Browns sign two, release two

   With the opener approaching on Sunday, the Cleveland Browns felt that a few positions needed shoring up and they hope to have done so with two signings from the free agent pool.

The Browns signed tackle Joe Haeg and tight end Jesse James and to make space for the two additions, Cleveland released guard/tackle Drew Forbes and linebacker Jordan Kunaszyk.

Forbes, a sixth-round draft pick by Cleveland in 2019 and then-GM John Dorsey, was claimed by the Detroit Lions who currently employ Dorsey in their front office.

Kunaszyk, who the Browns could shuttle on and off the roster over the course of the season, cleared waivers, was signed to the practice squad and is expected to be a special teams contributor when he is on the roster.

Joe Haeg was surprisingly cut by Pittsburgh after spending one year with the Steelers and apparently had several suitors for his services after his release.

The twenty-nine-year-old Haeg was a fifth-round draft pick by the Colts in 2016 and would spend four seasons with Indianapolis as an off-and-on starter before spending 2020 with Tampa Bay, winning a Super Bowl there before moving to Pittsburgh last season.

Haeg was rated by Pro Football Focus higher for his 2022 play than the Steelers starter., Dan Moore, and visited two teams before signing with the Browns.

Cleveland still hasn't announced if veteran right tackle Jack Conklin will be available for the opener against Carolina, and veteran backup Chris Hubbard played only one game last season after a season-ending injury.

Haeg appears to be perfect in a role as a third tackle that could occasionally rotate into the lineup and is good enough to help for the short term in case it takes a bit for Jack Conklin to return to the field.

As for the better-known former Steeler in tight end Jesse James, James is best known for his four seasons with the Steelers after being drafted by Pittsburgh in the fifth round from Penn State in 2015.

James moved to Detroit and played two seasons with the Lions before signing with the Chicago Bears for 2021.

James was used in a blocking role more often with the Lions and Bears than in his four years in Pittsburgh but James is a different type of tight end than David Njoku and Harrison Bryant, which could help with some diverse looks.

James did have some solid seasons catching the football with the Steelers as he caught 43 passes in 2017, averaged fourteen yards a catch in 2018, and at 6'7 James makes a very intriguing target for the Browns quarterbacks around the goal line and short yardage situations.

James isn't going to stretch the field like David Njoku or add yards after the catch like Harrison Bryant can but he will catch the ball as a check-down option and will block willingly.

James would be a mildly underwhelming player as a starting tight end but as the third tight end on your roster can be a productive player.