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Browns To Keep Odell Beckham Jr.

April 17th, 2020 at 1:33pm CST by Zachary Links

The Browns say they aren’t trading Odell Beckham Jr. to the Vikings. Or, for that matter, any other team in the NFL. After talking with multiple Browns sources, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) reports that OBJ is “firmly” in the team’s plans for 2020. 

[RELATED: Browns Say OBJ/Vikings Rumblings Are “Completely False”]

Rapoport’s sources in Cleveland “literally laughed” when asked about the prospect of dealing the wide receiver. ESPN’s Adam Schefter’s source echoes those sentiments, saying that the Browns have had no discussions this offseason about trading OBJ (Twitter link). Despite the drama and weirdness that comes with Beckham, he stands as one of the most talented receivers in the league. The Browns – who have been denying trade speculation for months – have every reason to try and make things work.

In his first year with the Browns, Beckham had his worst performance in any full season. But, before he relocated to Ohio, Beckham was an absolute monster in New York. OBJ topped 1,300 yards in each of his first three seasons, including a career-high 1,450 yards in 2015. And, after his lost 2017 season, he still managed 77 catches, 1,052 yards, and six touchdowns in just 12 games.

The former first-rounder left the Giants as one of their all-time highest ranked receivers in catches, receiving yards, and touchdown receptions. So far, he’s indicated that he wants to stick around in Cleveland to do the same for the Browns.

Besides, they paid a fortune for Beckham. The Browns shipped 2019 first- and third-round picks to the Giants, plus Jabrill Peppers and Kevin Zeitler, to acquire Olivier Vernon and the star receiver.

Browns: We’re Not Trading OBJ To Vikings

April 16th, 2020 at 8:10pm CST by Zachary Links

This week, rumors of an Odell Beckham Jr. trade with the Vikings nearly broke the internet. Today, Browns Chief Strategy Officer Paul DePodesta went on the record to pour cold water on those rumblings. 

[RELATED: Browns Eyeing Trade Back For Boise State OL?]

“In short, I will just say it was completely false,” DePodesta told reporters (Twitter link via Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com). “It’s a frustrating a little bit. I think it is pretty clear we are trying to build at this point…The idea that we would take away from that core at this moment just does not make a whole lot of sense and is not really something that we are exploring at all.”

Of course, OBJ is no stranger to the pages of Pro Football Rumors. The mercurial wide receiver has been viewed as a potential trade candidate for some time. In December, Jay Glazer of FOX Sports reported that the former first-round pick wanted out of Cleveland. And, according to Glazer, he went so far as to tell opposing players, “come get me.” Soon after, Beckham did his best to quell the speculation:

“I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be here,” OBJ said. “We’ll figure this thing out. It’s just too special to leave…We’re going to be here. We’re going to do it again. And we’re going to be what we felt like we should’ve been.”

Still, the rumor mill continued to churn. The 49ers, who were in talks with the Giants before Beckham was traded to the Browns, were thought to be a possible destination for him just last month. But, despite all of the friction, the new regime led by Andrew Berry insisted that OBJ was still in the plans.

Beckham finished 2019 with his worst career full-season stat line: 74 receptions, 1,035 yards, and four touchdowns. Still, he remains one of the league’s most dangerous offensive weapons.

With the exception of the Giants, just about every NFL team would welcome OBJ into the lineup. The Vikings, however, just moved on from wide receiver drama by trading Stefon Diggs to the Bills. After that deal, giving up valuable draft picks for Beckham would make little sense.

2020 NFL Draft Capital By Team

April 16th, 2020 at 5:46pm CST by Zachary Links

Every NFL team automatically gets seven draft picks per season, but thanks to lots of trades and the compensatory pick process, many clubs end up with more (or less) than their original seven selections. After running down the NFL Draft round-by-round, let’s take a look at how much draft capital each club has amassed:

Updated: 4-16-20 (6:00pm CT)

14 picks

  • Miami Dolphins

12 picks

  • Jacksonville Jaguars
  • Minnesota Vikings
  • New England Patriots

10 picks

  • Denver Broncos
  • Green Bay Packers
  • New York Giants

9 picks

  • Baltimore Ravens
  • Detroit Lions

8 picks

  • Carolina Panthers
  • New York Jets
  • Philadelphia Eagles

7 picks

  • Buffalo Bills
  • Chicago Bears
  • Cincinnati Bengals
  • Cleveland Browns
  • Dallas Cowboys
  • Houston Texans
  • Indianapolis Colts
  • Las Vegas Raiders
  • Los Angeles Chargers
  • Los Angeles Rams
  • Seattle Seahawks
  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  • San Francisco 49ers
  • Washington Redskins

6 picks

  • Arizona Cardinals
  • Atlanta Falcons
  • Pittsburgh Steelers
  • Tennessee Titans

5 picks

  • Kansas City Chiefs
  • New Orleans Saints

Browns Eyeing OL Ezra Cleveland?

April 16th, 2020 at 2:12pm CST by Zachary Links

“Buzz is building” around the Browns and offensive lineman Ezra Cleveland, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). The Browns could consider a trade back in the first round, allowing them to take the big man out of Boise State.

[RELATED: No Truth To Browns/OBJ Talk]

At 6’6″ and 300+ pounds, Cleveland has been moving up the boards over the past couple of months. At the combine, he impressed in his on-field drills, bringing him closer to the top tier of offensive lineman in this year’s class.

Jedrick Wills, Mekhi Becton, Tristan Wirfs, and Andrew Thomas figure to be the first tackles selected, but Cleveland has also made a case to be an early pick. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein lauds Cleveland’s quick feet and ability to accelerate, skills that could allow him to thrive in the Browns’ multi-faceted offense. At the same time, the draft guru notes that Cleveland is green in some areas – his play strength, punch timing, and ability to separate all need some fine-tuning.

With help from the NFL Research team, Rapoport notes that this would be just the fifth time that a drafted player shared the same name as his team’s city. The Browns also have some experience in that area. Since 1970, they’ve selected seven players with the last name Brown. And, in 1957, they selected the legendary Jim Brown. Soon, we’ll know whether Cleveland gets share a similar status.

Cabot: No Truth To Vikings-OBJ Rumor

April 15th, 2020 at 5:24pm CST by Sam Robinson
  • A rumor circulated Wednesday connecting the Browns to engaging in Odell Beckham Jr. trade discussions with the Vikings. The rumor indicated the proposed compensation discussed was a package featuring second- and fifth-round picks. Quickly debunking this, cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot reports no such talks occurred (Twitter link). It would be odd to see the Vikings shed Stefon Diggs‘ contract only to add Beckham’s $18MM-AAV deal. Beckham was again mentioned in trade rumors at the end of last season, but the latest Browns regime said the plan is to keep the star wideout for the 2020 season. Beckham’s deal could become a trade asset at some point, with the Giants having eaten all the dead money associated with it.
  • One of many defenders with whom the Browns agreed to one-year contracts, Karl Joseph remains in limbo to a degree. The former Raiders safety suffered a broken foot last season and underwent surgery. However, Joseph has not taken a Browns physical yet, Cabot notes. Joseph is the only member of this Browns free agency class not to have taken his physical, Cabot adds. There are no plans for Joseph to take a physical in the near future, but GM Andrew Berry does not expect this to be an issue that nixes the parties’ $2.5MM agreement.

2020 NFL Cap Room By Team

April 12th, 2020 at 6:38pm CST by Zachary Links

The biggest names in NFL free agency might be off the board, but there are still plenty of noteworthy players on the board and high-profile cuts on the way. And, while some teams did their spending early, others are still sitting on lots of cash.

The latest cap figures from OverTheCap show that several teams are poised to pounce in the latter waves of free agency, starting with the Browns. The numbers also show that teams like the Rams still have work to do in order to sign their upcoming draft class. Also, the Eagles’ 2020 figure doesn’t quite tell the whole story – thanks to high-priced multi-year deals including Darius Slay’s new contract, they’re already overcommitted on dollars for 2021.

Here’s the complete rundown for all 32 teams, in descending order of cap space:

  1. Browns – $40.2MM
  2. Lions – $29.5MM
  3. Eagles – $27.1MM
  4. Colts – $24MM
  5. Dolphins – $23.9MM
  6. Redskins – $23.8MM
  7. Chargers – $22.3MM
  8. Titans – $21.5MM
  9. Bills – $20.9MM
  10. Texans – $18.6MM
  11. Broncos – $17.5MM
  12. Giants – $17.1MM
  13. Jets – $15.5MM
  14. Jaguars – $14.6MM
  15. Cowboys – $13.6MM
  16. Buccaneers – $13.5MM
  17. 49ers – $13.4MM
  18. Seahawks – $12.6MM
  19. Vikings – $12.3MM
  20. Ravens – $11.3MM
  21. Packers – $11.08MM
  22. Bears – $11.03MM
  23. Panthers – $9.4MM
  24. Raiders – $8.8MM
  25. Bengals – $7.3MM
  26. Steelers – $7.2MM
  27. Cardinals – $7MM
  28. Saints – $5.3MM
  29. Chiefs – $2.9MM
  30. Falcons – $2.4MM
  31. Patriots – $1.2MM
  32. Rams – (-$5.3MM)

Browns Hold Chat With Andrew Thomas

April 11th, 2020 at 4:00pm CST by Sam Robinson
  • Viewed as a landing spot for one of this draft’s top tackles, the Browns are doing their homework. They had planned to make Georgia alum Andrew Thomas one of their “30” visits, per Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com, but the NFL nixed pre-draft visits early in the process because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Browns instead conducted a video-chat session with the first-round talent. The Browns, who hold the No. 10 overall pick, have not addressed their left tackle need. They restructured Chris Hubbard‘s deal, however, putting the embattled right tackle in position to keep his job. Thomas saw time at both left and right tackle with the Bulldogs. Thomas said, via Cabot, he’s spoken to seven or eight teams — mostly those with top-10 picks.

Poll: Where Will Jadeveon Clowney Sign?

April 6th, 2020 at 11:39am CST by Zachary Links

It’s April and defensive end Jadeveon Clowney is still without an NFL team. The former No. 1 overall pick isn’t coming off of a banner year, but he plays a premium position and has 32 career sacks to his credit. So, what gives? 

Of course, his price tag is his biggest blocker. Clowney came into the offseason seeking a deal worth $20MM per year. Recently, he backed down from that position, though the incumbent Seahawks are believed to be offering between $13-$15MM per annum, which is still probably less than he’s willing to accept.

A reunion still seems possible, but Clowney’s camp is working to find a better deal in the interim. Late last week, the Browns entered the sweepstakes and some league officials believe that they have the strongest interest of any suitor. The Browns have tons of cap room – about $43MM – and they might be willing to use some of it to swap Olivier Vernon for Clowney. Of course, that might be easier said than done, since the Browns would still have to find a team willing to take on the rest of Vernon’s contract, which is set to pay him $15.25MM.

The Jets could use Clowney’s edge rushing ability, but they’ve been taking a conservative approach to free agency after whiffing on their preferred targets in March. The Titans have also been linked to him, thanks to Clowney’s relationship with head coach Mike Vrabel from their Houston days, but they’re less inclined to spend on the pass rush after committing $9MM to outside linebacker Vic Beasley.

Other teams have been connected to Clowney, like the Giants, Colts, and Dolphins, though their pass rush needs have already been addressed. The Eagles remain an interesting landing spot for him from a football perspective, and they have breathing room to work with for right now, but their 2021 situation could complicate things. In theory, Philly could still land Clowney if he is willing to accept a one-year deal. The Ravens – with less than $11MM in cap space for the current year – seem less likely to sign him. For the sake of casting a wide net, we’ll include all of those teams in our poll.

Where do you think Clowney will sign? Cast your vote in the poll below (link for app users) and back up your pick in the comments.

Keeping Vernon On Table For Browns?

April 5th, 2020 at 6:51pm CST by Sam Robinson

Browns Interested In Jadeveon Clowney

April 4th, 2020 at 2:35pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Browns have entered the enduring Jadeveon Clowney sweepstakes. Not only is Cleveland now involved in the Clowney pursuit, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports some around the league believe the Browns have come closer to a Clowney deal than other suitors thus far (Twitter link).

The Seahawks have been the team most closely connected to Clowney this offseason. While Seattle has tried to make a viable offer to keep the three-time Pro Bowler, Fowler adds that the team’s offer has not satisfied the Clowney camp to this point.

A Clowney-Browns scenario would be interesting given the team’s defensive end depth. The Browns already employ Myles Garrett and Olivier Vernon. A Clowney deal would point to Vernon being on the outs.

In late February, Vernon was linked to being a candidate for a pay cut or release. In the final year of his Giants-constructed contract, the veteran defensive end is set to earn $15.25MM. The Browns are not expected to pay him this much, but the former Dolphins and Giants pass rusher remains on the roster. The Browns have shopped Vernon, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal adds, but any deal would likely be contingent on Cleveland picking up some of his salary.

This week, both the Jets and Titans re-emerged as Clowney suitors. The former No. 1 overall pick also dropped his price off the $20MM-per-year mark. However, the Seahawks’ proposal likely lands between $13-$15MM per year.

Cleveland’s $43MM-plus in cap space leads the NFL by a wide margin. Seattle currently holds less than $15MM in cap room.

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