Winner: Browns crazy like a fox
One day after we wondered if the Cleveland Browns were asleep at the wheel, they ended up making one of the biggest moves in years, shocking onlookers in the process.
Cleveland got the Houston Texans to give up a 2017 sixth-round pick, 2018 second-round pick and Brock Osweiler for a fourth-round pick this year. Just so Houston could get Osweiler off the books. It was an NBA-style trade that could result in another NBA-style move, as the Browns are reportedly mulling over just releasing Osweiler if they can’t find a trade partner (more on that here).
Additionally, the Browns will reportedly release Robert Griffin III, and at this point it seems like they’re in Jimmy Garoppolo or bust mode. Unfortunately, the New England Patriots are seeking a king’s ransom that might prove too costly even for this team, which is loaded with high draft picks the next two years.
Still, even if they don’t land Garoppolo, the Browns pulled off a coup in the Osweiler trade.
They also signed promising guard Joel Bitonio to a lucrative five-year contract extension. Then they landed the biggest fish of them all in terms of offensive line talent, signing Kevin Zeitler to a huge contract that solidifies their line in a major way.
Almost lost in the shuffle, Cleveland signed Kenny Britt to a four-year deal to bolster its receiving corps.