Cleveland Browns Rumors & News - Pro Football Rumors

Browns To Decline Andy Janovich’s Option

March 8th, 2022 at 2:30pm CST by Zachary Links

The Browns will decline the option on Andy Janovich’s deal (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). With that, the fullback is now on course for free agency in March.

Janovich has appeared in 77 career games for the Broncos and Browns over the last six years. This year, he just missed the cut as a Pro Bowler, winding up as an alternate for the game. With his 29th birthday just around the bend in May, Janovich is regarded as one of the league’s best fullbacks.

The Browns could still circle back to Janovich at a lesser-rate, but it’s not currently clear whether that’s in the cards. Even if the Browns don’t look to re-sign him, he should find a healthy market for his services. Ultimately, it’ll come down to how many teams will want to use a fullback in their offense this year and his own tolerance for waiting. While free agency officially opens on March 16th, teams will look to prioritize premium positions first, which may mean sitting things out until the second wave of free agency.

In other Browns news, the club has placed the franchise tag on tight end David Njoku. Now, they’ll turn their attention to a long-term deal, one that could pay him upwards of $10MM per season.

Browns Place Franchise Tag On David Njoku

March 7th, 2022 at 11:57am CST by Adam La Rose

The Browns are staying true to their stated goal of keeping David Njoku in the fold. Per a team announcement, they have placed the franchise tag on the tight end.

One week ago, it was reported that Cleveland was intent on making a sizeable commitment to the 25-year-old. Specifically, a deal paying him eight figures per season on average was said to be what the team is willing to offer. That came as a surprise to many, mainly because of the presence of Austin Hooper and his contract. The former Falcon signed a then record-breaking deal for tight ends, which keeps him on the books in Cleveland until 2024.

For each of the next two seasons, Hooper will carry a cap hit of $13.25MM. If he plays on the tag, Njoku will make $10.8MM, giving the Browns an expensive tandem at the position, especially considering their combined production. In 2021, the pair totalled 820 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. Nevertheless, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport confirms that the team is treating the tag as simply a means of buying time for a long-term extension (Twitter link).

A first round pick in 2017, Njoku’s best season came one year later, when he posted 56 catches for 639 yards and four majors. Despite not putting up eye-popping numbers during his five seasons with the team, he has ultimately shown a willingness to stick around, in spite of the investment made in Hooper. For at least one more campaign, he will be able to do just that.

The team also announced they have tendered three exclusive rights free agents: wide receiver Ja’Marcus Bradley, as well as offensive linemen Michael Dunn and Blake Hance.

Latest On Browns C J.C. Tretter, O-Line Plans

March 6th, 2022 at 12:57pm CST by Rory Parks

Browns center J.C. Tretter profiles as a potential cap casualty, given that his release would save the team $8.2MM against the cap while incurring a modest $1.6MM dead money charge. Cleveland GM Andrew Berry recently addressed Tretter’s status, and he stopped short of confirming Tretter will be back in 2022, the final year of his current contract.

“For all of these situations on our roster, we work through them over the next couple weeks,” Berry said (via Marla Ridenour of the Akron Beacon Journal). “J.C.’s been a real productive veteran for us, he’s been a starter since 2017 for us and played a lot of really good football, we expect him to continue to play some really good football.”

Tretter, 31, has dealt with ankle and knee injuries over the past three seasons, but he has missed just one game since joining the Browns in 2017 (which came in Week 16 of the 2021 season and which was due to a positive COVID-19 test). Although he has never made a Pro Bowl, Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics have consistently rated him as a high-end starter, with a grade no lower than 72.0 since 2018. And with the Browns angling for a postseason berth in 2022, a quality veteran on a reasonable salary at the pivot is a nice luxury for Berry to have.

That is especially true when considering that RT Jack Conklin, who recently restructured his deal, missed 10 games in 2021 due to a variety of injuries, including a torn patellar tendon. Berry said that Conklin is “doing well” in his recovery, but in light of the play-time incentives included in the reworked contract, it seems as if there is at least a chance that Conklin will miss game action in 2022.

If that happens, though, the Browns do not plan to shift LT Jedrick Wills to the right side. Wills had some injury issues of his own in 2021 and did not play particularly well in his 13 contests, but he is going to stay right where he is, despite his RT experience in high school and college.

“No, Jed will stay at left tackle,” Berry said. “We feel good about the depth that we have at the tackle position.”

Berry did leave open the possibility of supplementing that depth. Swingman Chris Hubbard, who played in just one game in 2021 due to a triceps injury, is eligible for free agency, and as a result of the health issues experienced by Hubbard, Wills, and Conklin, 2021 fourth-rounder James Hudson and former Jets taxi squad member Blake Hance were forced into significant action.

On the plus side, 2020 fifth-rounder Nick Harris played well in Tretter’s absence last year. If Berry were to move on from Tretter, that would suggest that he has considerable faith in Harris.

In related news, head coach Kevin Stefanski will continue calling the team’s offensive plays, per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com (via Twitter). This is despite the fact that Alex Van Pelt no longer has to pull double-duty as offensive coordinator and QB coach.

Browns Unlikely To Re-Sign Rashard Higgins

March 4th, 2022 at 11:06am CST by Zachary Links

The Browns are expected to part ways with wide receiver Rashard Higgins, according to sources who spoke with Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. Nothing’s official yet, but that’s the likely outcome as the Browns look ahead to free agency later this month. Cabot also hears that defensive tackle Malik McDowell is trending towards a non-tender.

The 2016 fifth-round pick has spent his entire career in Cleveland, appearing in 82 regular season games in parts of six seasons. The wideout had one of his best seasons in 2020, hauling in 37 receptions for 599 yards and four touchdowns. In 2021, he finished with just 24 grabs for 275 yards and one touchdown in 15 games. All in all, the 27-year-old has collected 137 career receptions for 1,890 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Higgins re-upped with the Browns last year on a one-year, $2.37MM deal. He likely could have fetched a similar contract in 2021 but, this time around, he’d be looking at a much softer market.

Just a year ago, the Browns figured their receiving corps was set for years to come with Higgins backing top targets Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry. Now, OBJ is in Los Angeles following a messy divorce and Landry profiles as a potential release candidate. The five-time Pro Bowler has one year left on his deal with a 2022 cap hit of $16.4MM — cutting him would clear the bulk of it with just $1.5MM in dead money remaining. A restructuring is also possible, though they’d have to furnish Landry with more in the way of guarantees.

In other Browns news, the team is reportedly willing to keep tight end David Njoku off the market with a ~$10MM/year deal.

Browns Won’t Extend QB Baker Mayfield This Offseason

March 3rd, 2022 at 9:14pm CST by Ben Levine

It sounds like 2022 will be a prove-it year for Baker Mayfield. According to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, the Browns met with Mayfield’s representatives this week and agreed that the quarterback wouldn’t sign an extension this offseason. However, the Browns reiterated their commitment to Mayfield as their starting QB in 2022.

This means Mayfield will play out the 2022 season on his fully guaranteed, $18.8MM salary (via his fifth-year option). The 26-year-old would be a free agent next offseason.

2021 wasn’t a banner year for Mayfield (17 touchdowns vs. 13 interceptions), but he was clearly hampered by his injured shoulder. The former first-overall pick underwent surgery on a torn labrum in January, which will keep him sidelined until May or June. Fortunately, he’s expected to be good to go for training camp, and Mayfield will have an opportunity to prove that he’s truly the team’s QB of their future.

Mayfield and the Browns have had their ups and downs through his four years in Cleveland, and an underwhelming 2021 campaign (couple with a lack of substantial extension talks) have led some to question the Browns commitment to their QB. Despite the rumblings, we learned last month that the Browns will planning to retain Mayfield for the 2022 campaign.

Browns Want To Keep TE David Njoku, Willing To Pay $10MM+

February 28th, 2022 at 9:53pm CST by Ben Levine

The Browns are motivated to keep David Njoku in Cleveland. Mary Kat Cabot of Cleveland.com writes that the organization “definitely” wants to retain their tight end.

Specifically, the front office is “prepared to pay him the double-digit millions” that he’d presumably command on the open market. The team has also had consistent talks with Njoku’s representatives over the past few months. The report seems to hint that Njoku will listen to other suitors, but the Browns will be waiting with a sizable offer.

This news comes as a bit of a surprise after the organization inked Austin Hooper to a hefty four-year, $44MM deal in 2020. Njoku subsequently requested a trade, but his camp rescinded that request a few months later, and the tight end has remained in Cleveland. Things have clearly gotten better between the two sides; before this past season, Njoku made it clear that he wants to stay with the organization.

“I’ve been here (Cleveland) for four years going on five,” Njoku said in August. “I don’t know anything different. I want to keep being here.”

While Njoku will presumably command a hefty pay day when he hits free agency, the former first-round pick hasn’t put up huge numbers during his time in Cleveland. He topped out in 2018 with 639 receiving yards and four touchdowns. After a pair of underwhelming, injury-riddle seasons in 2019 and 2020, the 25-year-old somewhat bounced back in 2021, finishing with 36 receptions for 475 yards and four scores.

Browns Rework Jack Conklin’s Contract

February 26th, 2022 at 12:45pm CST by Ben Levine

The Browns are starting to carve out some extra cap space. Per ESPN’s Field Yates (via Twitter), the Browns have reworked the final year of offensive lineman Jack Conklin‘s contract.

As Yates notes, Conklin was due a non-guaranteed $12MM in 2022. Now, he’ll earn $8MM in fully guaranteed money, plus up to $4MM in play-time incentives (starting at 55% and up to 75%). Conklin initially signed a three-year, $42MM deal with the Browns in 2020.

Now, Conklin will be locked in for 2022, he can still earn up to the $12MM he was due, and the Browns save $4MM in cap space. The Browns already entered the offseason with plenty of breathing room under the cap, with ESPN’s Jake Trotter citing their projected cap space at $27.32MM.

Following a four-year stint with the Titans that had both highs (like earning All-Pro honors as a rookie) and lows (like having his fifth-year option declined), Conklin joined the Browns in 2020. He started all 15 of his games in 2020 and earned another All-Pro nod, but he was limited to only seven starts in 2021 after suffering a torn patellar tendon.

Browns Make Changes To Coaching Staff

February 26th, 2022 at 11:28am CST by Ben Levine

The Browns coaching staff will look at bit different next season. Per Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal, the Browns have promoted Drew Petzing to quarterbacks coach.

Petzing has made a name for himself as Cleveland’s tight ends coach, leading to him getting an interview for the Raiders offensive coordinator gig. While he didn’t end up getting that major promotion, he will be taking on a larger role on the Browns’ offense.

“We feel like he has a unique perspective that he can contribute with those quarterbacks and help in their development,” head coach Kevin Stefanski said (via Ulrich). “He’s an important piece of our offensive staff, and we’re excited to get him and [offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt] working together.”

Stefanski didn’t have a QB coach on his staff through the first two years of his tenure in Cleveland, with Van Pelt basically holding those duties. The Browns filled their new TEs coach opening by promoting T.C. McCartney.

With McCartney getting a bump, the Browns have also promoted Jonathan Decoster to offensive assistant to offensive quality control coach. Decoster has had coaching stints at Old Dominion, West Virginia State, Nevada, and LSU. Per Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com, the Browns have also moved Ashton Grant to offensive quality control coach, moved Stephen Bravo-Brown from defensive quality control coach to assistant special teams coach, and added the title of “assistant wide receivers coach” to chief of staff Callie Brownson. The Browns also hired Jordan Thomas as assistant defensive line coach and Jeff Anderson as defensive quality control coach.

Coaching Notes: Ravens, Colts, Bills, Browns

February 24th, 2022 at 10:15pm CST by Ben Levine

Ken Norton Jr. is heading to the NCAA. The long-time coach is expected to join UCLA as their new linebackers coach, reports Bruce Feldman of The Athletic (via Twitter).

Norton Jr. started his coaching career with USC, but he’s been in the NFL since 2010. After winning three Super Bowl rings as a player, Norton Jr. added another championship to his resume as the Seahawks linebackers coach. After five seasons in Seattle, Norton Jr. was defensive coordinator for three years with the Raiders and four years with the Seahawks (second stint).

Norton Jr. was let go by Seattle following the 2021 campaign. Now, he’ll be joining Chip Kelly’s staff in Los Angeles.

More coaching notes:

The Ravens announced that they’ve officially promoted Anthony Weaver to be their assistant head coach/defensive line coach. Weaver had a long coaching stint with the Texans, culminating in him serving as their defensive coordinator in 2020. The 41-year-old joined the Ravens last year as their defensive line coach/run game coordinator.
Former NFL safety Mike Mitchell is joining the Colts staff as an assistant secondary coach, according to Stephen Holder of The Athletic (on Twitter). Mitchell had a 10-year playing career, including a one-year stint with Indianapolis. The Colts are also hiring Nate Ollie as their defensive line coach, per Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com (via Twitter). Following two seasons with the Eagles, Ollie spent last season as the Jets assistant defensive line coach.
Bills secondary coach John Butler got a promotion, adding the role of defensive passing game coordinator to his title, according to Wilson. The veteran has spent the past four seasons as the secondary coach in Buffalo. The Bills also confirmed a number of additional hires, including Kyle Shurmur (defensive quality control coach), Nick Lacy (strength and conditioning assistant coach), Marcus West (assistant defensive line coach), Jaylon Finner (defensive quality control coach), Cory Harkey (assistant special teams coach), and Austin Gund (fellowship coach).
The Browns are expected to promote offensive assistant T.C. McCartney to tight ends coach, according to Wilson (on Twitter). The 32-year-old has bounced around the NFL a bit during his coaching journey. After spending the 2019 campaign as the Broncos quarterbacks coach, McCartney spent the 2020 season as an offensive assistant on the Browns.

Latest On Browns’ Jarvis Landry

February 22nd, 2022 at 8:57am CST by Adam La Rose

Amidst speculation that the Browns could move on from wideout Jarvis Landry, the veteran made his stance on the matter clear on Tuesday. In a trio of tweets, he updated his injury status, while publicly stating his intention of remaining with Cleveland.

“I came back to play in the best shape of my life”, Landry wrote. However, he suffered an MCL sprain in Week 2, which landed him on IR. He then “came back way too early and ended up staying hurt the entire season”. That injury, amongst others, limited the 29-year-old to 12 games in 2021. He recorded career-lows in catches (52), yards (570) and touchdowns (two) in what was a disappointing campaign for the Browns’ offense as a whole.

After the team was eliminated from playoff contention in January, questions arose regarding what the team would do to handle the five-time Pro Bowler’s contract, which has one year left on it. His 2022 cap hit is scheduled to be roughly $16.4MM, so a restructure could be a viable option. However, the Browns would only be saddled with $1.5MM of dead money if they cut Landry, who might welcome a fresh start after a down season and the messy departure of his close friend Odell Beckham Jr.

Landry further explained that his injuries were the reason for him missing media availability, which was another cause of speculation his days in Cleveland were numbered. However, Landry states that “I have put the ball in [the Browns’] court by telling them I would like to stay”. His presence would certainly help a WR corps which is lacking established production, although the team could try to start fresh at the position this offseason.

In that case, according to Landry, “I’m confident enough in myself to be a better healthy me this year and moving forward to helping do my part in winning a championship elsewhere”. What the team ultimately decides with him will certainly be one of the more intriguing storylines in Cleveland in the coming weeks.