DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Free Agency Part 3

Mingo was never as good as we all hoped he would be but it’s kind of cool to see a guy carve out a role for himself and last in the league eight years.

Yeah, Mingo has definitely made a career for himself. Not worth his draft slot, but certainly not close to the worst pick we’ve had

It amazes me how many of our castoffs go on to have careers elsewhere and hang in the league for years. It irks me when our current guys are not as good as said castoffs.

Our mistake is that we keep drafting career journeymen like Mingo in the 1st round and look for them to be elite-level saviors.

With XFL Done For Year, Browns Should Look at Storm Norton
https://www.si.com/nfl/browns/browns-mav...at-storm-norton

With so many sports either suspending or cancelling their seasons in wake of the COVID-1 concerns, the XFL was one of the leagues that decided to cancel the remainder of its season as the league was set to end during the spring. Although the season was cut short, there were players that had already done enough to warrant consideration for NFL teams, including offensive tackle Storm Norton, who played for the Los Angeles Wildcats. For the Cleveland Browns, who need offensive tackle help, the XFL season being cut short could be an opportunity to sign Norton as free agency is set to kick off on March 18th.

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski is familiar with Norton, who was with the Vikings in 2018. Coming out of the University of Toledo, Norton was an athletic tackle prospect with ideal length for the position, but just needed to continue his development. The XFL provided an opportunity for Norton to get game reps and he showed to be one of, if not the best offensive linemen in the league.

Norton turns 26 in May, he's got familiarity in the wide zone scheme the Browns intend to run and offers an upside move that can theoretically be part of a plan to overhaul the position. If he can provide depth, it's a worthwhile move for the team because he clearly has the potential to get better as he's shown in the XFL. He's 6'7 1/2" and listed at 317 pounds now.

It remains to be seen if that upside will be enough to start, but from an athletic profile standpoint, he's got everything necessary to be an excellent tackle. It's a similar situation as Brian O'Neill, who came into the league as an undersized tackle prospect that needed to continue adding strength. He ultimately did that and became an effective right tackle for the Vikings. O'Neill was also a second round pick where Norton was an undrafted free agent so there's more patience for the team to stick with them.

Norton had to do some of this on his own, taking the opportunity to go play in the XFL. The fact the league is being shut down for the year right as the NFL league year is about to start could be beneficial for players who still have dreams of playing in the NFL. Norton could be one of the players that stands the most to gain

It definitely cannot hurt to give the guy a minimum contract, but we will probably wait until after the Draft before signing guys like this.

I liked Walker when he was with the Colts in the preseason ... he hurt us in the game IIRC

I think Walker played for Ruhle at Temple???

I believe so

Well, I can see why we couldn't sign Schobert then ....

Didn't want to is more like it.

That was kind of my unstated point.

Does this include all our free agent signings this offseason?

It said as of this AM on March 23. So that's the way I took it.

So, no then.

Cam Newton released today ... does he end up with NE or LAC?

Wanted to...didn't want to pay what Joe thought he was worth.

Same went for Kirksey.

Joe got what he wanted, and quickly, so he was worth what he thought he was ..... just not to our guys.

Joe and Kirksey were not worth what they were asking for.

Jacksonville and Green Bay disagree w/you.

Neither. He's toast.

Suggesting or implying - as you have - that Green Bay are value Kirksey close to what the Brown's were due to pay him is somewhat misleading (at best).

https://overthecap.com/player/christian-kirksey/3010/

2019 Browns
Base $7,000,000 $1,200,000 $0 $0 $0 $7,000,000 $8,200,000 4.4% $7,000,000
2020 Packers
Base $1,750,000 $2,000,000 $0 $1,000,000 $250,000 $0 $4,125,000 2.1% $7,000,00

Kirksey was due to make $8.75 Million in 2020 with the Browns. He signed a $13M contract over 2 years with GB. This link says his cap number in 2020 is $4.125M ....

John Dorsey and Andrew Berry agree with you.

I read where the Browns offered Kirksey an incentive-laden deal that would have allowed him to reach the $$$ from his original contract. He wasn't willing to bet on himself...not that I blame him.

Eifert to the Jags

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/20...-two-year-deal/

The Panthers signed Robby Anderson.

https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/1242535514001063937

I am not sure what their plan is right now. It seemed like they were going to tank but they've also made some "win now" type signings. It'll be interesting to see how Teddy Bridgewater does targeting Anderson deep.

That’s a sneaky good signing IMO

I'm not sure what the Jets plan is right now. They've done almost nothing in FA and now just let Darnold's favorite weapon walk. Darnold literally has nothing to work with. Doesn't seem like they are setting him up for success.

Agreed