns.
“(Losing is a deterrent) but at the same time, money comes into play around that time,” Collins told reporters, including Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com, on Friday. “If the money is right then I could stay here. Obviously I’m not going to turn it down.”
Collins then added that he’s “real close” with his Browns teammates, which could help the franchise’s cause if it makes an earnest attempt to re-sign him. There haven’t been any indications that the Browns and Collins have engaged in contract talks since they traded either a compensatory third-round pick in 2017 or a fourth-rounder in 2018 to New England for him on Halloween. The deal came as a shock to NFL observers, but Collins’ production hasn’t really slowed down in its wake.
Since landing in Cleveland, Collins has amassed 43 tackles, two interceptions, a sack and a forced fumble in seven games. He ranks as Pro Football Focus’ 36th-best edge defender among 110 qualifiers this year, which is more good than great, but the 27-year-old still has a reputation as one of the league’s premier linebackers. During his five-year career, Collins has totaled 12.5 sacks, 11 forced fumbles and five picks, and is reportedly hoping to turn his impressive output into a deal worth more per year than the $12.36MM star Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly makes. Whatever the cost, head coach Hue Jackson is hoping Collins re-signs with the Browns.
“I just let him to know that we really want him here and try to have him see the vision of what we’re trying to create,” Jackson told Jim Miller and Pat Kirwan of SiriusXM NFL Radio. “And show him where he’s going to be a huge piece of that. And hopefully ask him to stay here in Cleveland.”
Jackson’s hopes could rest on whether the Browns are able to re-sign their other priority free agent, wide receiver Terrelle Pryor, before the franchise tag deadline in March. If the Browns don’t lock up either Pryor or Collins by then, they might have to decide on which of the pair will hit the open market. Tagging Collins would cost less than Pryor (an estimated $14.754MM versus $15.826MM), but there have been rumblings that Cleveland could simply elect to let the defender walk and receive a 2018 compensatory third-rounder for its trouble. That would essentially offset the move to acquire Collins in the first place.
Browns Scouting Mitch Trubisky
- With the first pick in next year’s draft in their sights, Browns executive vice president Sashi Brown and vice president Andrew Berry attended Friday’s Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas, to scout North Carolina quarterback Mitch Trubisky, writes Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com. Brown and Berry were previously on hand Wednesday at the Houston Bowl to observe Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett, another potential No. 1 overall pick. Trubisky, a junior, hasn’t yet declared for the draft, but the Ohio native is expected to forgo his senior season in favor of the pros. The Browns reportedly “love” the 22-year-old.
Browns Scouting Myles Garrett
- Browns executive vice president Sashi Brown and vice president Andrew Berry were in attendance at Wednesday’s Houston Bowl to scout Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett, tweets ESPN’s Adam Schefter. This isn’t the first connection between Cleveland and Garrett, who could go No. 1 overall in next spring’s draft. The 1-14 Browns will lock up that selection with a loss to the Steelers on Sunday.
Browns Notes: Pryor, RG3, McCown, Erving
Contract-year wide receiver Terrelle Pryor made it clear multiple times earlier this season that he wants to remain with the Browns going forward. However, with free agency looming, Pryor acknowledged Thursday that he could on the cusp of playing his final game with the team. “I love to play for [Hue Jackson] and I enjoy playing for him this year and I’d love to play for him longer,” Pryor told Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com. “But at the end of the day, it’s got to come down to what my agents think is right for me.” Those agents, Drew and Jason Rosenhaus, have tabled extension talks with the Browns until after the season and likely want their client to test the market off a breakout campaign, per Cabot. The 27-year-old Pryor, a former quarterback, leads the Browns in targets (129), receptions (70), yards (913) and touchdowns (four).
More from Cleveland, which is no longer in danger of enduring a winless season as Week 17 nears:
- Quarterback Robert Griffin III cleared concussion protocol after suffering a head injury last week and is on track to start Sunday in Pittsburgh, writes Cabot. Health has been a problem throughout the season for Griffin, who has not revived his career since signing a two-year deal with Cleveland last winter and could end up on the chopping block this offseason. In four appearances this year, Griffin has completed a meager 54.2 of his 107 passes and hasn’t thrown a touchdown. Moving on from the former Redskin would free up $7.5MM in spending space for the Browns, who would incur $1.75MM in dead cap.
- Fellow signal-caller Josh McCown hinted at retirement last week, but the 37-year-old declared Thursday that he aims to return in 2017. “My plan is to play,” he said (via Pat McManamon of ESPN.com). “I have another year left on my deal. So right now, that’s the plan.” It’s unclear whether McCown will be open to continuing his career if the Browns release him, which looks like a distinct possibility. By cutting McCown, Cleveland would save $4.375MM on its cap against roughly $667K in dead money next year. If McCown’s playing career does conclude, he could have a place on Jackson’s staff next year. “I told him already if he ever wanted to coach, he could coach for me anytime he wants,” said Jackson.
- Jackson revealed nearly two months ago that the Browns would try second-year man Cameron Erving at tackle if his play didn’t turn around at center. Erving was then Pro Football Focus’ worst-rated center, which hasn’t changed. As a result, the Browns will try the 2015 first-rounder at right tackle Sunday, per Nate Ulrich of Ohio.com. Erving hasn’t fared well along the interior in the NFL, though he was an accomplished left tackle at Florida State and is eager to serve as a bookend again. “It’s definitely a little exciting, just to be able to potentially have that opportunity to go out and play tackle again,” Erving said.
Browns Waive Jonathan Cooper
Former top ten pick Jonathan Cooper has been waived by the Browns, according to a team announcement. His release will make room for Alvin Bailey, who is coming back from suspension. 
Cooper, the seventh-overall pick in the 2013 draft, was part of the deal that sent Chandler Jones from the Patriots to the Cardinals this offseason. After having started 11 of his 24 career games in Arizona, the 26-year-old was expected to slide in as the Patriots’ starting right guard. However, the guard suffered a foot injury early in camp and he was cut by New England in October.
The Browns scooped him up but he didn’t do enough to stick on the roster. Interestingly, Pro Football Focus has assigned Cooper a 73.2 overall grade in his 183 snaps, a score that would have put him in the middle of the pack amongst guards if he had enough playing time to qualify. Cooper may not be the standout that evaluators thought he’d be in 2013, but he could still be a capable contributor if the advanced numbers are to be believed.
2017 NFL Draft Order Through Week 16
This weekend, the Browns got the best of both worlds when they won their first game of the 2016 season while the 49ers also found their way to victory. Now, the 1-14 Browns remain in the top spot as we head into the final week of the NFL season.
Here’s where we stand through Week 16. (Note: Ties are broken by strength of schedule):
- Browns 1-14
- 49ers 2-13
- Bears 3-12
- Jaguars 3-12
- Rams (pick belongs to Titans) 4-11
- Jets 4-11
- Chargers 5-10
- Bengals 5-9-1
- Panthers 6-9
- Eagles (pick belongs to Browns) 6-9
- Cardinals 6-8-1
- Bills 7-8
- Colts 7-8
- Vikings (pick belongs to Eagles) 7-8
- Saints 7-8
- Titans 8-7
- Ravens 8-7
- Buccaneers 8-7
- Broncos 8-7
- Redskins 8-6-1
RG3's Browns Status Uncertain For 2017
- Browns quarterback Robert Griffin III suffered a concussion on Saturday, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. His status for Week 17 is not immediately clear. RG3 missed most of this season with a shoulder injury but did become the only Browns QB to start in a win. However, the Browns gave Cody Kessler — the expected Week 17 starter, per Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal — several starts this season and have a decision to make on Griffin. He’s due a relatively small $750K roster bonus in March and would count $9.25MM against Cleveland’s 2017 cap. The Browns could afford that, but Griffin didn’t give them much reason to trust him in 2016.