The Browns are attempting to trade recently-acquired quarterback Brock Osweiler and a fifth-round pick in exchange for a third-round selection, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. If they can’t unload Osweiler via trade, the Browns will simply release him.
Cleveland’s move to acquire Osweiler from the Texans was solely about absorbing his cap charge in order to pick up a second-round pick, so it’s not a surprise that he isn’t in the club’s long-term plans. As previous reports have indicated, the Browns are willing to pay as much as half of Osweiler’s $16MM base salary in order to facilitate a trade. To do so, Cleveland would convert a portion of Osweiler’s salary into a signing bonus, and pay that figure before dealing him elsewhere.
Given the Browns’ ample cap space, they could probably negotiate Osweiler’s salary all the way down to $1MM, making the 26-year-old quarterback a much more valuable asset. Either way, other executives are skeptical Cleveland’s plan to flip Osweiler will be successful, as one personnel man told Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com “no one will do their new trade.”
Lol if that’s common knowledge then who in their right mind would trade for a guy that they could sign on the open market?
You’d trade for him because you’ll be guaranteed to get him. Once he’s on the open market you’ll have to contend with other teams
Because they could have him for $1 mil. As a backup, a guy with starting experience counting only $1 mil on your cap might be enticing. Matt Schaub, who can’t play at all anymore, just got $4.5 mil for 2 years to put this into perspective.
If I think the guy is a good back up and I can negotiate to pay him $1M with the Browns paying $15M and avoid him hitting the open market, why wouldn’t I give up a 7th round pick for him? 7th rounders have less than a 10% chance to be in the league in three years.
They will have to release him. Stupid Browns.
Why exactly would they have to release him? They just released Griffin, which means it opened up a spot.
Your comment is stupid.
Look at his user name. That says it all
Because no one will trade for him you genius. Your comment is stupid. Keep drinking the dirty Lake Erie koolaid.
Did you read the write up, 4×4?
Stupid for what ? Giving away 16 million of Jimmy Haslams dollars; for a valuable, 2nd round draft pick ?
They have more than enough cap space (plus some) to eat the entire contract.Then still go out and sign any free agent, or trade for any player they want. And still be far enough under the cap, to roll over big $$ into 2018!
So again, what exactly makes this move stupid ? I just explained it in English. Is it still too complex for you ? Should I send you an e-mail in crayon ?
The only person with a reason to find this move stupid,
is the Haslam’s personal accountant. I will take a crazy guess that is NOT you. So please stick to things you know something about. Like monster trucks, and having a “close” relationship with your sister!
A valuable 2nd round pick? Really? The Browns draft record is fairly poor… among all NFL teams they sit at the very bottom of the barrel when it comes to drafting successfully… That’s why they are always… ALWAYS picking high… ALWAYS… So, giving them a 2nd round pick is only valuable to the rest of the league in allowing a useful player to slide even further while the Cleveland Browns inevitably select the next guy who is either a complete bust or a guy that has talent but doesn’t translate to winning… the Browns are much better off keeping Osweiler… not that they should have traded for him in the beginning… But he at least has the advantage of having a couple of years of NFL experience… And he was “underperforming” before he came to the Browns so settling into a lifetime losing record shouldn’t be too hard for him… They should honestly try to work it out with Osweiler and give him a shot… You were going to lose anyway… CLEVELAND… Your draft record stinks…
It’s also a completely new front office in place who has had only 1 draft so far. It’s too early to say that this front office will continue the Browns’ streak of drafting bad.
I think the point is that the 2nd round pick already cost 16mil plus whatever the rookie contract will be for that 2nd round pick. Could be pretty expensive for an unknown player.
LoL he is better than anybody they have,play him what they have to lose.
16 more games lol
It was 15.
Just keep him, you’re not signing anyone, you let Pryor walk for peanuts and you’re going to be bad this year. Why not see if he can turn his career around and trade him next season. He’s still better than any QB you’ve had. If you were willing to pay RGIII why not give Brock a chance?
Let Pryor walk?? They offered multi year at 8 million and he took one year!!
Cant blame terelle for wanting a chance to win.
They didn’t let Pryor “walk”, his agents didn’t accept the Browns initial offer, so they turned to Kenny Britt. When Pryor get an offer from Washington, his agents never went back to the Browns to see if they would match or beat it. Browns didn’t let anyone just “walk”, this one was all on Pryor’s agents.
And once again, who is the source? Mary Kay has yet to get a single thing right this free agency period.
I say give him a try it cant hurt
Why don’t the Browns just waive a giant flag saying “We want to trade nothing of value”.
Unless this press release is player-driven, I fail to see their approach in trade. Not exactly a poker move to announce a complete lack of confidence in something you’re trying to showcase. I half thought they’d try him out worst-case or at least bluff like they might.
No one with half a brain would trade for him. Why? He stinks and if you do actually want him, just wait until the Browns are forced to cut him and have them pay for almost all of his contract. The Browns organization, regardless of who the owner is, who is in the front office, who the coaches are or who the players are – continues to be the worst franchise in sports. I laughed so hard when I saw they traded for Osweiler’s contract just to get a 2nd rounder. So funny.
What do you suppose they should’ve done with all that cap space, sit on it? Do nothing? Not try to get better? Too many fans are clueless about the crossing of team-building efforts and the business side of football. Stuff like this happens consistently in basketball, baseball, and hockey. Football is behind the curve. Hell, I wish the Jets were operating like Cleveland’s front office.
What is funny is that you do not comprehend why they did the deal
What is really funny is that this guy (not you) made an account with that name just to post that.
They did it to gain a 2nd round pick. I know that. Everyone knows that. But now they are going to be forced to cut him and eat his salary. I comprehend. Everyone comprehends.
The Browns could get every pick in the first three rounds and they would still mess it up. They are paying 16 million for that second round pick, plus the salary that goes to that selection. They could have put all of that money towards a player or multiple players. But that’s the Cleveland way – do the most stupid thing possible.
Saying they could have spent that money on a free agent or two, while true, is unlikely. No reason to add a few free agents when a core team isn’t in place. They wouldn’t really make any difference other than pleasing fans for a bit.
Until they successfully trade Osweiler and use those precise selections to make a noticeable improvement to the team (not Cleveland’s draft history) this is a $16M financial setback… nothing was gained… except Osweiler, who they seemingly don’t actually want… but they are gambling someone else will… or they could even potentially cut him… wow…. yeah, you’re right that it is a BOLD team-building move… wow
So you’re saying that as a GM, you wouldn’t trade a 4th rounder for a 2nd and 6th round picks? That’s essentially what the deal amounted up to. The Browns have a load of cap space that they aren’t using this season. Osweiler’s contract has no guaranteed money on it after this season (in simpler terms, once this next year is over, they can cut him and they won’t owe him anything).
Worst case for the Browns is they cut him/he plays terribly…but it’s not like they were expecting to compete this year. What makes this deal a potential steal for the Browns is if the Texans strike out on a veteran QB to lead them back to the playoffs. There’s a chance (admittedly a very small chance) the Texans are terrible this year…but then that would mean the 2nd rounder they gave up would be a high 2nd round pick. If any other well regarded franchise (Patriots, Packers, Steelers) made this deal, people would be raving about how they’re geniuses. Because it’s the Browns though, people are immediately questioning the move without actually taking a look at the other pieces of the deal or even having the slightest awareness of what the Browns current cap situation is like.
Just generalizing here, but typically more pro bowlers come from early rounds than later ones. Did a quick search on compensatory fourth rounders and the history isnt consistently good outside of one or two good ones. As such I have no problem with them getting the 2nd rounder. That being said, the established franchises with long standing front offices dont need to make desperate moves like this because they have drafted well already. Cleveland has to make these selections count for something to earn the benefit of the doubt.
I’d have to say that as a GM and football fan I’d try to move the Browns elsewhere… I’m pretty sure it’s Cleveland’s fault…
Location, location, location.
So you’re a GM? Please enlighten us as to which franchise you manage. Managing a team on Madden doesn’t count as “being a GM”.
Also, Cleveland’s fault? The same Cleveland that has the defending NBA champions and the AL champs?
Geez, and to think that this time a year ago the Texans fans were all giddy to be getting Osweiler.
Would you rather watch an A
Cut off my question…
Would you rather watch an A
3rd times the charm
Yes?