Browns sign Adrian Clayborn

Sometimes in life, you may want something and not purchase it, only to have a chance to pick it up down the road.
Many times when that occurs, you realize that you could live without it or the task that you truly needed it for wasn't needed as much as it once was and it was a small disappointment.

The Cleveland Browns signing of veteran defensive end Adrian Clayborn made me think of that situation as a search of the site saw Clayborn as a "player of interest' when he entered the league via the draft and one off-season as a preferred free-agent target.
Clayborn signed a two-year contract with a value of 5.75 million over the contract but could make more than double that number by hitting his incentives in the contract.

Clayborn was a first-round selection by Tampa Bay in 2011, left for Atlanta via free agency in 2015 and played three seasons with the Falcons before signing with New England in 2018 and returning to Atlanta last season.
Clayborn's numbers have dropped in the last two seasons since his career-high with the Falcons in 2017 with nine and a half sacks, but as a situational player, Clayborn should have enough left to help the Browns, who seem to be leaning towards keeping Olivier Vernon rather than release him at the defensive end opposite Myles Garrett.
Clayborn started one game for Atlanta last season and finished with four and a half sacks with two forced fumbles for the Falcons, who missed the playoffs for the second season in a row.
Clayborn is the second free agent that the Browns have signed in the off-season as they signed defensive tackle Andrew Billings from the Bengals earlier in the period.

I like the signing of Clayborn for the specialist role and the Browns do need depth at defensive end as Olivier Vernon has struggled with injuries over the last three seasons (two of those seasons with the Giants), but Clayborn isn't the type of player that will rack up more numbers with more playing time.
Clayborn turns 32 during training camp and he'll wear down if the Browns are forced to use him too often.
While the Browns aren't exactly loaded at defensive end with Garrett, Vernon, Clayborn, and Chad Thomas, they aren't the worst team in the league off the edge either.
I wouldn't argue if the Browns decided to draft an end or even another veteran if one can be signed at a reasonable rate as they'll be relying on two veterans that have seen their games slip in recent campaigns.

Back later with more from the inbox.

Browns Bargain Shopping.

The Cleveland Browns may have spent most of their planned free agency dollars on the three players that I wrote about earlier in the week, but that didn't mean that the shopping basket was otherwise empty as the Browns added a few potential starters and some depth pieces on the cheap that Cleveland hopes to get fortunate with.

The signing that I am most interested in seeing is former Raider first-round safety Karl Joseph, who signed a one year contract worth 2.5 million with 500,000 guaranteed on the agreement.
Joseph was the 14th overall pick in 2016 from West Virginia and the then-Oakland Raiders declined to pick up his fifth-year option before last season.
Joseph played in nine games and finished with 39 solo tackles and one interception in 2019 and barring a high draft pick at the position, Joseph will likely slot in as the early leader to start at strong safety.
Just as I go to Ryan for detailed knowledge of former Packers, I go to Corey Cunningham for information on players that played in Oakland (now Las Vegas) and Corey's report wasn't one to get excited about.
Corey's report was that Joseph was a hard-hitter, but never seemed to live up to his draft hype and seemed to fail in secondary coverage often.
His exact finishing quote was this- "I almost want to compare him to (don't cringe) Jabril Peppers".
Oh, Boy.
I kinda like the signing's potential and Joseph will be motivated for a bigger contract, so I'm intrigued but not assured that this will be a success.

Joseph's safety partner will be another former Viking (unless the Browns draft a safety, which is very possible) as Cleveland signed Andrew Sendejo to a one year contract at 2.25 million.
Sendejo is different than Joseph as Joseph brings a high upside and is young enough to turn a career around with Sendejo at 33 being a one-year stopgap to fill the free safety spot.
Sendejo started for Minnesota for parts of four seasons before an injury ended his 2018 season.
Sendejo started last season with the Eagles before being waived and finishing the season back with the Vikings.
Sendejo is a hard hitter to the point of serving suspensions for overly physical play in the past, but he is a placeholder for a younger player in the next season or two.

Another former 2016 first-rounder is on board with cornerback Kevin Johnson signing for 3.5 million on a one year contract.
Johnson was picked 16th overall in 2016. but never lived up to that billing with the Texans, who released him early last season.
Johnson hasn't been a big playmaker with only one interception in his four seasons in the league.
Johnson struggled with injuries in Houston but has been noted to have posted a good season last year after being claimed by Buffalo.
The Bills used him at the outside corner and slot corner, but the Browns are bringing him in to be the slot corner and cover the inside routes.
Johnson, like Karl Joseph, is looking to revitalize his career and with a one year contract in tow, Johnson will be playing for a big contract, so motivation shouldn't be an issue.

The Browns have a linebacker need with the losses of Christian Kirksey to the Browns and Joe Schobert to the Jaguars and Cleveland signed one veteran in B.J. Goodson, formerly of the Packers.
Goodson spent the 2019 season in Green Bay after toiling for the Giants in his first three years in the league after being selected by New York in the fourth round.
Goodson started nine of fifteen games with Green Bay, but his numbers didn't impress with only 23 solo tackles.
So as with Corey on Raiders, Ryan is my go-to person for Packers and his take on Goodson isn't much to be excited about.
"Is more of a 4-3 linebacker, overmatched in the Packers 3-4, fine as a situational linebacker, but zero big-play ability, fine as a depth player but not as a placement for a Kirksey or Schobert".
Well, considering that Goodson (as of this writing) would be a starter, I'm not very encouraged by that scouting report.
Like the rest of these signings, Goodson inked a one year contract.

The defensive line added a depth player in former Bengal defensive tackle Andrew Billings, yet another 2016 draftee in the fourth round from Baylor.
Billings missed the 2016 season and finished last season with one sack, but this is the one signing that I do wonder about as Cincinnati runs a 3-4 and Billings spent most of his time at nose tackle for the Bengals.
I'm not sure that Billings will be more than a depth piece with the Browns, but the price was right for a rotational defensive lineman...

I mentioned in the earlier pieces that the Browns sent a 2021 seventh-rounder to Denver for fullback Andy Janovich and this looks like a player that will be a starter for the Browns.
Kevin Stefanski's offense is very fullback-friendly and with Denver changing their offense a bit, Janovich was a player that was on the outs in Denver.
Janovich is one of the better blocking fullbacks in the league and although Denver didn't use him often in the passing game, Janovich isn't ham-handed as a receiver.
Janovich only played in seven games last season due to an elbow injury but will be full strength for training camp where he will likely be the favorite against former Viking Johnny Stanton for the starting fullback position.

The final signing was JoJo Natson, who is a kick returning specialist that played for the Rams in 2018 and 2019.
Natson averaged 22 yards on kickoffs and just under eight yards returning punts last season for the Rams and is returning to the area after playing for the Akron Zips in college.
Natson isn't a game-breaker, but he's a solid returner as far as punts go and the Browns have lacked that in recent years...

This finishes the Browns series of free-agent additions, although future signings will be addressed.
I've had a lot of problems being motivated in these crazy times to finish posts and this one took far more time than I expected.
I hope to work on the inbox and other posts soon.

Case Keenum arrives as Browns backup

One of the many problems with the 2019 version of the Cleveland Browns was the lack of accountability for and by Baker Mayfield.
No matter how poorly he played, there was no one available as an alternative to Mayfield on the field and no one around to be a sounding board and mentor off the field to keep him grounded after a good game and give him tips on how to be a professional after a bad one.
Case Keenum could be the playing assistant that Mayfield needs to succeed or he could be the stopgap for the Browns should Mayfield continue to regress and need to be replaced and the three-year contract that Keenum signed for eighteen million could prove to be a bargain in either scenario for the Browns.

At 32 and his travels throughout the league with five teams considered, you would think that Keenum would be a pure veteran backup, but when you consider a few possibilities, it's not out of the question that Keenum could be playing for the Browns at times and under one of these scenarios might be the starter for 2021.
The Browns will be Keenum's fifth team in as many years (Rams, Vikings, Broncos, Redskins, and now Cleveland) and looking at his numbers throughout his career, they have been average- except for one season, Keenum's 2017 season with Minnesota.
Keenum led the Vikings to the NFC championship game, won eleven of fourteen starts, and threw twenty-two touchdowns and against only seven interceptions under Kevin Stefanski as his quarterbacks' coach.
Keenum's reward was to be allowed to leave as Minnesota signed away Kirk Cousins from Washington to be their starter and his stints in Denver and Washington saw Keenum handicapped with some weak teams.

The Browns now have some insurance against Baker Mayfield being a flash in the pan and a quality backup should Mayfield get injured.
Case Keenum doesn't own the best arm and his size isn't a prototype, but his skills and size are similar to Mayfield and should Keenum need to play for whatever reason, the switch won't be a huge difference for the Browns offense.
Keenum is also willing to embrace the role of guidance counselor for Mayfield, is known as a locker room leader, but yet not a player that will sulk because he isn't playing.

I've written before about my skepticism on Baker Mayfield as a franchise quarterback and the Browns mistake last season was allowing Mayfield far more comfort and control than a young quarterback should have.
Case Keenum is the type of quarterback that may not lift a team to a higher level, but Keenum can keep a team going as a bridge in the right situation.
I like this signing as whatever Keenum is to Mayfield as a backup, while I wouldn't be nearly as excited if Keenum was signed to come in as the immediate starter, his experience with Kevin Stefanski and with his mentality of team-first makes this an excellent signing.

I'm going to lump some of the other Browns newcomers in the next post.
I also have the remainder of the minor league fantasy draft, cleaning out the inbox, and some recent passings coming soon.

Jack Conklin inks deal in Cleveland

The 2019 Cleveland Browns had problems on both ends of their offensive line with their tackles.

That's being kind on my part, but the interior line of the line looks strong entering 2020 and if the Browns were serious about improving the line, something had to be accomplished.

The Browns certainly didn't want to start two rookie tackles, so they were thought to be major players for an offensive tackle in free agency and they were as Cleveland signed arguably the best available tackle as Jack Conklin signed a three-year contract for forty-two million dollars.

The twenty-six-year-old Conklin will immediately slot in for the Browns at right tackle and while it's left tackles that usually get paid the type of money that Conklin will receive to play right tackle, the Browns were in desperate need for a veteran tackle and while the Browns may have preferred a veteran at left tackle to protect Baker Mayfield's blind side, quality left tackles are a rare animal in the free-agent market.

Conklin was selected in the first round of the 2016 draft (eighth overall) from Michigan State and other than a few games in 2018 recovering from an ACL injury suffered in the 2017 playoffs, Conklin has been durable for the Tennessee Titans since his debut.
Conklin is noted for being a good blocker in pass protection but is an elite level tackle in the running game and could be the best right tackle in the game as a pure run blocker.
Conklin is more of a mauler at 6'6 than most tackles of his size as often taller tackles are more angular power forward types that use their size and quickness to make their blocks.
That's not the game of Conklin, who is more of an old school physical grinder that occasionally can be vulnerable by more athletic speed rushers.

Conklin will replace Chris Hubbard at right tackle who was awful in his two seasons since Hubbard was signed as a free agent from Pittsburgh and will change the position from strength to weakness along with upgrading the line on the overall.
Conklin, left guard Joel Bitonio, and center J.C. Tretter makes a strong nucleus of an offensive line with the likely high draft pick (either first or second round) replacing Greg Robinson at left tackle joining the unit.
The only position that should be open entering training camp in Berea is left guard as Wyatt Teller, who was acquired from Buffalo late in training camp last season will battle Drew Forbes, who impressed many in camp before a knee injury and former Ohio State Buckeye Malcolm Pridgeon for the spot.

At 26, Jack Conklin should be reaching his peak years and it appears that Tennessee, with their commitment to the power running game, has made a big mistake in not picking up his fifth-year option before last season.
This is my favorite signing of all as it shows that Kevin Stefanski's plans for the Browns are to install a power running game mindset, establish the run, and wear teams down physically which in the AFC North is a must.

Next time, I'll be writing about the Browns signing of Case Keenum as the backup quarterback where Keenum could mentor, backup or maybe push Baker Mayfield in a make or break season for the former Heisman winner.

Browns sign Austin Hooper

With Covid 19 in full swing, I decided to give each of the new Cleveland Browns additions their own post and write a bit more about the new arrival's past and how they will affect the roster at their position.
After all, there is not exactly a plethora of live sports to write about, is there?

Last night, Cleveland addressed the defense with the signing of two veterans in linebacker B.J. Goodson  (Packers) and safety Karl Joseph (Raiders).
I'll have more on those two newcomers and how they fit in with the defense later in the week.

The signing of Austin Hooper was a mild, but very pleasant surprise by Andrew Berry and the Browns to add to a key weak spot on the Browns offense after a disappointing 2019.
Hooper wasn't signed cheaply as the Browns were forced to make Hooper the highest-paid tight end in football as the former Atlanta Falcon signed a four-year contract worth 42 million dollars with 23 million of that total guaranteed.

The twenty-five-year-old was selected by Atlanta in the third round of the 2016 draft from Stanford and has made the Pro Bowl in both of the two most recent seasons with Hooper combining for 146 catches, 1,347 yards and ten touchdowns which are impressive numbers on a team that featured Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley and makes you think Hooper could have similar, if not improved production with Odell Beckham and Jarvis Landry surrounding him.
Hooper isn't noted as a great blocker, but he's not a sieve either and is noted as being better as a pass blocker than in the running game.
That makes sense as most of the better receiving tight ends aren't usually among the more physical players, but if Hooper isn't a liability as a blocker, I can't ask for more than that with his pass-catching skills.

Hooper definitely gives the Browns the type of athletic tight end that can gain yardage after the catch that the Browns haven't since Jordan Cameron left for Miami and what Cleveland hasn't received from David Njoku, despite the physical attributes for the position that Njoku brings.
At 6'4, Hooper will also be that leaping red zone threat that it seems that almost every playoff team has at tight end and that the Browns have lacked since Jordan Cameron.
Other than the occasional slice of potential from Njoku or even Ricky Seals-Jones, the Browns have stubbornly stuck with rock-handed players at the position that were used more often as essentially an extra blocker rather than a real threat since the departure of Cameron in 2015.

Some have thought that the signing of Hooper means the end of David Njoku in Cleveland.
I'm not sure of that, although I could see a team trading a day three draft pick for Njoku, should the Browns decide to shop the former first rounder.
However, Kevin Stefanski used two tight ends often during his tenure with the Vikings, Njoku still has tremendous physical potential, and inserting Hooper and Njoku with Odell Beckham and Jarvis Landry would create many matchup problems for defenses.
Nick Chubb ( or Kareem Hunt) might lose a bit in run blocking in that lineup, but he could also rip off some huge gains with defenses having to pay so much attention to the various threats in the passing game.
The Browns will tip their hand soon with Njoku as they have a decision to make in picking up his option for 2021.
Should the Browns keep Njoku, they will likely allow Ricky Seals-Jones or Stephen Carlson to go elsewhere as the Browns will keep Pharoah Brown as the blocking specialist and while four tight ends might be a luxury that a few teams carry, five is out of the question.

This is a very intriguing signing and one that the Browns should be given credit for.
Cleveland's skill weapons rank with the best in football and the signing of Jack Conklin to pair with returning veterans Joel Bitonio and J.C. Tretter along with a left tackle that will likely be the Browns first-round pick or no later than their second-rounder will give Baker Mayfield plenty of choices to throw to and time to make those choices.
There won't be anyone for Mayfield or his supporters to blame this season other than himself, should his regression continue.

I'll try to be back later with a post on Jack Conklin, who may prove to be the most important signing in free agency, if not the flashiest, and how his addition upgrades the offensive line.