Tag Archives: Olivier Vernon

3 key Browns defenders did not practice Wednesday

Posted on by
Advertisements

Three key defenders for the Cleveland Browns Olivier Vernon, Adrian Clayborn, and Jacob Phillips did not participate in practice Wednesday.

This will be something to monitor going forward, but three defensive players for the Cleveland Browns did not participate in practice Wednesday. Olivier Vernon, Adrian Clayborn, and Jacob Phillips worked out, but did not practice.

Olivier Vernon and Jacob Phillips were absent from last Thursday’s win over the Cincinnati Bengals, while Adrian Clayborn exited with an injury. The Browns will need to have all three players available to them when they take on the Washington Football Team Sunday. Cleveland’s defense has not been spectacular through the first two games and they really need all the help they can get. If not, it could be another high scoring game and their offense is not guaranteed to keep up.

Browns injury update for Wednesday

Posted on by
Advertisements

Things became a bit more clear in regards to who the Cleveland Browns will be without for Thursday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Cleveland Browns will be without four players and possibly more when they take on the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday Night Football. The injury report was released today which revealed that Cleveland will be without Kevin Johnson, Greedy Williams, Mack Wilson, and Jacob Phillips. There are six others who might not play and are currently listed as questionable.

The questionable players include Jack Conklin, Chris Hubbard, JC Tretter, Olivier Vernon, Jarvis Landry, and Jedrick Wills Jr. Missing any of these players would be a huge issue for the Browns if any are not able to go. Cleveland will need all of their offensive lineman to be available in case one gets hurts. Vernon missing would make a thin defensive side of the ball even thinner and force the defense to rely on role players instead of a proven starter. Obviously missing Landry would hurt since he is the most consistent pass catcher on the team.

Joe Burrow could have a field day against this defense Thursday night. Burrow looked capable in his debut against a superior Chargers defense. Now that the jitters from Game 1 are gone, Game 2 should prove to be a more comfortable setting for the rookie quarterback. Cincinnati’s defense is missing some players of their own, but it is not about the quality of the defense that should be Cleveland’s concern. It is whether or not their offense can not look like hot garbage again and show any signs of consistency. This falls on the players on the field and the coaching staff. Week 1 did not necessarily inspire any hope in this area, although they were facing an elite Ravens defense. The Browns have a lot of work to do if they are going to look better in Week 2.

This Is Believeland Podcast Ep. 37: Jordan Cohen

Posted on by
Advertisements

This Is Believeland Podcast Episode 36: Discussing the reworked deal for Olivier Vernon, David Njoku’s trade request and the impact of no preseason on the Browns for the upcoming season with Jordan Cohen of Real Browns Fans.

Vernon, Njoku, and the effects of no preseason on the Browns with Jordan Cohen by This Is Believeland

Olivier Vernon, Browns agree to renegotiated deal

Posted on by
Advertisements

The Cleveland Browns and defensive end Olivier Vernon have agreed to a renegotiated deal for the upcoming 2020 NFL season.

Olivier Vernon is now a lock to play for the Cleveland Browns this season. The Browns and Vernon agreed to a renegotiated deal that will take his previously $15.25 non-guaranteed salary and turn it into $11 million guaranteed.

There is also a no-tag clause included in this deal which really wasn’t an issue to begin with. There was zero chance the Browns were going to tag Vernon after the season so it seems to be more of a formality than anything.

This deal seems to end any pursuit of Jadeveon Clowney. The money that is now guaranteed to Vernon could have been used to sign the free agent defensive end. Although it is worth noting that Clowney had absolutely no interest in signing in Cleveland. Cleveland kept on pursuing Clowney and he stiff armed them every step of the way.

The move by itself is underwhelming overall. Cool, Cleveland saved a couple million dollars. If this move is paired with another that is a different story. Maybe a new deal for Myles Garrett is being finalized soon and this helps make it possible. That’s great work by the front office if that is indeed the case. If nothing else comes after this then then this is much ado about nothing.

BR says Browns should consider trading Olivier Vernon

Posted on by
Advertisements

In Bleacher Report’s 1 Player Each NFL Team Should Consider Trading Before the 2020 Season article it is being suggested that the Clevealnd Browns should trade Olivier Vernon.

Bleacher Reported posted an article titled “1 Player Each NFL Team Should Consider Trading Before the 2020 Season” and surprise, surprise it’s Olivier Vernon.

There are two things that everyone is trying to make happen this offseason when it comes to the Cleveland Browns. Moving on from Oliver Vernon and signing Jadeveon Clowney. While the latter people need to stop trying to make happen, the former shouldn’t happen either.

Without getting into a debate about abilities, grades, performances, etc. of each player, the fact of the matter is that Vernon does not have a whole lot of trade value. Vernon is someone who has long injury history and has a large salary for the upcoming season. (Those pining for Clowney better realize that the previous statement also applies to him). Vernon is set to make just over $15-milllion in 2020 and that is not really all that enticing for a team looking for pass rush help.

The real surprise of the article is that the player in question is not Odell Beckham Jr. Constant trade rumors have surrounded OBJ since landing in Cleveland and will only continue to surface. Even though this time he seems to have flown under the radar somehow. Willing to bet that if there was an honorable mention it would be Beckham.

Perhaps the Browns hype is starting to gain unstoppable momentum again. Powered by the belief that Baker Mayfield will bounce back and prove he isn’t a pedestrian quarterback. Believing that the only way that Baker is good next season is if Beckham is still in Cleveland. For that to be true Beckham cannot be the player mentioned here. Either way everyone knows that the Browns best realistic trade asset wears No. 13 and not No. 54.

Browns linked to Yannick Ngakoue

Posted on by
Advertisements

The Cleveland Browns have been rumored to be interested in trading for Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Yannick Ngakoue.

Another day and another rumor about the Cleveland Browns upgrading their defensive line. The latest being a potential trade for Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Yannick Ngakoue.

Yannick Ngakoue has made it clear that he wants out of Jacksonville so it makes sense that just about every team checks in on him. With Cleveland now interested in another defensive end (Jadeveon Clowney was rumored to be a target), one thing has become quite clear. Olivier Vernon could be on his way out of Cleveland.

The fact that the Browns are actively looking at younger defensive ends certainly points towards that the team wants to move on from Vernon in some capacity. The team is not looking to acquire defensive end for the sake of having them rotate with Vernon, it would be to replace him. When considering the options of Ngakoue versus Clowney, Ngakoue would be the better option. The only problem is the price to acquire him.

It comes down to opportunity cost

Jadeveon Clowney is a free agent which makes it a bit easier to acquire him. A trade for Yannick Ngakoue would require multiple draft picks (most likely the 10th overall pick) and extending him to a much larger deal. Much like the issue with acquiring Trent Williams, the team has to give up draft capital and subsequently pay the player. While it would be worth it when it comes to Ngakoue, this type of move does not align with their team building timeline.

This is a win now move for a team that is far from it. The Browns would still have a ton of issues if they made this trade. Cleveland needs their draft picks in order to acquire multiple players to build the roster. Left tackle, linebacker, and safety are clear positions of need. The Browns must select players at these positions in the draft. While upgrading the defensive end position is great, it would still leave the team with a ton of holes. If they could somehow acquire him with a future first rounder it would be one thing, but the 10th overall pick plus others is a bit much right now. It is best for the team to stay the course and utilize their draft picks in a productive manner.

Adrian Clayborn agrees to two-year deal with Browns

Posted on by
Advertisements

The Cleveland Browns have agreed to a deal with former Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons defensive end Adrian Clayborn.

One area of need for the Cleveland Browns was depth on the defensive line. Cleveland is now one step closer to having enough depth on their defensive line with the signing of Adrian Clayborn.

Adrian Clayborn is signing a two-year deal with Cleveland worth up to $7 million with incentives per reports. Clayborn was drafted by Tampa Bay with the 20th overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. After four years in Tampa, Clayborn spent three in Atlanta, followed by one in New England, and one final year with the Falcons last season. The 31-year old edge rusher had a career-high 9.5 sacks in 2017. Clayborn only managed 6.5 sacks in the last two seasons combined.

The last time Clayborn started in the majority of the games he appeared in was back in 2016 with Atlanta, starting seven of the 13 games he appeared in. Adrian Clayborn should slide in nicely with the Browns rotation on the defensive line. Working with Myles Garrett and Olivier Vernon to put together a competent pass rush.

Ideally the signing of Clayborn does not impact the roster status of Olivier Vernon. Vernon is someone who has essentially had a target on his back for quite some time and many expected the Browns to go in a different direction. If Vernon stays this signing is great. If Vernon goes and Clayborn is expected to replace him as a starter, that would be a problem.

Browns to part ways with Olivier Vernon?

Posted on by
Advertisements

According to reports, the Cleveland Browns could end up parting ways with defensive end Olivier Vernon and his $15 million salary this offseason.

This is something that has seemed more likely than not for some time. The Cleveland Browns looking to move on from defensive end Olivier Vernon. In an article for Cleveland.com, Mary Kay Cabot believes the team will be looking to replace Vernon this offseason.

If this were to happen it would make sense, but not for necessarily the right reasons. Money would appear to be the motivating factor here. If that is the only reason it would be a terrible move. Cleveland is not hard-pressed for cap space and can afford to keep Olivier Vernon on the books for the remainder of his deal (just one more season). Any other quality options in free agency would cost just as much, if not more than Vernon. This puts the argument of getting better guys for less to bed because it is simply not feasible.

The team has plenty of holes to begin with. Simply moving on from Oliver Vernon to create another unnecessary hole is short-sighted and bad business. But again, would this move really be all that shocking to anyone?

More players Browns could move on from

Posted on by
Advertisements

The Cleveland Browns are going to make some more roster moves. Perhaps sooner rather than later. Cleveland already moved on from four players including Adarius Taylor, T.J. Carrie, Demetrius Harris, and Eric Kush. There are additional players that the team could release in order to create some roster flexibility. 

Olivier Vernon 

This seems incredibly likely. Olivier Vernon is in the final year of his deal and will earn $15 million this season. Vernon has been plagued with the injury bug for the majority of his career. Paying a player a lot of money who can’t stay on the field does not make a whole lot of sense now does it?

Chris Hubbard 

Let’s keep this brief. Chris Hubbard is bad and expensive. Let him go and find a replacement.

Christian Kirksey 

This one hurts a bit. Christian Kirksey is a great locker room guy, but like the aforementioned Olivier Vernon, can’t stay on the field as of late. Kirksey has only appeared in nine games the last two seasons after appearing in 64 straight to begin his career. Kirksey is set to $16 million total in base salary over the next two years. Hard to see the Browns keeping Kirksey at this point in time. 

Morgan Burnett 

An aging safety who is due to make $3.15 million next season. Morgan Burnett is 31 years old and his career is closer to the end than the beginning. The Browns will need to find a long term solution to the problems at safety. Cleveland will need to find two starting safety’s after moving on from Burnett and assuming they let Damarious Randall walk in free agency. 

Browns players on the move?

Posted on by
Advertisements

There looks to be a new approach in town and that means there could a major roster overhaul on the way for the Cleveland Browns.

With the hiring of Kevin Stefanski in place, the Browns are going back to the all-in analytics approach.  This means that the group led by Paul DePodesta will look to make moves that are considered analytical friendly. Meaning players on a big contracts could be on their way out. This also applies to players who are not considered efficient. Sometimes both will apply to a certain player. Whether or not the Browns actually move on or trade any of these players will be an ongoing story to follow this offseason.

Jarvis Landry

After being acquired prior to the 2018 season, Jarvis Landry signed a new deal with the Browns. A five-year $75.5 million deal that received plenty of criticism. The biggest complaint with Landry is that he is not efficient and that clashes with the all-in analytical approach. Add in the fact he is the No. 2 receiver on the team and that makes this contract even less attractive. There is an out in Landry’s contract after the year which could lead a a not so popular decision being made about his status.

Odell Beckham Jr. 

If the Browns move on from Jarvis Landry they might as well move on from Odell Beckham Jr. as well. One of the major reasons that OBJ was mostly not an issue this season was the presence of his best friend in Landry and his wide receivers coach from LSU (Adam Henry). Without one or both of those two present, there could very well be a different Odell Beckham Jr. in Cleveland. Add in the fact that Cleveland is welcoming the guy that made Stefon Diggs have blowups during games to a locker room that has Beckham in it. What were they thinking? They are inviting a ticking time bomb in to their locker room. Like Landry, Beckham has an out in his contract too and that may influence decisions in regards to roster construction.

Kareem Hunt

Having two expensive running backs on the roster is not analytically friendly. Kareem Hunt should be paid handsomely and chances are that is by someone else. Cleveland should attach a high round tender to Hunt and see what happens. Even if the previous regime was still in place it was unlikely that Hunt would have returned.

Olivier Vernon

Olivier Vernon is entering the final year of his contract and will be making $15.25 million this season. The 29-year old defensive end had a down year in his first season with the Browns. Finishing with only 26 tackles and 3.5 sacks in just 10 games played. This seems like a surefire trade candidate for the Browns as they look for someone less expensive and more productive.

Sheldon Richardson 

Sheldon Richardson is another trade candidate. Richardson signed a three-year deal before 2019 with an out after the second year. A team looking to improve their defensive line could come calling. If things work out for Richardson and his prospective new club they can play out the remainder of his deal. If not, they can go their separate ways.