DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Browns Sign Sheldon Richardson

I don't think Richardson is the same player he once was but I'm pretty good with this deal. And I don't think it eliminate a DT at #17 either.

Its all relative and this is being overpaid but not crazy money ...

Vice Grips looks like a steal now ...

Good point about the draft. We aren't locked in to ANY position groups ... especially if we sign Hicks at LB

I don't think Richardson is the same player he once was but I'm pretty good with this deal. And I don't think it eliminates a DT at #17 either.

The deal: Three years, $39 million with $21.5 million guaranteed
Grade: B+

When I previewed the Browns' offseason last month, two of my five moves were to upgrade the defensive line by adding an edge rusher and an interior disruptor to complement Myles Garrett and Larry Ogunjobi. I suggested that the Browns look at a duo of Justin Houston and Ndamukong Suh, but general manager John Dorsey did just fine with his own additions and went younger. After trading for Giants edge rusher Olivier Vernon, Dorsey filled out his defensive line by signing Richardson to a three-year deal.

This is a huge upgrade on Trevon Coley, who started for the Browns at defensive tackle in each of the past two seasons and will now likely move into a reserve role. Richardson has been routinely productive as an interior rusher and recorded in 2018 his third season with 15 or more quarterback knockdowns in six tries. He has underperformed his knockdown totals a bit, with 23.5 career sacks to show for his 76 hits, but Richardson is a very good interior pass-rusher, if not a top-tier option like Fletcher Cox or Aaron Donald.

There's too much talent involved here to really dislike this move much. The only complaints I can muster are minor. You might have hoped for a more stout run defender at the point of attack to play next to Ogunjobi, who is probably best as a Geno Atkins-style penetrating tackle. Richardson might not be asked to try to get into the backfield quite as frequently during this deal, which is a place where he excels, but I'm confident the Browns will find pass-rushing opportunities for both of their interior linemen. Richardson also had significant off-field issues earlier in his career, although that hasn't been an issue in recent years. This is realistically a two-year deal, so the Browns don't even have significant exposure if things go south.

This is realistically a two-year deal, so the Browns don't even have significant exposure if things go south.

our front 4 is looking good. If we can land Roby/draft quality CB we are really going to bring some pain next year.

Yeah... a two year deal most likely. Maybe even a one-year deal if most of the money is paid in 2019 with a smallish cap hit in 2020.

I have no idea why we would trade ogbah. Unlike oline , the rotation of d lineman is important. Wasn’t it last year we had d lineman taking 80+ snaps per game. That has to result in fatigue as the game progresses. I hope we keep ogbah and add an edge rusher in the draft.

Our defensive line, as it is right now, is pretty deep. We have multiple guys (Ogbah, Coley) who have been starters in the past as backups. We also have Avery as a backup pass rusher and Chris Smith as a guy who can play all over the line.

That's the position a team wants to be in headed into the draft.

Chad Thomas is an unknown who may contribute as well.

Do we keep Ogbah for depth, or is he now trade bait?

Ogbah is making $2 million and is in the last year of his deal. I'd keep him to make sure everything else works out as planned. Then if it does and you lose him at the end of the year, so be it.