Browns sign Marquise Goodwin

   The Cleveland Browns returned to a player that they had hosted before a short despite in order to complete their trade with the New York Jets that landed Elijah Moore and placed what may be the final piece into their wide receiver room in signing fleet veteran Marquis Goodwin to a one year contract for undisclosed terms.

The well-traveled Goodwin caught twenty-four passes in his only season with Seattle last season for 387 yards and four touchdowns after his previous stops in Buffalo, San Francisco, and Chicago, in a role similar to how the Browns should use him- as a vertical threat to stretch defenses.

Goodwin will turn thirty-three in mid-season but has barely lost a step from the form that saw him taken from Texas in the third round of 2013 by the Bills after making the 2012 Olympic team as a long jumper and while Goodwin didn't qualify for the Olympics as a sprinter, he did rank third all-time for the fastest forty-yard dash in his combine year.

Goodwin should give the Browns the speed that they have not received from Anthony Schwartz in the two seasons since Schwartz was selected in the third round and it's almost certain that Schwartz's days on the roster are numbered unless he can out-perform Goodwin in training camp.

I suppose the Browns could take another wide receiver in the draft with one of their eight selections but the trade for Elijah Moore and the signing of Goodwin may possibly take the position into day three of the draft.

The Browns will likely keep six and perhaps seven receivers with Amari Cooper, Donovan Peoples-Jones, Elijah Moore, and David Bell as locks, the winner of the Goodwin-Schwartz battle (likely Goodwin) as another, and one other receiver (two, if they keep seven) which I would think second-year man Michael Woods would have the edge against Jaheem Grant ( who would have an advantage of winning the return job) or Anthony Schwartz but a drafted rookie would be in the mix as well.

That's certainly an upgraded room in my opinion as I like Elijah Moore's talent very much and Marquis Goodwin adds a dimension that the team has lacked but it's also fair to say that while the group looks to be upgraded, it's not a guarantee by any means.

I like the additions of Moore and Goodwin but I can also see a scenario where either could disappoint.

We'll see if the off-season moves work out but the Browns have tried to address each of their deficiencies with solid acquisitions. 

While I wish the team would have added another proven linebacker rather than gamble on the health of Anthony Walker and Sione Takitaki, I cannot complain about what Andrew Berry has done thus far.

Berry has done his best work in dealing with trades in his tenure, while his free agency additions have been a mixed bag, which to be fair is how it works for most teams, and his drafting has left something to desired.

The Browns seem to be improved entering the draft and they needed to be - Andrew Berry, Kevin Stefanski, and a large cast in the front office, and coaching staff have their jobs depending on that improvement.