Browns trading Zeitler to Giants for DE Vernon

Browns general manager John Dorsey got a jump on free agency on March 8 by agreeing to trade starting right guard Kevin Zeitler to the New York Giants for 262-pound defensive end/ linebacker Olivier Vernon, a league source confirmed. The trade was first reported by NFL Network. In addition, the Browns are sending overall pick 155 in the fifth round of the the 2019 draft to the Giants for the 132nd overall pick (fourth round), the source said. The trade can’t become official until the 2019 league year begins at 4 p.m. March 13. The Browns have been looking for a pass rusher to pair with defensive end Myles Garrett. Vernon fits the bill. The 2012 third-round pick by the Dolphins had 30 tackles and seven sacks in 11 games as a starting outside linebacker with the Giants last season. Garrett had 13.5 sacks last year in his second season in the NFL. The trade for Vernon means the Browns will likely trade Emmanuel Ogbah or at the very least make him a backup. Vernon started 46 of 48 games at defensive end with the Dolphins from 2013-15. He had a career high 11.5 sacks in 2013. He has 51 career sacks.

Vernon signed a fiveyear, $85 million deal with the Giants as a free agent in 2016. He is under contract for two more years. He is due $15.25 million in 2019 and in 2020. Zeitler has been a steady performer for the Browns since signing as a free agent in 2017. He started all 32 games during his time with the Browns and last year played on a sprained ankle much of the season. Austin Corbett, drafted last year with the 33rd overall pick, did not crack the starting lineup in 2018, but he could end up replacing Zeitler if the Browns don’t sign a guard in free agency. Corbett started the preseason at left guard last summer, but ended up on the bench when Joel Bitonio was switched back to left guard after playing most of the 2018 preseason at left tackle. Browns tender Higgins The Browns placed an original fifth-round tender on restricted free agent Rashard Higgins on March 8, meaning a team that signs Higgins to an offer sheet would have to compensate the Browns with a fifthround draft choice if the Browns do not match the offer. Higgins, a fifth-round draft choice in 2016 when Sashi Brown was running the football operation in Berea, caught 39 passes for 572 yards and four touchdowns in 2018. It was the best season of his young career despite playing in fewer games — 13 last season after playing 16 games (six catches, 77 yards) as a rookie and 15 games with four starts (27 catches, 312 yards, two touchdowns) in 2017. Higgins had 23 receptions and scored three touchdowns in the final eight games of 2018 when Freddie Kitchens, now head coach, took over as offensive coordinator. The Browns and Higgins have a mutual interest in agreeing on a longterm deal. The Browns also tendered offers to exclusive rights free agents defensive tackle Trevon Coley and defensive back Jerome Whitehead. Coley played in all 16 games with 14 starts last season. He made 39 tackles. Whitehead played in seven games on special teams after being acquired off waivers from the Packers. He made two tackles. The tenders to Coley and Whitehead mean both players can negotiate only with the Browns.