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Josh Gordon Meets With Roger Goodell

By Zachary Links | at July 21, 2016 3:12 pm

3:12pm: A decision on Gordon’s status is not likely before the start of the season, ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano writes.

12:02pm: Commissioner Roger Goodell met with suspended Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon on Wednesday regarding his potential return to football, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Gordon can reapply for reinstatement on August 1. Rapoport (Twitter link) gets the sense that nothing is imminent on Gordon’s return and he adds that meeting with Goodell is a normal step in the process.

[RELATED: Latest On Johnny Manziel]

Since his entry into the league in 2012, Gordon’s NFL career has been tumultuous to say the least. He missed the first two games of the 2013 season following a drug suspension, but then went on to lead the NFL in receiving yards, finishing with 87 receptions for 1,646 yards and nine touchdowns. Gordon celebrated his 25th birthday this offseason.

Hopes were high for the 2014 season, but Gordon’s off-the-field issues resurfaced, as he was first arrested for DUI, and then suspended for one year after again violating the league’s substance-abuse policy. He was eventually reinstated after only 10 games as part of the NFL and the players’ union agreeing to a new drug policy, which reduced the sentences for some players-in-limbo. He missed all of the 2015 season thanks to a positive alcohol test and could also be forced to sit out the 2016 campaign after the NFL denied his petition for reinstatement on the heels of another failed substance test.

Gordon, 25, will have another crack at reinstatement, but the league will keep the ban in he cannot demonstrate that he has improved his off-field behavior.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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Impact Rookies: Cleveland Browns

By Zachary Links | at July 21, 2016 9:00 am

The old adage that defense wins championships may or may not be true, but you’ll be hard-pressed to find a title-winning team that didn’t build heavily through the draft. Rookie classes, naturally, are evaluated on the perceived upside of the NFL newcomers, but which rookies are ready to contribute right out of the gate? And, how do they fit in with their new team schematically?

To help us forecast the immediate future of these NFL neophytes, we enlisted the help of draft guru Dave-Te Thomas who has served as a scouting personnel consultant to NFL teams for multiple decades.

Today, we continue PFR’s Impact Rookie series with his insight on the Cleveland Browns’ draft class:

Whether the formula works, or not, Cleveland came out of the draft after making a flurry of trades with fourteen youngsters to vie for roster spots. By trading down from the second overall spot, the Browns definitely added quantity, but you can see that they still have a primary need – quarterback. The Eagles packaged a deal with the Browns and went home happy with their quarterback catch in North Dakota’s Carson Wentz. Meanwhile, Cleveland invested $15MM in a quarterback who could go down as one of the biggest draft day mistakes ever, Washington castoff Robert Griffin III.

For a sum of $15,072,000 in 2016, Cleveland enters training camp with a quarterback stable that includes Griffin (7.5 mil), Josh McCown (4.7 mil), Austin Davis ($2.025 mil) and Cody Kessler (847K). While the coaches are saying all nice things about Griffin coming out of mini camp, one has to wonder if they’re not sold on him since they also kept McCown.

By the time the team was able to pick in the first round, they were not in love with the quarterback left behind (Paxton Lynch) and went after filling their second-biggest need at wide receiver, bringing in the electrifying Corey Coleman. The Browns stepped away from the usual “best available athlete” draft mode used by most teams, as they went for needs with their first four selections. Checking off the big need at receiver with Coleman, UCLA’s Jordan Payton and Colorado State’s Rashard Higgins, the team turned their attention to the defensive line that featured one of the worst sack units in the league.

In fact, they doubled down at the defensive end position, first, taking Oklahoma State’s Emmanuel Ogbah in the second round, followed by Penn State sack artist Carl Nassib in the next phase. There is talk of turning Ogbah into an outside linebacker, rather than playing him on the front wall, but the team should look back at their recent draft history to see how they utterly failed in their attempts to convert Barkevious Mingo, the team’s first pick in the 2013 draft, into a stand-up second level performer.

That plan could change by training camp, as recent pectoral muscle surgery by Desmond Bryant will sideline the starting left end for four-to-six months. That could give both their second and third round selections great opportunities to join the first unit. Early money says it will be Nassib, who rocked the backfield to the tune of 15.5 sacks during his breakout 2015 season. Ogbah chipped in with thirteen sacks and nineteen quarterback pressures. Last year, Cleveland finished with 29 sacks, which ranked 28th in the NFL.

When you look at the Browns’ entire draft picture, unless the first four players contribute immediately, if could be a head scratcher by the end of the season and yet another front office blow up. They invested a fourth round pick in Princeton tight end Seth DeValve, who was rated no better than the 47th-best tight end in the draft on most war room boards. He enters camp listed fourth on the depth chart and will battle five other tight ends for what will likely be three spots on the roster. The rest of their draft picks might be the perfect formula to put an insomniac to sleep.

There are plenty of question marks in this group, but these players could put exclamation points on their frosh seasons in the NFL:

First Round – Corey Coleman, WR (Baylor University, No. 15 overall)

Whether it is a fellow former Baylor Bear at quarterback or the aging veteran (perhaps the rookie from USC can make some noise later in the year, if all else fails), the Browns knew they could not go into the season with their obvious lack of depth at the wide receiver position. Knowing they needed a playmaker who could replace the 68 receptions recorded by Travis Benjamin, who left via free agency, their logical choice was Coleman, preferring the little speedster over other blue chip first round talent like Will Fuller, Josh Doctson, and Laquon Treadwell.

Sports hernia surgery prevented the Bears prospect from playing past the 2015 regular season schedule, but despite missing bowl action, he pulled in 74-of-127 targeted passes (58.27%), as he had twelve passes batted away from him and dropped four others. Even though Baylor quarterbacks often misfired (37 targeted passes to Coleman failed to reach him), his 74 grabs rank fifth on the school season-record list. He finished ninth in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision ranks with 1,363 receiving yards and he led the nation with a school-record 20 touchdown catches, shattering the previous mark of fourteen by Kendall Wright in 2011.

Among Coleman’s 74 receptions, he recorded 47 first downs (63.51%), converting 9-of-17 third-down opportunities. He gained at least ten yards on 38 grabs, including going distances of 20 yards or longer on 20 of those receptions. In addition to his 20 touchdowns, he had key catches to set up five other touchdown drives.

After he generated 216 yards behind eleven receptions in the Kansas State contest, Coleman started to feel the effects from a nagging groin injury. During the course of his next four appearances, he failed to reach the end zone and averaged 46.25 yards per game on a total of sixteen catches. The sports hernia discovery would keep him out of action vs. North Carolina in the Russell Athletic Bowl. Soon after, Coleman announced that he would not be returning to school in 2016 and had entered the draft.

Coleman’s best asset is his timed speed, as he has more than enough quickness to elude in the open field, with adequate strength to fight for the ball in a crowd. He is the type of player that teams covet – one with the rare playing speed to stretch the defense, showing the burst needed to beat angles. He demonstrates excellent athleticism for his position, as few opposing defenders can mirror him on deep routes due to his speed. He not only has the speed to threaten the deep secondary – he also has the body control, lateral quickness, and change of direction agility to make the underneath catches.

The former Baylor star he has good eyes for locating the soft areas to settle in and shows good awareness for the comebacks. He is quick to recognize coverage and adjust to what the secondary gives him. He also is alert enough to know when he has to work back to the ball, especially when dealing with an erratic quarterback. Coleman is a classic deep threat, used mostly to stretch the field. He gives good effort working underneath, but there are still times when he will short arm when going for the ball over the middle or when facing the quarterback.

He can make some noise in 2016, particularly if Gordon is not reinstated.

Continue reading about the Browns’ rookie class..

Third Round – Carl Nassib, WR (Penn State, No. 65 overall)

Ogbah, the Ted Hendricks Award finalist, was the nation’s leading active player with 28.0 career sacks, posting thirteen QB drops, nineteen pressures and 17.5 stops-for-loss last season, along with 65 tackles, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Nassib was also a dominating force as a pass rusher, recording 15.5 sacks, 19.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage and 467 tackles. A much harder hitter than Ogbah, he caused six fumbles hitting the opposing passers. His six fumbles were the most by a Nittany Lion in a season since Michael Haynes forced seven in 2002. Nassib also posted five multiple sack performances last season.

With Desmond Bryant possibly on the sidelines for the 2016’s first half of the schedule, the former Nittany Lion only has to shine better than his practice squad-type competition – Dylan Wynn and 2013 seventh rounder, Armonty Bryant. If Nassib fails to impress, either Ogbah could take over or the two could split playing time. 2012 third rounder, John Hughes is backing up 2015 third round pick, Xavier Cooper, at right end.

Nassib is a “newcomer” to the defensive end early round draft discussions, as barely any scout covering his area recognized him as a valid prospect – that is, not until this year. Prior to 2015, Nassib’s “claim to fame” was being the little brother of Giants backup quarterback Ryan Nassib. The Penn State defender had managed just fifteen tackles, two sacks and five stops-for-loss during his first two seasons at the school. With Anthony Zettel suddenly forgetting how to get into the backfield, Nassib more than filled that gap in 2015.

Nassib has shown marked improvement utilizing pass rush moves (better rip, swim and club moves). He lacks the lower body thickness to split double teams, but possesses the change of direction flexibility to drop his weight and redirect when the gaps are plugged. When he keeps his hands active, his long arm reach allows him to defeat the combo block and reroute in back side pursuit, but he needs to use those hands with more consistency. When he keeps his pads down, he gets good leverage and that allows him to get penetration. If he can improve his upper body power and shoot his hands more, he would be more effective at beating double teams. Still, he excels at timing his jumps and anticipating the flow of the ball.

Third Round – Shon Coleman, OT (Auburn University, No. 76 overall)

With Mitchell Schwartz and Alex Mack signing elsewhere, the Browns’ offensive line will undergo yet another overhaul in 2016. The left side of the line, featuring perennial All-Pro tackle Joe Thomas and rising star, guard Joel Bitonio, will remain intact, unless those whispers of Cleveland trying to check out the market for Thomas again begin. 2015 first round disappointment, Cameron Erving, showed that he is better off playing an interior position, rather than struggle with the pass rush as a tackle. He gets the first call to replace Mack as Cleveland’s center.

John Greco is listed as the first unit’s starting right guard, with Jacksonville waiver wire pick-up, Austin Pasztor at right tackle. It is doubtful that Pasztor will survive training camp with the first unit, especially if Coleman adjusts to pro life quickly. Greco will also hear a rookie behind him, as Spencer Drango showed at the Senior Bowl he is a physical trap blocker, but bends too much at the waist to handle edge rushers at the tackle slot.

As for Coleman, it has been a whirlwind collegiate career for the Memphis native. Prior to enrolling at Auburn, the five-star recruit was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. He received treatment for the disease and after he recovered, he enrolled at the university. He earned his first playing time in 2013 as the backup left tackle to Greg Robinson. In 2014, Coleman became a starter for the first time, taking over left tackle duties. In 2015, the All-Southeastern Conference second-team pick posted an 84.7% grade for blocking consistency, delivering twelve touchdown-resulting blocks and 78 total knockdowns. Despite two years of eligibility remaining, he declared for the 2016 draft.

Coleman has a linear frame with good upper body length in his arms and good width in his chest, but needs to add at least another fifteen pounds of bulk. He also needs to improve his upper body power, as he does not strike with a forceful punch. That leads to times when he tries to compensate with explosion off the snap, but he can get too reckless and when he over-extends, his adequate change of direction agility makes him look sluggish trying to recover. He has the functional hip snap and enough flexibility to sink his pads and run fluidly off the line of scrimmage, along with the “heavy feet” to anchor vs. the bull rush though.

Coleman has quick, nimble feet with good balance and body control playing in the trenches (struggles playing in space). He moves well going forward off the snap and does a nice job of using his frame to pinch the defenders back inside. When he stays low in his pads, he can fire low off the snap with good explosion to gain instant advantage. While not explosive, he is rarely late off the line and is quick to make contact and impact the defender. With those long arms and big hands, he is very good at gaining advantage on a defender when he flashes suddenness coming off the ball. With a good get-off and proper hand technique, it should put him in the right place to make the block most of the time.

The Auburn tackle is better served blocking along the line, as he does not have the burst or the balance to get out and make plays in space (gets narrow and crosses his feet). However, he is a good position blocker with nimble feet (needs to improve his retreat shuffle though) moving along the line. He demonstrates the functional hip snap needed to generate movement, but he needs to do a better job of keeping his feet and staying on the defender when working in the second level. Even though he looks fluid enough working down the line, he will get sluggish running long distances and lose balance when he gets his base too narrow (inconsistent working in space).

With more bulk added for his anchor, along with more explosive quickness when he sets his base, Coleman won’t get into the problems he has when trying to separate, but additional weight could result in a loss of quickness. He has the reach ability to keep defenders at bay and while not explosive rolling his hips, at least he is not a waist bender. He sustains best at the line of scrimmage, where he does a good job of running his feet, locking on and finishing (not as good playing in space). He might be a better fit at right offensive tackle earlier in his career, as he works well in combination with other lineman, but despite his quick feet and athleticism, he tends to wait for edge rushers to come to him rather than step forward and attack his man.

Dave-Te Thomas owns and operates The NFL Draft Report, a service providing insight to league scouting departments for over 40 years. All year round, you can read Thomas’ in-depth reviews of both blue chip prospects and diamonds in the rough by visiting the NFL Draft Report blog.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Desmond Bryant Not Ruling Out 2016 Return

By Dallas Robinson | at July 20, 2016 9:02 pm

Browns defensive lineman Desmond Bryant was ruled out for the season after tearing a pectoral muscle last week, but the 30-year-old isn’t yet ruling himself done for the year. “Absolutely, I’m hopeful that I can (come back this season),” Bryant told Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. “The timetable for rehab is four-to-six months, so it’s possible. I’ll do everything I can to get back as soon as I can.” Clearly, Bryant is using the most optimistic timeline in his projection, and it’s ultimately up to the Cleveland front office whether or not it puts Bryant injured reserve. But given the new IR rules, the Browns could conceivably place Bryant on IR and decide to bring him back later in the season if he progresses well enough.

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Isaiah Crowell's Apology Considered Sincere, Will Remain On Club

By Rory Parks | at July 17, 2016 12:29 pm

After Isaiah Crowell made headlines for all the wrong reasons last week, many Browns fans have clamored for his release. Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer, however, confirmed that Cleveland will not cut Crowell at this time. She says the club believes his public apology was sincere and adds that the Browns will give him a chance to be part part of the solution instead of the problem. Crowell will be donating $35K to the Dallas Fallen Officer Foundation and will continue doing “other things in the community” to atone for his mistake.

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Browns Notes; Ochocinco, Crowell

By Zachary Links | at July 12, 2016 5:47 pm

Former Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson is on his way back to the AFC North. This time, however, he’ll be joining up with the Browns and he’ll be serving as a guest coach rather than a player.

Some NFL fans have opined that the Browns should cut Isaiah Crowell for his recent Instagram controversy, but Bud Shaw of The Plain Dealer doesn’t think that would be the wisest move. Reportedly, while the Browns are less-than-pleased with the 23-year-old’s actions, they have no plans of releasing the running back. A statement issued by NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy also seemed to indicate that there will not be punishment coming from the league office.
This week, we learned that the Browns were able to void out Johnny Manziel‘s guarantees before releasing him this offseason.

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Browns Have No Plans To Cut Isaiah Crowell

By Zachary Links | at July 12, 2016 10:53 am

Last week, Browns running back Isaiah Crowell made headlines when he made an Instagram post depicting a police officer being stabbed in the neck by a person in a black hood. Since then, Crowell has apologized for publishing the picture on social media. While the Browns are troubled by Crowell’s actions, they have no plans to release him, according to Mary Kay Cabot of The Plain Dealer.

“We have spoken to Isaiah regarding his extremely disturbing and unacceptable social media decision,” the Browns said in the statement. “It was completely inappropriate and we have made him aware of our high level of disappointment. Isaiah has apologized but also knows that just an apology is insufficient and that he must take steps to make a positive difference after a very negative and impactful post.”

The Browns do not intend on releasing the 23-year-old, but there could still be discipline on the way from the team. However, the team first wants to give Crowell a chance to redeem himself before potentially taking action, Cabot writes. Meanwhile, the NFL seems satisfied with Crowell’s apology.

“The image was inappropriate and insensitive,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said via email. “He realized this, took down the post and has since apologized.”

The Alabama St. product appeared in every Browns regular season game in both 2014 and 2015 with 13 total starts. As a rookie, Crowell made his mark by notching 8 touchdowns and running for 607 yards off of 148 carries, good for a 4.1 yards per carry average. In 2015, Crowell averaged 3.8 yards per carry with four rushing touchdowns.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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Browns Eliminated Manziel’s Guarantees

By Zachary Links | at July 11, 2016 1:58 pm

Recently, when the NFL hit Johnny Manziel with a four-game suspension, some wondered whether that action would void out the remaining guaranteed money in his rookie contract with the Browns. As it turns out, those guarantees were already wiped out months ago. Before the Browns cut Manziel earlier this year, the team successfully took his guarantees off the books, sources tell Mike Florio of PFT.

Surprisingly, the NFL Players Association did not put up a fight when Cleveland decided against paying Manziel is guaranteed money. The union is always aggressive in matters like this, but it seems like the Browns’ case was virtually incontrovertible. The Collective Bargaining Agreement stipulates that a team can void out guarantees under certain circumstances, including “a failure or refusal to report, practice, or play” or leaving the team without written consent. Manziel has run afoul of those rules multiple times with the Browns, including his 2015 trip to Las Vegas.

Due to his many indiscretions, Manziel has cost himself $2.173MM in guaranteed cash and has put his football future in serious doubt.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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Browns Not Expected To Add Veteran RB Help

By Sam Robinson | at July 10, 2016 7:30 pm

Reports pegged Robert Griffin III‘s first offseason in Cleveland as a hit-and-miss endeavor, and Josh McCown remains on the Browns‘ roster after being the team’s most effective starter during 2015. But Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer still expects RG3 to win the job. The longtime Browns reporter notes the team will not be in a hurry to bestow that starting distinction upon Griffin, wanting the fifth-year passer to truly earn the job rather than allow his contract status — he’s signed on a three-year, $21MM deal, while McCown is signed for three years and $14MM — provide the difference.
The Browns do not have a deep depth chart at running back, but the rebuilding team won’t look to sign a veteran, Cabot writes. She categorizes the desire to supplement Isaiah Crowell and Duke Johnson as a low priority, pointing to Terrell Watson and Glenn Winston as players they’re eager to see in training camp. Despite the Browns also losing Mitchell Schwartz and Alex Mack in free agency, Cabot characterizes the Browns as set to be a force on the ground thanks to improved blocking schemes.
Browns inside linebackers coach Johnny Holland told Dan Labbe of the Plain Dealer the team will attempt to further develop Christian Kirksey as a pass-rusher entering his third season. Describing Ray Horton‘s system as one that will benefit a player who’s expected to lock down a starting job at inside linebacker after being a part-time cog in that role the past two years, Holland notes Kirksey’s athleticism will enable this multifaceted approach. Kirksey has 5.5 sacks in his first two years, which have included 13 total starts.

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Browns Notes: Mingo, Safeties

By Dallas Robinson | at July 9, 2016 6:10 pm

Former first-round pick Barkevious Mingo isn’t a lock to earn a spot on the Browns‘ roster, according to Terry Pluto of Cleveland.com, who writes that it’s difficult to see how Mingo fits among Cleveland’s linebacking corps. I reached the same conclusion in our recent review of the Browns’ offseason, noting that Mingo has essentially become a glorified special teams player. Cleveland has already declined Mingo’s fifth-year option for 2017, meaning he’ll become a free agent after the upcoming season, but with Nate Orchard, Paul Kruger, and potentially Joe Schobert ahead of him on the depth chart, Mingo could hit the open market as soon as this summer.
The Browns’ safety room will have a completely different in makeup this season now that 2015 starters Tashaun Gipson and Donte Whitner are gone, per Dan Labbe of Cleveland.com. With Gipson in Jacksonville and Whitner still looking for work as a free agent, Cleveland will turn to Ibraheim Campbell and Jordan Poyer as starters, as Roster Resource shows. But the club has a few more interesting options who could eventually factor into the secondary picture, including Rahim Moore, Don Jones, Sean Baker, Derrick Kindred, and A.J. Stamps. Moore, notably, looks like a strong option to steal snaps down the road, as he has 54 career starts under his belt.

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Offseason In Review: Cleveland Browns

By Dallas Robinson | at July 7, 2016 6:25 pm

While the NBA’s Cavaliers have brought a title back to Cleveland, the city’s true love remains the Browns, a club which is seemingly stuck in a cycle of perpetual reassembly. After once again overhauling their front office and coaching staff, the team finally seems to have to be moving in the right direction, formulating a plan both for free agency and the draft (and sticking to it). The 2016 Browns offseason may not have been flashy, but the organization accomplished a number of goals and — more importantly — accrued assets, all with an eye towards the future.

Notable signings:

Robert Griffin III, QB: Two years, $15MM. $6.75MM guaranteed. Max value of $22MM.
Demario Davis, LB: Two years, $8.1MM. $4.1MM guaranteed.
Alvin Bailey, OL: Three years, $6MM. $1MM guaranteed.
Rahim Moore, S: One year, $1.85MM. $400K guaranteed.
Tank Carder, LB: Two years, $2.5MM. $300K guaranteed.
Don Jones, DB: One year, $1.671MM. Signed original-round RFA tender.
Austin Pasztor, OL: One year, $1.671MM. Signed original-round RFA tender.
Terrelle Pryor, WR: One year, $1.671MM. Signed original-round RFA tender.
Justin Tuggle, LB: One year, $700K.
Patrick Murray, K: One year, $525K.

The Browns entered the free agent period armed with nearly $50MM in cap space, but given that they’re in the midst of a full rebuild, they didn’t figure to spend much of it. And they didn’t, as the club still has roughly $42MM in 2016 cap room. But while Cleveland wasn’t very active over the past several months,the team did manage to ink a few interesting free agents, and former Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III is atop that list.

Griffin isn’t the only signal-caller on the Browns’ roster, as Josh McCown, Austin Davis, and third-round rookie Cody Kessler are also under the team’s employ. Cleveland reportedly did not promise Griffin the starting job, but all expectations are that he will be under center come Week 1. Head coach Hue Jackson likely won’t officially name a starter until the preseason begins, but with rumors swirling that McCown could be traded (or released), Griffin is the overwhelming favorite to handle snaps for the Browns.

And for a team in transition, Griffin makes a ton of sense as a high-upside play. There’s no question that Griffin, who is still only 26 years old, never built upon the highs of his 2012 campaign, when he was named the league’s Offensive Rookie of the Year. But despite reports of infighting and constant media attention on his situation in Washington, Griffin handled his time in the nation’s capital relatively well, especially during the past two years when he was benched in favor of Kirk Cousins. Signed to what is effectively a one-year deal with an option for 2017, both Griffin and the Browns have quite a bit to gain from this working relationship.

Cleveland’s only other significant addition on the offensive side of the ball was former Seahawks offensive lineman Alvin Bailey, whom the club lured with a three-year agreement. Bailey never made a true impact during his time with Seattle, although he does have youth on his side, as he won’t turn 25 until next month. However, it’s telling that Bailey could never find his way into the Seahawks’ starting lineup on a consistent basis given how poor Seattle’s offensive line has been in recent years (he only played about a quarter of the team’s offensive snaps in 2015). He figures to compete with rookie Shon Coleman for time at right tackle, the only open spot on the Browns’ offensive line.

On defense, the Browns managed to land linebacker Demario Davis, who had spent the entirety of his career with the Jets. Davis, who started all 48 games during the past three seasons with New York, will take over at inside linebacker for Karlos Dansby, who was released. The decision to go forward with Davis over Dansby must have come down to age alone — Davis is 27, Dansby is 34 — as Dansby is clearly the superior player and would have actually been a little bit cheaper in 2016. Dansby is regarded as a solid locker room presence, and given that neither linebacker will be in his prime the next time Cleveland is in contention, it was surprising to see the club make the swap.

In the secondary, veteran Rahim Moore will fill the void at safety left when Tashaun Gipson departed for Jacksonville in free agency. As Roster Resource shows, Moore isn’t locked into a starting job, as he’ll have to compete with Jordan Poyer — who played roughly 40% of Cleveland’s defensive snaps last year — for time at free safety. Although Moore bombed with the Texans after inking a three-year pact (he was benched by November), he was a full-time starter for the Broncos from 2012-2014, so he isn’t lacking in experience.

The Browns also invested resources in two linebackers, Tank Carder and Justin Tuggle, who are primarily special teams players. Carder, for his part, played on more than 80% of Cleveland’s special teams snaps in 2015, and was rewarded for his efforts with a $300K guarantee. The Browns ranked in the middle of the pack in special teams DVOA last year, so perhaps that’s an area of the game where they feel they can show marked improvement on the cheap.

Clearly, the Browns didn’t see much use in using their ample cap space during this free agent period. Rather, the club will continue to carry that cap room over to future seasons, allowing them to spend more freely when they enter a period of contention. It’s a solid strategy, and one that will only help Cleveland in the long run, as there’s little reason for the team to sign a few more veterans in order to improve from, say, three wins to five wins in 2016.

Continue reading about the Browns’ offseason…

Johnson Bademosi, S
Travis Benjamin, WR
Dwayne Bowe, WR: Released
Karlos Dansby, LB: Released
Jim Dray, TE: Released
Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, CB: Waived
Tashaun Gipson, S
Brian Hartline, WR: Released
Alex Mack: Opted out of contract
Johnny Manziel, QB: Waived
Craig Robertson, LB
Mitchell Schwartz, T
Connor Shaw, QB: Waived
Scott Solomon, LB: Waived after being re-signed
Randy Starks, DT: Released
Donte Whitner, S: Released

The Browns saw a mass wave of defections during the free agent period, and while that was probably by design, it’s likely still hard for Cleveland fans to stomach the losses of some of the most talented players on the roster. Some agents voiced a concern that the Browns front office was acting in a hesitant manner during negotiations, and that tenor of talks may have led to a few desertions. As Adam Schefter of ESPN said earlier this year: “Players treat the Browns like it’s a college experience — four years and done.”

While the Browns’ declination to engage with some of their internal free agents made sense based on price or the age of the player, the loss of tackle Mitchell Schwartz was perhaps the most difficult to rationalize. Schwartz is a former-second round pick who was drafted and developed by the Browns, and not only started all 64 possible games during his tenure with the club, but grew into one of the best tackles in the league, ultimately grading out as the sixth-best at his position in 2016, per Pro Football Focus.

The 27-year-old Schwartz drew a decent amount of interest from other teams on the first day of free agency, but after Cleveland reportedly pulled its offer, Schwartz landed with the Chiefs on an entirely reasonable deal. His five-year pact is worth $33MM in total, but only $12.66MM is fully guaranteed. It’s a solid pact, and of the top right tackle contracts in the league, but given Schwartz’s relative youth, excellent play, and history with the organization, his loss struck me as the most surprising among the Browns’ divorces.

Elsewhere on the offensive line, center Alex Mack finally left the Browns after attempting to do two years ago. For those who might not recall, Mack signed an offer sheet with the Jaguars after
being designated as Cleveland’s transition player in 2014 — the Browns matched Jacksonville’s offer, which included an opt-out clause that triggered after the 2015 campaign. Mack utilized that option this offseason, and landed a deal with the Falcons that made him the highest-paid center in the league. Given the presence of 2015 first-rounder Cameron Erving, Mack likely wasn’t a priority for Cleveland’s front office.

Wide receiver Travis Benjamin is also gone after posting the type of breakout season that many had been expecting for some time. As Matt Harmon explained in his excellent Reception Perception profile, Benjamin unsurprisingly ran a large percentage of vertical routes (thanks to his speed), but he was also successful when deployed in other fashions. After grabbing 68 passes and nearly crossing the 1,000 yard barrier, Benjamin signed a four-year, $24MM pact with the Chargers.

Benjamin isn’t the only wideout who won’t be back with the Browns in 2016, as both Dwayne Bowe and Brian Hartline were handed walking papers in the past few months. Bowe, specifically, turned out to be one of the worst free agent signings in recent memory, managing just five receptions while earning $9.75MM for one season. Entering his age-32 season, Bowe has had a nice career, including a memorable 15-touchdown season with the Chiefs in 2010, but he’s nearing the end of the line. Hartline, meanwhile, can still function as a second or third receiving option, but choosing to save $3MM by releasing him was a no-brainer move by Cleveland.

On defense, safety Tashaun Gipson might not be a household name, but he’s been a worthwhile contributor for a number of seasons. Gipson was reportedly unhappy with the restricted free agent tender Cleveland assigned for the 2015 season, and had been prepared to leave the Browns for some time. The one-time Pro Bowler received $12MM in guarantees as a part of the five-year contract he signed with the Jaguars. Like Schwartz, Gipson was another free agent whom I thought Cleveland might try to retain given his age (25), and I even wondered if the franchise tag might be an option. Executive VP of football operations Sashi Brown admitted the tag would be a possibility for Gipson, but the Browns de facto general manager had hoped to hammer out a long-term deal with his free agent safety.

Cleveland’s other starting safety, veteran Donte Whitner, is also out of the 2016 picture after being cut in April. Whitner was miffed about the timing of his release, and he should’ve been. Instead of being let go prior to the free agent period, Whitner was set loose on the open market three weeks after many clubs had spent their allotted cap space. At 31 years old, he was never going to land a massive deal, but Whitner is still a productive player, and he could have scored a multi-year pact with some guarantees instead of the one-year deal that he’ll now likely have to accept.

We’ve already touched on Cleveland’s release of Karlos Dansby above, but fellow linebacker Craig Robertson also left the club, agreeing to a contract with the Saints after hitting free agency. Robertson has never been particularly adept against the run, but he’s always shined in pass coverage — in 2015, for example, PFF ranked him as the league’s 14th-best ‘backer in the pass game. That’s a valuable asset in today’s NFL, but a linebacker who can’t stay on the field for all three downs probably isn’t much of a value.

A few other veterans won’t be back in Cleveland next year, including safety/special teams ace Johnson Bademosi, who became one of the league’s highest paid special teams players after signing a deal with Detroit that guarantees him $2.9MM fully guaranteed. Jim Dray was released after grading out as one of the worst tight ends in the NFL last season, while defensive lineman Randy Starks was cut in a cost-saving move.

Of course, we’d be remiss if we didn’t note that the Browns also waived former first-round pick Johnny Manziel after numerous off-the-field issues. There isn’t much to add to the Manziel saga that hasn’t already been written, as he continues to make headlines with his bizarre and seemingly unhinged behavior. He’s earned a four-game suspension for the 2016 season, but that won’t matter much to the Browns — aside from the possibility that the club might be able to recoup some previously guaranteed money — as they’d already given up on Manziel after only two unproductive, incident-filled seasons.

Trades:

Acquired CB Jamar Taylor and a 2016 seventh-round pick (No. 250) from the Dolphins in exchange for a 2016 seventh-round pick (No. 223).
Acquired a 2016 first-round pick (No. 8), a 2016 third-round pick (No. 77), a 2016 fourth-round pick (No. 100), a 2017 first-round pick, and a 2018 second-round pick from the Eagles in exchange for a 2016 first-round pick (No. 2) and a 2017 fourth-round pick.
Acquired a 2016 first-round pick (No. 15), a 2016 third-round pick (No. 76), and a 2017 third-round pick from the Titans in exchange for a 2016 first-round pick (No. 8) and a 2016 sixth-round pick (No. 176).
Acquired a 2016 third-round pick (No. 93), a 2016 fourth-round pick (No. 129), and a 2016 fifth-round pick (No. 168) from the Panthers in exchange for a 2016 third-round pick (No. 77) and a 2016 fifth-round pick (No. 141).
Acquired a 2016 fourth-round pick (No. 114) and a 2016 fifth-round pick (No. 154) from the Raiders in exchange for a 2016 fourth-round pick (No. 100).

And now, we come to the most successful part of the Browns’ offseason. Cleveland made hay through their trades, swinging deals both before and during the draft that allowed them accrue assets in 2016, 2017, and 2018 drafts. Through this series of moves, the Browns demonstrated that they might be using a different value chart than most of the league, perhaps something closer to Chase Stuart of Football Perspective’s model than the traditional, Jimmy Johnson-created table.

The trade to hand over the No. 2 overall pick to the Eagles was Cleveland’s most successful deal, as they acquired roughly 175 cents on the dollar, obtaining a smorgasbord of draft choices that will be of great benefit to the club as it continues its rebuild over the next few seasons. But the move from No. 8 to No. 15 was nearly as valuable, as the Browns received about 148 cents on the dollar from the Titans as the latter moved up to select offensive tackle Jack Conklin. Even in a more fair deal — their pick swap with the Panthers — the Browns came out ahead, getting about 114 cents on the dollar.

Aside from simply winning a number of trades (which is always a positive), the Browns showed that they’ve been reading some of the research available regarding the NFL draft. In a paper published in 2012, economists Cade Massey and Richard Thaler explained that NFL organizations simply aren’t that proficient at making correct decisions in the draft, so trading down and amassing more picks is the smarter strategy — in other words, clubs need to give themselves more bites at the apple. Additionally, the pair discovered that choices at the top of the draft are dramatically overvalued; mid-round picks are far more likely to provide surplus value.

And that’s essentially what the draft is all about — asset management. Call it “analytics,” call it “Moneyball,” call it whatever you like. But a front office that isn’t trying to squeeze out every remaining bit of value from an asset isn’t doing its job. The Browns made the most of the hand they were dealt this offseason, and despite the organization’s history of ineptitude, they are now firmly on the right track.

Draft picks:

1-15: Corey Coleman, WR (Baylor)
2-32: Emmanuel Ogbah, DE/OLB (Oklahoma State)
3-65: Carl Nassib, DE (Penn State)
3-76: Shon Coleman, T (Auburn)
3-93: Cody Kessler, QB (USC)
4-99: Joe Schobert, LB (Wisconsin)
4-114: Ricardo Louis, WR (Auburn)
4-129: Derrick Kindred, S (TCU)
4-138: Seth DeValve, WR/TE (Princeton)
5-154: Jordan Payton, WR (UCLA)
5-168: Spencer Drango, OL (Baylor)
5-172: Rashard Higgins, WR (Colorado State)
5-173: Trey Caldwell, CB (Louisiana-Monroe)
7-250: Scooby Wright, LB (Arizona)

The Browns acquired a bundle of future draft choices, but they also accrued a multitude of 2016 picks — 14, to be exact, three more than any other club. The strategy to obtain a horde of picks won’t matter much, however, if the majority of Cleveland’s selections don’t pan out. But the club did seem to employ the practice of positional-based drafting. Of the Browns’ 14 picks, 10 play the “high-value” positions — quarterback, offensive tackle, wide receiver, edge rusher, and cornerback. (That total rises to 12-of-14 if Joe Schobert is counted as pass rusher and Spencer Drango is viewed as a tackle rather than a guard.)

Of Cleveland’s 2016 class, Corey Coleman is the favorite to offer the most immediate contribution. The speedy pass-catcher might have some work to do in terms of learning a more complete route tree, but at the very least, he can act as a deep-ball weapon during his rookie season. Fellow receiver Rashard Higgins doesn’t offer the measurables of Coleman, but he was well-reviewed by a number of draftniks, and is on pace to start opposite Coleman on the outside.

Offensive tackle Shon Coleman also has a chance to start as a rookie, as he’ll be engaged in a training camp battle with Alvin Bailey, with the winner taking up the mantle at right tackle. Cody Kessler, a third-round pick like Coleman, has been bandied about as a potential 2016 starter, but that seems highly unlikely. Many observers were surprised that Kessler was chosen as high as he was, and he could probably use another year (or two) of seasoning.

On defense, Emmanuel Ogbah and Carl Nassib will have every opportunity to earn roles as situational pass-rushers early in the season. Ogbah, a collegiate defensive end, will make the transition to 3-4 outside linebacker, so he may need some reps in coverage before he’s ready to become a full-time player. Nassib, meanwhile, is staying put at end, and word is that the Browns would like him to bulk up from his current 275 pounds so that he can slide inside on passing downs.

Other:

Hired Sashi Brown as executive VP of football operations to replace general manager Ray Farmer. Hired former MLB executive Paul DePodesta as chief strategy officer. Hired Andrew Berry as president of player personnel.
Hired Hue Jackson as head coach to replace Mike Pettine.
Won’t hire formal offensive coordinator to replace John DeFilippo. Hired Al Saunders as senior offensive assistant, Pep Hamilton as assistant head coach/offense, and Kirby Wilson as running game coordinator.
Hired Ray Horton as defensive coordinator to replace Jim O’Neil.
Declined 2017 fifth-year option for LB Barkevious Mingo ($11.925MM).
Claimed DE/LB Jackson Jeffcoat off waivers.
Learned LB Armonty Bryant would be suspended four games (PED policy).
Signed 11 undrafted rookie free agents following the draft.

The Browns (again) underwent a leadership change this offseason, replacing both the top executives in the front office and much of their coaching staff. The personnel team, now lead by executive VP of football operations Sashi Brown, chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta, and president of player personnel Andrew Berry, is light on NFL experience, but the group has already shown that they have an executable plan for their franchise. DePodesta, a former MLB general manager, got most of the offseason publicity, but he’s essentially taking this year to learn about the finer points on the NFL game before diving into his role, per a number of reports.

New head coach Hue Jackson, meanwhile, does have a long NFL history, and always seemed likely to get another coaching gig after succeeding both as an offensive coordinator and during a short stint as Oakland’s head coach. Considered one of the more innovative minds in the league, Jackson’s long-term goal will be to lead the Browns back to respectability, but his more immediate objective is to resurrect the career of quarterback Robert Griffin III. Jackson will have help, as he brought a number of highly-regarded voices — both on offense and defense — with him to northern Ohio.

Barkevious Mingo, Cleveland’s first-round pick in 2013, has never lived up to his draft billing, and by last season had essentially become an overpaid special teams player. He only played 256 defensive snaps, and didn’t offer much in terms of pass rush (zero sacks). Mingo saw action on nearly 85% of the Browns’ special teams plays, but that type of production doesn’t equal the ~$12MM salary he would have earned had the club exercised his 2017 fifth-year option. Truth be told, there’s no guarantee Mingo even makes this year’s 53-man roster.

Top 10 cap hits for 2016:

Joe Haden, CB: $13,400,000
Joe Thomas, T: $9.500,000
Paul Kruger, LB: $7,700,000
Desmond Bryant, DL: $7,000,000
Tramon Williams, CB: $6,981,250
Barkevious Mingo, LB: $5,201,319
Robert Griffin III, QB: $5,046,875
Josh McCown, QB: $5,041,666
Dwayne Bowe, WR: $4,600,000 (dead money)
Donte Whitner, S: $4,500,000 (dead money)

The 2016 season isn’t going to be pretty for the Browns, and it isn’t meant to be. With three other clubs in their division lined up to contend for the AFC North crown, Cleveland has no real shot at reaching the postseason. But bottoming out and landing another top draft pick won’t be the worst outcome. If all goes according to plan, this could be the last truly embarrassing Browns season for quite some time.

Information from Over the Cap, Spotrac, and Roster Resource was used in the creation of this post. Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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Top 10 cap hits for 2016: