Browns Put Jared Goff Through Unconventional Workout
The Browns were in attendance for Cal quarterback Jared Goff‘s Pro Day, but Zac Jackson of ProFootballTalk.com notes that the team made the prospect go through an additional workout.
Browns, Rahim Moore Agree To Deal
SATURDAY, 10:58am: The deal is for one year and $1.85MM, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. The safety will earn a $400K signing bonus.
WEDNESDAY, 3:33pm: Former Broncos and Texans safety Rahim Moore will be signing with the Browns, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). It has been a busy day so far in Cleveland, where the Browns have released veterans Karlos Dansby and Dwayne Bowe, and added free agent linebacker Demario Davis.
Moore signed a three-year, $12MM contract with the Texans just a year ago, but his first and only season in Houston was a disappointment, as he lost his starting job to Andre Hal halfway through the year. He was cut by the Texans earlier this month.
Still, although Moore is coming off a poor 2015 campaign, the UCLA product was Denver’s primary free safety from 2011 to 2014, starting 48 regular-season contests during that stretch. He was also very impressive in his final season in Denver, racking up 51 tackles to go along with four interceptions in ’14.
While there’s no guarantee that Moore will bounce back in Cleveland in 2016, he’ll certainly come cheaper than the Browns’ former free safety, Tashaun Gipson, who inked a $35MM+ contract with the Jaguars. Moore figures to compete for a starting job in Cleveland’s secondary alongside veteran strong safety Donte Whitner.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Joe Haden Had Ankle Surgery, Should Be Ready For Season
Browns cornerback Joe Haden underwent left ankle surgery Wednesday and “should be ready for the start of the 2016 regular season,” the club announced via press release. Haden suffered the injury in Week 8 of last season, but it only began causing him pain recently, Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com writes. The two-time Pro Bowler played just five games in 2015 because of various injuries, including a concussion. Prior to that, he sat out most of training camp with a hamstring injury and, given his ankle issues, could once again miss some portion of camp this summer.
Browns Add Alvin Bailey, Justin Tuggle
MARCH 18: Bailey’s deal is a three-year accord worth $6MM, per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link). The contract contains $500K in incentives next season and $1.4MM in base escalators in 2017 and ’18.
MARCH 11: Identified mostly for the players they’ve lost this week, the Browns added a couple of players today, signing Alvin Bailey and Justin Tuggle, according to the team’s website.
Bailey served as mostly a depth piece on the Seahawks’ offensive line, starting in eight games in three seasons in Seattle. The 24-year-old ex-UDFA has started at left tackle, right tackle and left guard during his career, which includes two playoff starts.
Tuggle played three seasons for the Texans as a reserve linebacker, starting 11 games and playing in 42.
Demario Davis Contract Details
- Demario Davis, LB (Browns): Two years, $8MM. $4.1MM guaranteed. $2MM signing bonus. Annual $100K workout bonus (Twitter link).
Latest On Colin Kaepernick
Earlier this week, we heard that the Broncos have suggested to the 49ers that quarterback Colin Kaepernick is only worth a fourth-round selection. The 49ers, unsurprisingly, want more for the signal caller who was once regarded as the face of their franchise. The Jets and Browns have also been connected to the QB, but there hasn’t been a ton of movement on that front, either.
What’s next for the 49ers and Kaepernick? Here’s the latest:
- The 49ers will not look to release Kaepernick, Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com hears. “There’s a good chance he’s still on the team the way things look now,” one source said. The Broncos, Jets, and Browns have not shown any real urgency in trying to get a deal done for No. 7 and San Francisco is standing its ground. It’s not totally clear what the asking price is, but Maiocco writes that their trade demand is “believed to be a second- or early third-round” draft choice. On April 1st, Kaepernick’s base salary of $11.9MM will become fully guaranteed. Until then, his salary is guaranteed for injury only.
- 49ers coach Chip Kelly was upbeat when asked about Kaepernick, though he acknowledged that it’s possible that he might not be with the team come next month. “If he’s here on April 4 we’re going to coach the heck out of him, and he’s going to work his (tail) off,” Kelly said at San Jose State’s pro day, according to Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee. Kelly also added that he has exchanged texts with the quarterback, a development that should not be overlooked as there reportedly hasn’t been much communication between the two men this offseason.
- Recently, on PFR’s Instagram, we asked readers to weigh in on what the Broncos should do at quarterback. Featured options included Kaepernick, Ryan Fitzpatrick, and Brian Hoyer. Click here to follow us on Instagram (@ProFootballRumors).
Browns’ Terrelle Pryor, Don Jones Sign RFA Tenders
The Browns have confirmed a handful of signings, announcing today in a press release that wide receiver Terrelle Pryor and defensive back Don Jones have inked their restricted free agent tenders to remain with the team. The club also confirmed the previously-reported addition of safety Rahim Moore.
Pryor, a quarterback-turned-wide receiver, appeared in three games with two starts in 2015, notching one reception for 42 yards on eight targets. In total, for his career, he has appeared in 18 career games with 12 starts, though of course the majority of those appearances came at quarterback.
Turning the talented Pryor into a receiver was an experiment conducted by the old Browns regime, but it appears the team’s new decision-makers – and new head coach Hue Jackson – have some interest in continuing down that road as well.
Jones, meanwhile, has jumped from team to team since entering the league in 2013, having spent time with the Dolphins, Patriots, Saints, and Browns. He played exclusively on special teams in nine games with Cleveland last season after joining the club.
Both Pryor and Jones will be in line for non-guaranteed $1.671MM base salaries for the 2016 season.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/16/16
Here are today’s minor transactions from around the NFL:
- The Falcons announced the signings of linebacker LaRoy Reynolds and offensive tackle Tom Compton (link via their website). Reynolds has spent time with the Jags and Bears since entering the league in 2013, totaling 43 appearances and four starts. Compton, Washington’s sixth-round pick in 2012, has 44 appearances and 11 starts under his belt. He amassed career highs in both categories (16 and nine, respectively) in 2014.
- The Raiders have signed safety Brynden Trawick, according to their website. Trawick appeared in 38 games with Baltimore from 2013-15 and made one start.
- The Bears have signed long snapper Aaron Brewer to a one-year deal, per their Twitter account. Brewer was the Broncos’ long snapper from 2012-15.
- Seahawks linebacker Eric Pinkins signed his exclusive rights tender, according to Dov Kleiman of RantSports (Twitter link). Pinkins, a sixth-rounder in 2014, logged his first six appearances last season.
- While the Seahawks will keep Pinkins, the same isn’t true for long snapper Clint Gresham. The club has released him, Kleiman tweets. Gresham had been Seattle’s snapper since 2010.
- Browns safety Don Jones signed his restricted free agent tender, per Kleiman (on Twitter). Jones joined the Browns last season after spending time with three other organizations since Miami took him in the seventh round of the 2013 draft.
Draft Rumors: Cowboys, Ramsey, Bosa
The Cowboys want Jalen Ramsey, but they fear that he’ll be gone by No. 4, Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net writes (via PhiladelphiaEagles.com). With that in mind, Dallas is eyeing Ohio State standouts Joey Bosa and Ezekiel Elliott. Bosa would help bolster the team at defensive end while DeMarcus Lawrence recovers from surgery and Randy Gregory serves his first month suspension. Elliott, meanwhile, would give the team help at running back.
Here are the latest rumors on the 2016 NFL Draft (all of which come from Pauline, unless otherwise indicated):
- Insiders believe that we could se three offensive tackles – Laremy Tunsil, Ronnie Stanley, and Jack Conklin – go in the first top 12 picks of the draft. That could start a run and Pauline writes that we could see six tackles taken in the first round.
- The Cowboys would consider trading down, Pauline hears, but they want to stay ahead of the Giants at No. 10.
- Observers at the UCLA pro day described Myles Jack as a “remarkable athlete.” One source told Pauline (in his running log for Walter Football) that “he looked like a defensive back doing linebacker drills.”
- Aaron Wallace, the Bruins’ other notable linebacker, is gaining a lot of momentum in the scouting community, Pauline hears. Wallace currently has official visits set up with the Buccaneers, Browns, and Raiders with more likely on the way.
- UCLA offensive lineman Caleb Benenoch has been graded as a top-75 selection, according to Pauline. Many believe that Benenoch can play tackle and guard in addition to center.
- Georgia linebacker Jordan Jenkins says that he’ll have private workouts with the Raiders, Patriots, and Saints, Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com tweets.
- Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press (on Twitter) reports that Michigan State quarterback Connor Cook has private workouts scheduled with the Cowboys and Dolphins.
- All 32 NFL teams were in attendance at MSU’s pro day, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. At the event, Cook met with the 49ers and Rams before the workout and met with the Browns‘ staff after.
- Michigan State defensive tackle Joel Heath says that he will have a private workout with the Patriots this week, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com tweets. In addition to that, he’ll meet with the Titans later this month. Heath previously met with the Colts and Buccaneers.
- Pittsburgh wide receiver Tyler Boyd looked great at his Pro Day and the slowest unofficial 40-year-dash time that has been reported was in the low 4.5s.
- Pittsburgh corner Lafayette Pitts recorded 40-yard-dash times under 4.4 seconds, with some watches marking him at 4.35.
- There’s no definitive word on whether Virginia Tech cornerback Kendall Fuller will work out before the draft.
- Youngstown State linebacker Terrell Williams is drawing interest from clubs. The Jets and Eagles, in particular, see him as a quality backup linebacker/core special teams guy.
- The Lions have a private workouts set up with Michigan State offensive linemen Jack Conklin, Jack Allen, and Donavon Clark later this month, Birkett tweets.
Browns To Release Dwayne Bowe
2:12pm: The Browns have confirmed the move.
2:07pm: The Browns will release Dwayne Bowe today, according to Mary Kay Cabot of The Plain Dealer. Linebacker Karlos Dansby, who has already been released by Cleveland, relayed the news of Bowe’s pending cut to Cabot. 
Bowe was set to earn a $6.15MM salary for the 2016 season. Of that sum, $2.85MM was guaranteed, plus $1.75MM in prorated bonus money. Ultimately, the Browns have reduced that cap hit from $8MM to $4.6MM.
In March of 2015, the Browns signed Bowe to a two-year deal worth $9MM guaranteed. Unfortunately, it didn’t take long for the Browns to regret that deal. In September of last year, word leaked out that the Browns had the veteran on the roster bubble.
Bowe was part of the underachieving and record-setting group of Chiefs wide receivers that managed to go the entire 2014 season without catching a single touchdown pass. It was the third straight mediocre season for Bowe, who has averaged approximately 59 receptions and 743 yards per year since 2012, on the heels of back-to-back 1,100-yard seasons in 2010 and 2011. Despite all the warning signs, the Browns went ahead and signed Bowe to a lucrative deal last offseason. In 2015, Bowe saw time in only 7 games, catching 5 passes for 53 yards.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.