Jourdan Brooks

Browns To Sign Jamaal Westerman, Edgar Jones

2:28pm: In addition to Westerman, the Browns have also struck an agreement to sign linebacker Edgar Jones, according to agent Marc Lillibridge of Pro Football Syndicate (via Twitter). Although he played 74 defensive snaps last season in Dallas, Jones has played primarily on special teams during his seven-year career with the Ravens, Chiefs, and Cowboys.

1:39pm: Free agent linebacker Jamaal Westerman has agreed to a deal and will sign with the Browns, according to his representatives at Eastern Athletics Agency (Twitter link).

Westerman, 29, spent his first three seasons with the Jets, but has bounced around among several teams in the last two years. The Rutgers product appeared in a handful of games for the Colts and Cardinals in 2012, then played for the Bills and Steelers last season. In 12 contests for Buffalo, Westerman contributed on defense and special teams, logging nine tackles and splitting a sack.

No roster move is necessary to make room for Westerman, since the team already has multiple open roster spots, but the Browns are cutting running back Jourdan Brooks and wideout Kenny Shaw anyway, per Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer (Twitter link). The series of moves will leave the club with 87 players on its 90-man roster, so more signings figure to follow at some point.

Minor Moves: Browns, Jets, Raiders

We’ve already taken a look today at some minor moves from around the NFL. Let’s take a look at some more transactions from the AFC…

  • The Browns have signed receiver Anthony Armstrong, reports ProFootballTalk.com (via Twitter). The 31-year-old has 54 catches for 986 yards and five touchdowns over 34 career games.
  • Running back Jourdan Brooks has signed with the Browns, announced agent Scott Bergman (via Twitter). Brooks spent last season with the Bengals.
  • The Browns also announced the signings (on Twitter) of receiver Taylor Gabriel, offensive lineman Randall Harris, defensive lineman Jacobbi McDaniel, defensive back Robert Nelson and tight end James Oboh.
  • The Browns announced that they have waived running back Jamaine Cook, receivers Josh Cooper and Tori Gurley, offensive lineman Anthony Dima, fullback Chris Pressley, tight end Andre Smith and defensive lineman Elhadji Ndiaye.
  • The Jets have signed linebacker A.J. Edds and offensive lineman Markus Zusevics, reports Randy Lange on NewYorkJets.com. To make room on the roster, the team cut receiver Dwight Jones and offensive lineman Jacolby Ashworth.
  • The Raiders have signed linebacker Bojay Filimoeatu and cornerback Jansen Watson, tweets Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun. The team added wideout Greg Little earlier today.
  • The Raiders also waived receiver D.J. Coles and cornerbacks Johnny Adams and Frank Beltre, reports Jerry McDonald of the Oakland Tribune (via Twitter).
  • The Texans made an assortment of moves (via Aaron Wilson’s Twitter): they added receiver Lacoltan Bester and defensive tackle Julius Warmsley, cut defensive lineman Tyrone Ezell and receivers Nathan Slaughter and Andy Cruse, and waived injured offensive tackle Chris Martin.
  • The Dolphins added former North Dakota State quarterback Brock Jensen, the team announced on Twitter. Miami also inked linebacker Chris McCain.

Browns Notes: Manziel, Draft, Gordon, Brooks

Following the first night of the draft, Browns GM Ray Farmer dismissed the notion that owner Jimmy Haslam tried to influence any of the team’s selections, including the trade up for Johnny Manziel. Farmer reiterated that point today, according to Pat McManamon of ESPN.com (via Twitter).

“I can tell you with 100% certainty that Jimmy Haslam at no point demanded, requested, tried to influence the process in any way,” Farmer said.

Here’s more on the Browns:

  • Farmer confirmed that, before trading up to No. 22 for Manziel, the Browns attempted to move up to the Titans’ pick at No. 11, tweets Marla Ridenour of the Akron Beacon Journal. According to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer (via Twitter), the Browns GM said the club had “a bundle” of potential targets in mind as it tried to trade up.
  • Farmer on the Cowboys not taking Manziel at No. 16: “I don’t think I was surprised as much as I was happy” (Twitter link via Ridenour).
  • Although there are published reports suggesting Josh Gordon is facing a season-long suspension, Farmer said he still can’t comment on the situation, adding that he understands fans’ frustration and disappointment (Twitter link via Cabot).
  • Agent Scott Bergman tells PFR (via Twitter) that his client, running back Jourdan Brooks, has been invited to try out at Cleveland’s minicamp. Brooks, who played his college ball at Morgan State, previously spent time in camp with the Bengals.