Cleveland Browns Sign 3rd Round Draft Pick, DL Xavier Cooper

The Cleveland Browns signed DL Xavier Cooper on Tuesday. Taken in the 3rd round at No. 96 overall, Cooper agreed to a four-year deal. According to OverTheCap's pre-determined draft chart, Cooper's contract will be worth about $2.872 million, with a $592,284 signing bonus.

Gaines was the team's fifth selection of the draft, and the second of two draft picks in the third round. Cleveland actually traded up for Cooper with the final non-compensatory selection of the third round. Browns defensive coordinator Jim O'Neil explained how excited the team was that Cooper was still available at that spot:

"We were shocked he was still there at bottom of the 3rd round...we were excited when the trade happened" on getting DE/OLB Xavier Cooper

— Daryl Ruiter (@RuiterWrongFAN) May 9, 2015

Cooper is 6-4, 300-pounds, and played college football at Washington State. He will wear No. 96 with the Browns and is expected to enter the offseason programs as a rotational defensive lineman, in the same type of group as John Hughes and Billy Winn. The addition of Cooper could make it difficult for the Browns to carry all of the defensive linemen they'd like to when the regular season comes around.

Just finished up the paper work! Thanks to the Browns organization for the opportunity. #DawgPound #Blessed #Tacoma pic.twitter.com/iQLf7R29iU

— Xavier Cooper (@XavierCooper_96) May 11, 2015