CLEVELAND, Ohio — The NFL negotiating period kicked off on Monday, and the first few hours were uneventful for the Browns.
They tendered receiver KhaDarel Hodge and expressed interest in a few players, but didn’t immediately comes to terms with any big-name free agents. However, there’s still plenty of time. Teams can’t finalize deals until the league year opens Wednesday at 4 p.m., and plenty will happen between now and then.
Meanwhile several big name edge-rushers flew off the market in the first few hours. Shaquil Barrett re-signed with the Bucs for four years, $72 million, and Romeo Okwara re-signed with the Lions for three years, $39 million. Former Ravens edge-rusher Matt Judon agreed with the Patriots on a four-year worth $56 million, including $32 million over the first two years.
Monday, March 15th
Browns Tender WR KhaDarel Hodge
The Browns gave Hodge the right of first refusal tender, a league source told cleveland.com, which is the lowest of the four tenders. It’s worth $2.133 million in 2021 if they don’t agree on a multi-year deal before then. The Browns can also release Hodge if they have a surplus of receivers.
The Browns can match any offer, but won’t receive compensation if someone else signs him.
As for what it means for pending free agent Rashard Higgins, that remains to be seen. The Browns would like to sign Higgins to a one-year deal, a source tells cleveland.com, but he might receive a better offer. If he can set himself up potentially for life, he’ll have to take that deal.
—- Mary Kay Cabot
Browns express interest in Saints edge-rusher Trey Hendrickson
Cleveland.com has been reporting for weeks that Hendrickson is one of the pass-rushers on the Browns radar in free agency.
Shortly after the negotiating period began at noon on Monday, NFL reporter Josina Anderson tweeted that the Browns, Vikings and Jets had all shown interest.
They’re not the only ones. A source told cleveland.com that ‘a lot of teams’ have called about Hendrickson in the first two hours of the negotiating period. It’s no wonder why. A third-round pick in 2017, he tied Aaron Donald for the second in the NFL with 13.5 sacks in 2020.
— Mary Kay Cabot
Browns reportedly express interest in Rams S John Johnson
The Browns expressed interest Monday in Rams fifth-year safety John Johnson III, a third-round pick in 2017 out of Boston College, according to CBS Sports Senior NFL reporter Jonathan Jones.
The Lions, Eagles and Jaguars are also interested, according to Jones.
The Browns are definitely looking for depth in the secondary, and could sign one or two free agents. I’ve written that Jets nickel cornerback Brian Pool is on their radar, and there are others. The Browns are counting on safety Grant Delpit (ruptured Achilles) and cornerback Greedy Williams (nerve damage in his shoulder) to start for them in 2021, but they’ll continue to add to the pile.
— Mary Kay Cabot
Johnson posted a lengthy goodbye to Rams fan via Instagram story on Monday afternoon.
“I thought it was hard to leave the city while I was a Ram,” Johnson wrote. “Even more difficult now. This isn’t goodbye. It’s see you later.”
So Johnson will play with someone else this season.
— Dan Labbe
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