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We are back for one more day of our free agency live blog! We’ve been waiting patiently for some more Cleveland Browns news, to no avail. We’ll try to take a look at some of the guys still available and any other rumors that come across the wire.
2017 Browns Free Agency Live Blog - Day 5
4:05 PM: In case you’re wondering what type of deal former Browns safety Jordan Poyer got from the Bills, here are the details:
Safety Jordan Poyer signed a 4-year deal with the Bills worth $13 million with $6 million guaranteed. He will... https://t.co/26lKIilUKp
— Mike Rodak (@mikerodak) March 13, 2017
4:00 PM: LB DeMarcus Ware has announced his retirement.
2:18 PM: Per ESPN, three teams are looking in to Browns RB Isaiah Crowell, who the team placed a second-round tender on as a RFA.
Told at least three teams have inquired about #Browns RFA Isaiah Crowell. CLE placed 2nd rd tender on Crowell after 952 yards, 7 TDs
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 13, 2017
11:11 AM: Regarding Mike Silver’s tweet earlier on QB Jimmy Garoppolo, he clarified that there really isn’t anything to what was said:
You might be overstating my answer to a question. I believe that any team would listen to any trade offer. Thus, 'not dead.' Thanks! https://t.co/lRKy7w73Qb
— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) March 13, 2017
9:36 AM: Looking for another feel-good stat about the Browns’ offensive line?
The Browns projected offensive line combined for an average of 2.49 yds before contact per att last year. Only the Bills were higher in 2016
— Jeff Ratcliffe (@JeffRatcliffe) March 13, 2017
9:33 AM: If you want to grasp at straws for the quarterback position, a fan on Twitter late last night asked NFL Network’s Mike Silver if “Jimmy Garoppolo to the Browns” was really “dead” as many have said. Silver responded with, “not dead.”
8:48 AM: A little bit of quarterback-related news in the NFL:
Former Chiefs' QB Nick Foles is returning to Philadelphia on 2-year deal, per sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 13, 2017
And now, questions about where Chase Daniels lands.
7:45 AM: There was plenty of talk surrounding the Browns in today’s edition of MMQB by Peter King. Here’s a small snippet of the larger section on the trade between Cleveland and Houston:
“Sashi and I started talking, and he’s an intelligent guy,” Texans GM Rick Smith said Saturday evening. “He and I have been friends for years. We got to thinking about an out-of-the-box concept. It took some creativity and some courage. We got together a couple times at the combine, then we talked more on the phone after that. You try to find equitable value.”
The trade had to be approved by the league, which doesn’t allow teams to trade players for money. On its face, that’s what this is, seeing that the Texans traded a player and a higher pick for a lower pick, in essence. But the NFL allowed it because it involves a player and picks. And there’s no way this trade should be outlawed, or even questioned. It’s a good deal for both teams, clearly.
And then on WR Terrelle Pryor:
I understand why Cleveland let Terrelle Pryor walk, but that doesn’t make it right. The Browns made a fairly good-faith offer to their best free agent—veteran Cleveland-area columnist Terry Pluto said it was four years and $32 million, and I hear it might have been a little more—but lost him. Washington signed Pryor for one year and $6 million, with $2 million in achievable incentives. Everyone assumes he’ll shine in Washington catching balls from Kirk Cousins, but remember, that team has Jamison Crowder (2016: 67 catches), Jordan Reed (66) and Vernon Davis (44) returning, along with the injured 2016 first-rounder, Josh Doctson, coming back. I get that Pryor’s feelings were bruised that Cleveland, with all that cap room, didn’t break the bank for him, but if he was a guaranteed number one receiver, he would have had a better market than he did. Pryor and his agents overplayed their hand.