The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Report: FB Janovich acquired in trade
Kevin Stefanski likes to use a fullback in his offense. He did not have one on the roster he inherited when he was named Browns head coach in January. But he has one now.
General manager Andrew Berry on March 17 traded a 2021 seventhround draft pick to the Broncos for fullback Andy Janovich, according to a report by Mike Kils of 9News in Denver.
Janovich played only 13 percent of the Broncos’ offensive snaps in 2019, according to Pro Football Focus. He had one carry for 1 yard and five catches for 17 yards. Add to that the fact Broncos’ new offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur isn’t big on using fullbacks made Janovich expendable at a bargain price.
The 2019 Vikings, on the other hand, with Stefanski calling plays as offensive coordinator, relied heavily
Then-Broncos fullback Andy Janovich looks on during a 2018 preseason game.
on fullback C.J. Ham as a blocking back for Dalvin Cook. Ham had only seven carries for 17 yards plus 17 catches for 149 yards and a touchdown last season, but the Vikings thought enough of him to sign him to a three-year contract extension on March 16.
The trade for Janovich
and tight end Austin Hooper, right tackle Jack Conklin plus quarterback Case Keenum agreeing to multi-year contracts on March 16 cannot be announced until the start of the league year at 4 p.m. March 18.
In other free agency news, linebacker Joe
Schobert, the Browns’ leading tackler in 2019 with 133 stops, on March 17 agreed to a five-year, $53.8 million contract with the Jaguars. The Bengals reportedly tried to sign Schobert but were unwilling to match Jacksonville’s offer.
The Browns chose not to re-sign Schobert for the money he was confident he could get on the open market. Now they have a hole to fill.
Cory Littleton, formerly of the Rams and the only middle linebacker ranked ahead of Schobert at the start of free agency, has agreed to a three-year contract with the Raiders, according to multiple reports.
Blake Martinez, another middle linebacker, was snatched up in free agency on March 16 by the Giants with a four-year deal after four seasons with the Packers.
The Browns will likely find their next middle linebacker in the three-day draft that begins April 23.