It’s a busy day for Browns receivers old and new. After acquiring Amari Cooper from the Dallas Cowboys, Cleveland has granted Jarvis Landry permission to seek a trade according to Adam Schefter.
On the same day they agreed to trade for WR Amari Cooper, the Browns also have granted permission to veteran WR Jarvis Landry to see a trade, per sources.
A separation always seemed to be inevitable at this point for Cleveland and Landry. Landry’s contract carries just $1.5 million in dead money for 2022 with a cap hit of $16.3+ million. If the two sides were unable to restructure the deal, a separation of some kind always appeared to be destined to happen at this time.
Jarvis Landry has been the best receiver on the Browns since arriving in 2018. In four seasons Landry has 288 receptions for 3,560 yards and 15 touchdowns. Theses numbers are less than his previous four years in Miami (400, 4,038, 22). The last two seasons for Landry in Cleveland have not been particularly productive with 72 receptions for 840 yards and three touchdowns in 2020 and only 52 receptions for 570 yards and two touchdowns in 2021. A change in offensive systems came prior to 2020 with Kevin Stefanski and Baker Mayfield was absolutely abysmal this last season.
There will be teams lining up for the services of Jarvis Landry. Landry’s stock is currently down, but that is due to the situation he is now leaving. Landry has the opportunity to sign a one-year deal, rebuild his value, and then cash in on the multi-year contract he deserves.
The Cleveland Browns have acquired wide receiver Amari Cooper in a trade with the Dallas Cowboys. Dallas had been fielding trade offers for Cooper for some time and eventually decided on Cleveland’s offer of two late picks. The Browns also acquired a sixth-round pick in the deal.
Cowboys are finalizing a trade to send WR Amari Cooper and a sixth-round pick to the Cleveland Browns for a 2022 fifth-round pick and a sixth-round pick, per league sources.
Cleveland is taking on the full contract of Cooper from Dallas. Of course a restructure could come into play. If it doesn’t, Cooper does not have any dead money that Cleveland would be responsible for after this upcoming season.
Amari Cooper is a talented player, but not a true number one receiver, something this offense still lacks. Cooper also has some improvisation to his route running, which is another term for freelancing, a significant problem for Baker Mayfield and his lack of chemistry with Odell Beckham Jr. Add that into an offense that does not have the best relationship historically with receivers and it is a bit of an odd fit. This could all change if there is a different quarterback in town and with recent reports surfacing it could happen.
The Cleveland Browns have decisions to make in regards to their impending free agents.
Like every team in the NFL, the Cleveland Browns have their fair share of impending free agents and must make decisions about who to keep and move on from. So the question is which players should Cleveland look to retain?
None of note
Jadeveon Clowney and David Njoku highlight the Browns free agent class and are sure to receive big deals in free agency. Other notable players include Chris Hubbard, D’Ernest Johnson, and Anthony Walker Jr.
Clowney played at a level that has not been seen for some time and unlikely to do so again. HIs 2021 performance will result in teams approaching the former first overall pick with large offers. Njoku has been a disappointment since being drafted in the first round in 2017 with underwhelming production spread across two rescinded trade requests. Too many overlook his lack of refinement in his skills due to his physical stature. Five years after being drafted Njoku has not developed into anything resembling a starting caliber tight end and only pure delusion would argue otherwise. Signing either player to big money deal could backfire big time.
(Note: Njoku was franchise tagged after this was published)
Hubbard has been in Cleveland for some time now and has played admirably. His 2021 campaign was cut short due to injury. That being said, Hubbard has been incredibly expensive for a backup and the Browns do have to manage their costs in certain areas.
Johnson has shown the ability to be a productive back in this league, but with Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt currently under contract they do need him at the moment. Unless the team moves on from Kareem Hunt, the Browns would be better off drafting a running back in the later rounds than signing Johnson to a deal.
Walker played adequately, but was not exactly what the Browns were hoping for. Totaling 113 tackles in 13 games which led the team by a considerable margin. While the accumulated tackles would be missed, there are other avenues to go to get something similar from a player who may even be more dynamic.
Who could the Browns keep?
Backup offensive linemen such as Blake Hance and Michael Dunn would be wise to keep around. Both have stepped in to play in a pinch the past two seasons and having consistency with the backup group helps limit any drop off in play in case of injury. Especially if the Browns move on from Hubbard in addition to weathering the storm with the undetermined return date of Jack Conklin and uncertain future of J.C. Tretter.
Stephen Carlson is another option that Cleveland could retain from this group. Carlson has played sparingly during his Browns tenure, but does play a position of value in this offense. If Njoku signs elsewhere and the team cuts ties with Austin Hooper they will need to address the position one way or another. With Harrison Bryant taking on a larger role, the team will need to sign at least one veteran tight end on a short deal in addition to drafting a tight end as well. Keeping Carlson could help in the consistency department due to having experience working in this offense.
Jadeveon Clowney is set to test the waters of free agency (again), the Cleveland Browns should let him walk.
When the Cleveland Browns signed Jadeveon Clowney prior to last season there was cautious optimism. Sure, Clowney has shown previously to be a talented player, but injuries and poor production in previous seasons led to questions about what he could actually contribute. 2021 saw Clowney play at a level not seen since his final season in Houston with nine sacks and 11 tackles for loss. This should lead to a lofty payday, a scenario the Browns should avoid at all costs.
Considering that Jadeveon Clowney was able to meet or exceed his numbers in 14 games with the Browns that he had in his 21 previous games should be a bit of a warning. Add in the fact that Clowney has a lengthy injury history, it is very possible that these numbers are not reached again for the rest of his career.
As far as contract is concerned, Jadeveon Clowney has signed one-year deals in back-to-back seasons. This is an attempt to perform at a high level and cash in on a multi-year deal, something he has not been able to acquire as he has played for four franchises in four seasons. The reality is that Clowney was channeling his inner Dennis Reynolds and Dennising not only the Browns this year, but Tennessee last season.
For those unfamiliar with the D.E.N.N.I.S. system from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, let the clip refresh your memory.
As far as how Jadeveon Clowney Dennis’d the Browns, it is simple.
D: Demonstrate Value
Clowney was able to produce at a level that nobody realistically expected, end of story.
E: Engage Physically
It’s football, football is a physical game.
N. Nurturing Dependence
Here is where the tone starts to change. Clowney was able to appear more important than he actually was. Without Myles Garrett on the other side of the line, Clowney is not able to be in the situations he found himself in leading to his production. A similar not so surprising phenomenon happened when playing with J.J. Watt.
N: Neglect Emotionally
The NFL is a business. Front offices and coaching staffs don’t let emotion interfere with their decisions, a player shouldn’t either.
I: Inspire Hope
Unless a player specifically closes the door on a return there is hope. Although a report stating the the Browns will let Clowney test free agency to gauge his value, ultimately this will fall on the player fair or not.
S: Separate Entirely
Here we are, the end. Moving on and finding a new home that will pay a ton of money over multiple years. Jadeveon Clowney was Andrew Berry’s white whale. After failing to sign him the year prior, Berry was able to bring Clowney to town and it was successful. The issue is that the Clowney signing was supposed to be the icing on the cake. Cleveland ended up being a middle of the road defense by the end of the season, an expectation that was more than fair.
Now the Browns find themselves in a situation where they are further from contention than a year ago. The front office will have to evaluate their priorities and who fits in with their team building process. Considering Andrew Berry said that the team will add talent like an expansion team, another year of Clowney seems out of the picture. Clowney will be looking for a bigger deal than what Cleveland would like to offer and will use his 2021 season as a bargaining chip in contract talks. Clowney’s production should attract many teams looking to overpay a player with an alarming injury history and inconsistent play. The Browns would be wise to let someone else pay Clowney and avoid a scenario which could very well blow up in their face.
The University of Pittsburgh quarterback has stated that he has spoken with the Cleveland Browns.
Kenny Pickett to Cleveland? While that is definitely putting the cart before the horse here, it is not as impossible as previously though. Pickett stated that the Browns were one of the first teams he talked to during Senior Bowl week.
Of course there is some unknown information here, notably who initiated the conversation. But either way, the fact that the Browns and Kenny Pickett are linked (in a way) does provide some intrigue for the upcoming draft. Cleveland does have Baker Mayfield on the last year of this rookie contract, but the uneven play four years in leave a lot to be desired. Considering Pickett in the first round is an interesting proposition for a team that needs to address the position one way or another. Whether or not Pickett is available at 13 is a different story and Cleveland may have to trade up if their plan is to draft the Pittsburgh quarterback.
In his fifth and final season at Pittsburgh, Kenny Pickett completed 67.2 percent of his passes for 4,319 yards, 42 touchdowns, and just seven interceptions in 13 games. If the Browns are not able to acquire a new signal caller via trade or free agency, the draft could be their best bet and Pickett may be their selection in the first round.
While the Cleveland Browns take the time to evaluate their quarterback position, considering a trade for Kirk Cousins should be on the table.
With the winds of change on the brink of blustering through the roster of the Minnesota Vikings, Kirk Cousins is a player who has been identified as a player possibly on the move. Minnesota has a coaching and GM vacancy and Cousins is in the final year of his deal which could provide the Browns with an opportunity to upgrade their own quarterback situation.
Things with Baker Mayfield have not quite worked out as expected after selecting him first overall in 2018 and a long term commitment between the two sides seems rather unlikely. Taking the opportunity to upgrade their own situation while giving Mayfield a fresh start elsewhere seems like a win-win. Kirk Cousins is not the most exciting quarterback option who may be available, but is much more attainable than the unlikely options of Aaron Rodgers, Deshaun Watson, or Russell Wilson.
Here’s the reality, Kirk Cousins is a better quarterback than Baker Mayfield, that is not really up for debate. The debate really comes up when discussing the amount of an upgrade he is versus what it would cost to acquire him. Cousins is at the top end of the tier of quarterback that Mayfield resides in, but is more consistent in his level of play. That consistency would go a long way for team that has lacked it not just during Mayfield’s tenure, but beforehand as well.
There is one more fact to consider in this equation. Browns vice president of of football operations Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is considered the favorite for Minnesota’s vacant GM position which would net Cleveland a compensatory third round pick in the upcoming draft and another in 2023. This follows a similar template from last season which saw Brad Holmes head to Detroit and subsequently trade Matthew Stafford to his former employer, the Los Angeles Rams. Kirk Cousins heading to Cleveland in a carbon copy deal is not as far fetched as it seems.
(Adofo-Mensah has since been hired as the Vikings general manager after this published).
Contract wise a new deal would be optimal as spreading out his salary over multiple seasons rather than take a massive cap hit for just one season would be more team friendly. This would also give the Browns flexibility to start Cousins for the next two seasons (and possibly a third) while allowing the team to address other needs in this draft that are not the quarterback position. Cleveland could then wait a year (if they wish) for what is perceived to be a better quarterback crop and hopefully draft the franchise quarterback that has eluded team for so long.
Does the addition of Kirk Cousins make the Browns a Super Bowl contender? Not necessarily, but it will allow for some growth in the offensive play-calling and a better idea of what the team has at the skill positions. Kevin Stefanski has been limited in what he has been able to do with Mayfield as his quarterback and has received criticism for what the offense has done on game day. Giving Stefanski a better quarterback would allow his offense to branch out in ways it currently cannot and finally provide the answer to which has been limiting the Browns offensively, the plays or the quarterback .Unfortunately for a certain faction of Browns fans they will not like the result as the limitations of their current signal caller will only become much more apparent.
The Cleveland Browns quarterback has declared that he will be stepping away from social media for the foreseeable future.
Baker Mayfield has decided to step away from social media, or at least that is what he is saying. The Browns quarterback made the below post Tuesday night stating his intentions. This comes just days after his usual passive aggressive tactic of liking a negative tweet about him and not too long after unnecessarily going after Mary Kay Cabot.
If anyone actually believes that Baker Mayfield is actually stepping away from social media they probably also believe in Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy. The reality is that Mayfield is unable to help himself when it comes to online activity. Even if he is not actively posting, there is a very real possibility he is doom scrolling and seeing what everyone is saying about him. That is before acknowledging that he is currently recovering from shoulder surgery and has a lot of down time. As anyone with a phone knows it is very easy to get lost in the internet when there is nothing to do and Baker Mayfield is not immune from that.
A CBS Sports mock draft has the Cleveland Browns selecting the Ohio State receiver 13th overall.
If there is one area that the Cleveland Browns need to improve in it is the wide receiver position. Wit hate uncertain future of Jarvis Landry in addition to only having Donovan Peoples-Jones and Anthony Schwartz under contract next season they need some help in this area. Ryan Wilson of CBS Sports has the Browns selecting Garrett Wilson out of Ohio State 13th overall in his latest mock draft. Wilson provided insight into the selection.
“The Browns have needs at wide receiver, for sure, but the talking points in the coming months will likely concern the QB position. We think Baker Mayfield is much better than he showed last season, in part because he wasn’t healthy. Wilson is one of the the most dynamic players in college football and he’ll give Mayfield another downfield option now that Odell Beckham Jr. is in L.A.”
Wilson mentions Cleveland needing to find a downfield option and identifies Garrett Wilson as a solution to their problem. The 21-year old receiver finished his junior season at Ohio State with 70 receptions for 1,058 yards and 12 touchdowns as he showcased his ability to make big play after big play for the Buckeyes. The latter fact should be a major concern to the Browns considering how dynamic the offenses of the Chiefs and Bills were Sunday night and the fact they nowhere near their level of firepower.
Sliding Garrett Wilson into the Browns starting lineup would be an instant upgrade to a passing attack that needs a lot of help. Granted they will need Baker Mayfield to take a massive step forward in his fifth season, adding a quality receiving target should make that task just a bit easier for the Browns signal caller.
The thrilling back and forth between the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs Sunday shows that the Cleveland Browns are far from their level.
The final 2 minutes saw the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs combine to score 24 points including three total touchdown passes from Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes. This includes 194 yards of offense after Buffalo temporarily took a 29-26 lead, highlighted by a 64-yard Tyreek Hill touchdown, a 19-yard strike from Allen to Gabriel Davis, and a the Chiefs moving the ball 44 yards and scoring a field goal in just 13 seconds. Watching all of this unfold one thing is abundantly clear, the Cleveland Browns are nowhere near their level.
The difference between the Browns and these two teams is clearly obvious, the quarterback position. Allen and Mahomes are two of the best at their position and fall into the category known as elite. Meanwhile Cleveland has Baker Mayfield who is far from that distention. While observing the Bills and Chiefs trade touchdowns it was quite clear that if Cleveland was in that position they would have no shot at matching this level of offense. There has been the occasional moment in time that Mayfield has conjured up a quick scoring drive, but not often enough to believe he could do it more often than a few times a season much less multiple times in a row during the same game.
A lot of this does fall on the quarterback, however it is not all on Mayfield. The Browns receiving group leaves a lot to be desired. Considering there is a chance the team moves on from Jarvis Landry this offseason (a mistake if there ever was one), that leaves the receiving group in an even more dire situation. Donovan Peooples-Jones and Anthony Schwartz are the only non-Landry receivers under contract for next season at the moment. Peoples-Jones is very inconsistent and cannot be counted on to produce at a reliable rate at this moment in time. Schwartz has a lot of work to do to not be considered anything more than the fourth wide receiver on the roster currently. Both need to improve for either player to relied upon week in and week out next season.
Between Mayfield and their receivers they just do not have the firepower to keep up with teams like Buffalo and Kansas City. Better receiving targets are required to compete with these teams, but so is a better quarterback. Mayfield has been given plenty of quality receiving targets with not enough success coming from his end. The Browns have a lot of catching up to do in multiple areas of their offense, not just quarterback or receiver. Not making improvements across the board will result in settling as an also-ran while other teams continue to pull away from Cleveland.
The Cleveland Browns quarterback was unable to help himself, passive aggressively like a tweet.
By now everyone is very much aware just how online Baker Mayfield is. After four years in the NFL and countless spats with media, local and national alike, Mayfield again found himself unable to control himself. This time it was a tweet from Dustin Fox that drew the attention of Mayfield.
This tweet came during the absolutely wild game between the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs that showcased the excellent play from Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes. Nothing that Fox said here is wrong, because the fact of the matter is that Baker Mayfield is not even close to being at the level of either of those two players and he is in fact not good enough. As has been his pattern throughout his career up to this point, Mayfield decided to do his underdog, slighted, chip on his shoulder shtick which has long grown stale.
Mayfield then decided to send a tweet calling social media toxic.
Nevertheless… social media is toxic. Always kept my circle tight. Time to get back to that. Family and loved ones only. 🤟🏼
While Baker Mayfield is correct about the toxicity of social media, anyone expecting a social media break from the Browns quarterback will be disappointed. There is a very good chance that Mayfield will continue to use Twitter, but not interact, giving the illusion that he is staying away from social media. Perhaps Mayfield could engage using burner accounts much like Kevin Durant. Only difference is that Durant is one of the best players, if not the best player in his respective league while Mayfield is a replacement level player who appears destined to part ways with the team that drafted him.
