Looking forward to 2019, Browns Free Agency/Trades

Browns' Vernon Trade Is Start of Strong Push for Success in Baker Mayfield Era
https://bleacherreport.com/articles...strong-push-for-success-in-baker-mayfield-era

 

It's all relative though Lym...we will also have another $10M in cap space a year from now and $20M in cap space two years from now, just from cap inflation.

We also will most likely be replacing Vernon Olivier two years from now with someone from the next two drafts, so his $15.5M will be coming off the books, while paying a rookie between $1.5-4M.

Same goes for J.C. Tretter $7.25M(2020)...Travis Carries $8M+(2021), Chris Hubbard $7.2M+ will be traded or cut as soon as they feel Desmond Harrison is ready to take his spot, probably within the next week...or replaced by a draft pick. He can hold down the RT spot if needed, but he is replaceable and his contract outweighs his worth. Not sure when his roster bonus is due, but don't be surprised if he is gone before that date. I will actually be very surprised if he is still a Brown on March 15, that's the day his 2019 salary becomes guaranteed.

There are more cap moves coming... The trade with the Giants will have very little to do with the ability to sign current rookies to new deals.

 

I saw this one. Better not backfire on the team. Higgins is turning into a dude they can rely on.

 

Yes it's accurate. Maybe I missed something but I don't think anyone was challenging you on that. I do think most people realize the insignifcance of 3.1M when you have 80M to spend - not that they will.

 

Basically they get to sign home to a long term deal now, at market price. I don't think Hollywood is going anywhere. Without Perriman, they have to get someone else in there.

 

@Tim , I noticed the bar that updates the "NEW POSTS" has not been updating this weekend....I usually rely on that just to see where people are talking football.

 

I did a little digging on Olivier Vernon's recent decline in on field performance numbers and they coincide directly with when Pat Shurmer's DC switched the Giants from a 4-3 to a 3-4 defense. In effect, Vernon went from a DE to an OLB as a result.

He will be back to having a hand in the dirt in Cleveland.

{fingers crossed}

 

Happy Sunday lounge hounds.

1) I am glad that zeitler wasn't traded for obj. I don't want a guy that isn't hungry for a championship and parties it up like the season is over right before the playoffs.

2) I'm with Lyman in that I don't like the idea of taking away a key piece of the offensive line. Is Corbett ready? None of us can say for sure.

3) I do understand the thought of adding depth to the defensive line and adding a talented edge rusher opposite Garrett. Vernon Garrett and ogbah should make for a good rotation.

4) the interior line still needs a quality starter and depth behind ogunjobi. I like ogbah, but he gets swallowed up to easily inside and not the guy to fill that hole.

5) does anyone think that Avery can move from will to mike? Or does Dorsey need to find that piece of the puzzle yet.

6) I get the feeling that perriman is listening to his agent too much about testing free agency and should be signing the contract being offered.

6) I'm not sure that they put a large enough tender on Higgins. Would hate to lose him.

Tis the season and I'm sure that there will be other moves that leave us scratching our heads.

 

Was Higgins a fifth rd tender?

 

Yes

If you aren't planning on letting him leave, the tender doesn't really matter. This is an extremely smart move if the Browns want to sign him to a long term contract, instead of one year and free agency.

If they had signed a 2nd round tender, it may have scared off all suitors. By putting the original round tender, it allows them to match any long term deal based on this years stats. If he truly is on the preface of a breakthrough, next off season he would cost a lot more.

If they can match a $4M per year/4 year deal ...which seems to be about his worth based on production. It would be better than a 1 yr $3M deal, then a $6-8M per year/4 year deal in 2020.

In other words, his value "should" be at it's lowest right now, if he is going to break out with Baker throwing to him.

 

Unless Higgins has really poor representation he's not going to sign a long term deal with anyone for those kinds of numbers. Why not just wait a year and bet on himself?

 

Because he hasn't performed above average in 3 years. He might never. Or, he might get hurt and never get another contract. I don't know, why does any WR sign that type of contract? It's usually based on security. You have to remember, he hasn't been the poster child of health during his career this far. If he were to get a 4 year, $16-18M deal, with 50% guaranteed, I have to think he would take that. It would be a hedge bet on both sides.

You're talking a little below Torrey Smith type contract. In 3 years Higgins has never performed at an average Torrey Smith type year.

Last year was BY FAR his best and he started 1 game, had 570 yards and 4 TDs.

Again, I like him and want him around, but if the contract gets much higher than that, I'd replace him with someone else.

 

I always try to look at comps when speculating what contract numbers guys could anticipate.

Seth Roberts was a RFA when he signed his deal in 2017. He signed 3yrs, 12M with 6.25M guaranteed.

So was Cameron Meredith. He got the original round tender as an undrafted guy and the Saints signed him for 2yrs, 9.5M with 5.25M guaranteed.

Same with Willie Snead. Undrafted, original round tender he signed an offer sheet for 2yrs, 7M with 3M guaranteed.

You know what Irish. I'm going to do an about face. That sounds about right except I think Higgins would want to keep it less than 4 years.

 

Higgins needs to put together a full season...I like him. He shows flashes of what he could be, and I think he developed some nice chemistry with Baker. The main concern with him has always been availability.

 

Little digging?

I served it up for ya'!

Although, to be fair, his average numbers are 47.5 sacks in 85 starts (0.559 per start). In 2018, he started 11 games and posted 7.0 sacks (0.636). That's actually slightly above his average. The problem with Vernon is he's not a premier edge rusher, he's a nice complement.

 

At a Premier pricetag... unfortunately that's today's NFL.

I think the key is finding a stud DT to plant next to Ogunjobi. Do that and everyone on that line gets better.

 

New question:

Do the Browns plan on having Seth Devalve in 2019? Darren Fells, though a totally different type of TE to Devalve, was cut last night. He was primarily a blocking TE, so are we moving away from relying on that type of TE?

Two things...
1) Looks like we are probably in the market for a TE
2) Darren Fells proves Baker Mayfield will use what ever Dorsey puts in front of him to acquire TDs...Fells had 11 catches, 3 went for TDs, which was about his average, but his targets were over 50% lower than his career. He was targeted 12 times...caught 11. Maybe they should have just used him more, rather than cutting him.

 

I keep coming back to this guy, though I'm starting to have doubts that he will make it to #17....