Another day, another Browns trade. ESPN’s Field Yates reports (via Twitter) that Cleveland has traded defensive tackle Danny Shelton to the Patriots for a conditional draft pick. ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets that the Browns will receive a 2019 third-round pick from the Patriots, while New England added a 2018 fifth-round pick from Cleveland. The two teams had been discussing the trade for several days, reports TheMMQB’s Albert Breer (via Twitter).
The 2015 first-round pick has spent the past three seasons in Cleveland, starting 45 of his 46 appearances. Following a productive campaign in 2016, Shelton’s numbers took a step back in 2017, as he finished the season with 33 tackles and zero sacks in 14 games. After ranking Shelton favorably during his sophomore season, Pro Football Focus listed him 35th among 122 interior defender candidates following his 2017 performance.
Still, 6-foot-2, 335-pound Shelton will provide the Patriots with a big-body replacement for Alan Branch. The 24-year-old, who is set to earn a base salary of $2.03MM in 2018, will presumably slide into the Patriots starting lineup, displacing either Lawrence Guy or former first-rounder Malcom Brown. New England is also rostering Vincent Valentine and Adam Butler. As ESPN’s Mike Reiss tweets, Shelton has shown the ability to perform in various schemes, and Bill Belichick will surely appreciate the lineman’s versatility. The Patriots will also have to decide whether they want to pick up Shelton’s fifth-year option by early May. As NESN’s Doug Kyed tweets, the project cost for a defensive tackle will be around $7MM.
This is the Browns fourth trade in less than 24 hours. Yesterday, the Browns completed deals for Jarvis Landry, Tyrod Taylor, and Damarious Randall, and they sent out 2017 second-rounder DeShone Kizer in the process. With Shelton now out of the picture, the Browns are rostering four defensive tackles: Larry Ogunjobi, Trevon Coley, Caleb Brantley, and Jeremy Faulk.
You have to like what Cleveland is doing. The new management is bringing in their own players and gonna get guys they think fit their team
Low cost, High rewards for the Patriots.
Yeah maybe they will finish 2-14 this year!
The Patriots will definitely be better than that….
Shelton will all of a sudden become an All-Pro with NE.
If you aren’t going to exercise his fifth year option, you might as well get something for him. Ogunjobi and Brantley are promising, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see them pick another defensive tackle.
Browns run a 4-3 defense now. The Pats run a 3-4. Shelton was drafted as a nose tackle and tried to play tackle in a 4-3 but was not as well suited to it as several other Browns’ players. Trade makes sense for both sides. The impending fifth year option made it smart to dump him now.
I agree with everything you just said
Exactly right. I liked Shelton though. I think Coley and Ogunjobi are probably better scheme fits. And Brantley is still around. Certainly another DT will be signed though.
Has Howie Rosenberg been hired in Cleveland? I like what they’re doing, hopefully they finally get it together.
I’m calling it now – this opens up a spot on the D-Line for the Browns to add Ndamukong Suh from Miami. If that happens, Clowns no more.
I would be shocked if that were to happen. But idk what to think after these last couple days.
Could def c them get Payne from bama first pick in the second round if he falls. Shelton really doesn’t do much but clog up rushing lanes and he’s not overly productive. He will play the Vince Wilfork role in New England just fine.
What are the conditions if the Browns receive a 3rd while the Pats get a 5th. Doesn’t sound like any conditions in that statement
Yeah I would like a better breakdown on what Pats are giving up or could give up. Especially considering Belichick has been giving away draft picks the last couple of years like a drunken sailor on shore leave.
Since it’s a 2019 3rd and they have to decide to pick up his option, I’m guessing that 3rd could be a4th or later if certain conditions aren’t met. NE seems to like to make these picks they trade away conditional.
I don’t know much about this guy, is he any good for the Pats D?
Beef… It will help a lot. Love it for the pats D
Good young replacement for aging Allen Branch at less money. Know Pats don’t have to worry about interior D line… of course they still need an edge rusher opposite Flowers, maybe a LB like Preston and though it was nice to dream of a Talib reunion, I’m happy as hell they didn’t grab Sherman for that kind of money which could be better spent on keeping as older protecting TB12 from blind side hits:::