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| Photo Credit:USA Today |
The biggest news of the day was the retirement of multiple time All-Pro Joe Thomas, which I'll write about on a slow day, so I'll stick to the four newest Browns.
Carlos Hyde is the flashiest name and his signing breaks the longtime unofficial embargo on the Browns, who under the last million administrations seemed to have an aversion to bringing in former Ohio State players.
Hyde signed a three-year contract for 15 million to replace Isaiah Crowell, who signed with the Jets yesterday as the main veteran back on the team.
I say veteran back because whether the Browns draft Saquon Barkley or not, Cleveland will definitely draft a back and more than likely in the second round.
Hyde rushed for 938 yards and eight touchdowns last season for the 49ers, but his yards per carry dropped under four yards for the first time in his NFL career.
Hyde brings a tough hard running between the tackles back that the Browns lacked and that Isaiah Crowell was not going to be so Hyde will be a major upgrade in that aspect of the running game.
Hyde also showed that he has the capability of being a three-down back as last year he caught 57 passes, which was more than Hyde had caught in the previous three seasons combined.
If the Browns can get the type of production from Hyde that he gave to the 49ers, the Browns have signed their best back since the two years that they received from Jamal Lewis in 2007/08.
Cleveland signed a blocking tight end in 31-year-old Darnell Fells, formerly of the Lions to a three-year deal at 12 million dollars.
Fells caught 17 passes last year (three for touchdowns), but is much better as a blocker in the running game.
At 6'7 and 285 pounds, Fells can take on defensive ends and not be overpowered on sweeps and pitches.
The signing of Fells will likely mean the end of Randall Telfer in Cleveland as there is little need for two blocking tight ends on a team and I don't think Seth DeValve can feel too safe as one of the receiving tight ends.
It wouldn't surprise me to see John Dorsey go after a veteran pass-catching tight end and if that comes to pass, it'll be DeValve that is likely to pack the bags out of town.
The Browns signed two cornerbacks and one of them was a surprise- at least at the money that wasshelled out.
Cleveland wasn't able to add one of the bigger names at corner (Trumaine Johnson signing with the Jets was the most painful miss), so they are gambling that T.J. Carrie of the Raiders can up his game to that level after four years in Oakland.
Carrie is getting starter-level money at four years, 31 million, so Carrie is going to have to improve to be worth that contract.
Carrie did start 30 games for Oakland over the last three years, is reported to be a hard worker/good locker room guy and reading Raider sites about him, it seems that their fans are sorry to see him leave, but they are understanding of signing a contract that the Raiders weren't going to be able to match.
I have to admit, I'm a little leery of this one at that price, but after the big names were off the table, the Browns had to sign someone, especially when they announced that recent acquisition Damarious Randall was going to play safety, not cornerback for the Browns and Carrie ranked among the best of the rest...
The Browns finished their day with another depth signing at they inked Terrance Mitchell to a two-year contract.
Mitchell has spent time with Chicago, Dallas and Kansas City in his first four NFL seasons, but didn't break into the secondary with the Chiefs until last season when he started nine games for the Chiefs.
Mitchell made 47 tackles and picked off four passes in his first extended starting action and showed flashes of potential, but the Chiefs have decided to revamp their cornerbacks in allowing Mitchell to leave and trading Marcus Peters to the Rams, so the knock (from what I've read) is consistency.
If the Browns sign anyone today, I'll be writing about the new arrival and if not, I'll likely be writing about the retirement of Joe Thomas.
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