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- Browns to trade Kevin Zeitler for Giants’ Olivier Vernon (ohio.com) - Browns General Manager John Dorsey made a pre-free agency splash Friday, striking a deal for veteran edge rusher Olivier Vernon to bolster the defense’s pass rush and complement Pro Bowl defensive end Myles Garrett.
- Vernon trade is another way to help Baker Mayfield (cleveland.com) - Olivier Vernon might get the Browns defense off the field on third down and Baker Mayfield on the field sooner. He might force a turnover that gets Mayfield on the field closer to the goal line. In trading Kevin Zeitler, a guard, and getting Vernon, a pass rusher, from the New York Giants, the Browns swapped offense for defense on Friday.They did it for the overall health and balance of their team, but they also did it for their quarterback.
- Olivier Vernon trade adds to Browns’ stocked roster (si.com) - The swap of Kevin Zeitler and Olivier Vernon on Friday earned the immediate, mutual stamp of approval from the talking football masses. It’s a player-for-player deal that fits needs on both teams, snugs in comfortably with the salary cap and doesn’t risk and high-end draft capital.
- Cleveland, New York both winners in trade (PFF) - With the dichotomous nature of football, there is a winner and a loser, and while people want to apply that same logic to trades around the league, the fact of the matter is both the Giants and the Browns won today’s trade.
NFL:
- Eagles trade Michael Bennett to Patriots (philly.com) - The Eagles are trading Michael Bennett to the Patriots, NFL sources said Friday. Draft compensation is still being ironed out, but the Eagles are expected to receive a 2020 fifth-round draft pick from New England for Bennett and a 2020 seventh-round selection, according to sources.
- Jaguars’ Nick Foles maneuvering starts with ‘crazy’ cuts (New York Post) - The Jaguars appear to be gearing up for a big move. Jacksonville cut five players on Friday, saving a total of $30 million with the moves that could be used to sign free-agent-to-be Nick Foles.
- Evaluating every NFL team’s receiving corps: Who needs a WR1? (NFL.com) - As we hurtle toward free agency and the 2019 NFL Draft, now is the time when every NFL team takes a long, hard look at its personnel makeup. With that in mind, Cynthia Frelund examines the current state of all 32 receiver groups, slotting each situation into one of five categories.
- Vernon trade signals another move is coming for Giants (ESPN) - If you were brought in by the Giants under the previous regime -- don’t buy, rent instead. There seems to be a strong chance you won’t be around long with general manager Dave Gettleman and coach Pat Shurmur making the moves. Gettleman continues to be busy reshaping and overhauling his roster. There are only 13 players remaining from their arrival just over a year ago. And more moves are coming.