Happy new year. The NFL new year arrived earlier this week.
Trades and free-agent signings take center stage. The Cleveland Browns got things going when they freed up cap space by renegotiating with left tackle Jed Wills Jr. According to the NFL Network, the Browns opened up about $10 million. The freedom allowed the Browns to make a deal with the Denver Broncos to trade for former first-round wideout Jerry Jeudy.
On paper, it looks like another good deal for General Manager Andrew Berry. It cost the Browns a fifth- and a sixth-round pick. Plus, the Browns will pay almost $13 million remaining on his contract. While Jeudy may not have lived up to expectations in Denver, he will have a fresh start in Cleveland, with fellow Alabama pass catcher Amari Cooper on his team. The Browns could still use another wide receiver, along with Elijah Moore. There should be a battle with David Bell and Cedric Tillman for back-up spots.
The Browns made a few other moves and lost a few players at the start of the new season. The biggest was bringing back defensive end Za’Darius Smith. He returns on a two-year contract reported to be worth $23.5 million. Smith was the most important move the Browns could make. The defensive end trio of Smith, Myles Garrett and Ogbonnia Okoronkwo is among the best in the NFL. Smith as an open-market free agent would have set back the Browns.
The Browns also re-signed defensive lineman Maurice Hurst. Early in the free-agency period, they landed former Minnesota linebacker Jordan Hicks, who should be starting with the Browns. If that happens, it would give the Browns three former Vikings on the starting defense – Dalvin Tomlinson, Hurst and Smith.
The Browns also lost a few players in free agency. Linebackers Anthony Walker and Sione Takitaki are on new teams. Walker is off to Miami and Takitaki is headed to New England.
Speaking of the Patriots, they picked up former Browns quarterback Jacoby Brissett. He returns to the team that drafted him. Brissett will be reunited with his former offensive coordinator in Cleveland, Alex Van Pelt, who is in the same role in New England. There was plenty of speculation that if Brissett landed with the Pats, it would increase the odds of the Browns getting quarterback Joe Flacco back in Cleveland. Flacco is a free agent. The Browns on March 12 signed former first overall pick Jameis Winston to back up Deshaun Watson. Winston was last with the New Orleans Saints. That puts an end to the brief Flacco tenure in Cleveland.
Former Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield will stay in Tampa Bay after leading the Bucs to the playoffs last season. He signed for a reported $100 million. It is hard for me not to wonder ‘what if’ with Mayfield. If you remember back to when the Browns had Mayfield, he was not happy they made a run at Watson when Houston was looking to trade him. Mayfield demanded a trade, despite the fact the Browns had been told “no thanks” by Watson at first.
When the Browns wanted to mend the fences with Mayfield, he wanted nothing to do with that. Mayfield then found himself taking the long road before settling in Tampa. First the Carolina Panthers, then the Los Angeles Rams. It forced the Browns to offer Houston and Watson an unprecedented amount of guaranteed money to Watson and draft picks to land him. I will always wonder, what if. Mayfield took a deep breath after having his ego bruised for a moment.
The Pittsburgh Steelers picked up quarterback Russell Wilson on a one-year deal. It looks like a great signing for Pittsburgh, which will only have to pay a little more than $1 million for his services. The Broncos will pay almost $38 million for him not to play in Denver. Think about the fact the four starting quarterbacks in the AFC North should be Wilson, Watson, Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson and Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow.
The Bengals made some moves at running back. Former Indianapolis Colt Zack Moss is headed to Hamilton County. Moss was six yards short of 800 yards rushing last season. He signed a two-year deal worth $8 million. While Moss is in, Joe Mixon is out, being traded to the Houston Texans. The seven-year veteran had four seasons with more than 1,000 yards, including last year.
CONGRATS TO STATE QUALIFIERS
Congrats to our Ohio High School Athletic Association state-qualifying athletes.
First, Hawken School wrestler Will Greenberg. The junior heavyweight and former Cleveland Jewish News Les Levine Player of the Week is the state’s runner-up in Division II. He put on an impressive showing at the state tournament and completed the season with a 42-3 record. We are looking forward to seeing what he can do next year.
Also, a tip of the cap to the University School hockey team. The Preppers are also a state runner-up after falling to St. Ignatius in the state championship.
HOCKEY COACH NEEDS PRAYERS
Keep Mayfield and former Cleveland Heights head hockey coach Steve Bogas in your prayers. He has been battling cancer for the past year and is coming off a rough weekend. Bogas and his family could use some positive thoughts.
If you have a suggestion for a column idea for Andy Baskin, send him an email at columnists@cjn.org. He can be heard on “Baskin & Phelps” weekdays on 92.3 The Fan in Cleveland at audacy.com.
