Browns have quiet start to free agency madness

All seems quiet for now at 76 Lou Groza Blvd. in Berea, and that is news in itself.

While other teams were agreeing to staggering contracts with free agents, the Browns were linked to a few players, but no reported deals were made on March 11, the first day teams were allowed to negotiate with players whose contracts expire at 3:59 p.m. March 13. No deals can be announced until 4 p.m. March 13.

The only bit of real news for the Browns had them releasing tight end Darren Fells. The move saved them $2.5 million on the salary cap.

Jeff Zrebiec, who covers the Ravens for the Athletic, reported the Browns are one of at least four teams interested in Ravens inside linebacker C.J. Mosely.

Mosely played in Baltimore the last five seasons, which could mean the Ravens have an edge in re-signing the four-time Pro Bowl player.

Even more interesting is the Colts and Jets rank 1-2 in salary cap space available. The Browns are fourth with $69,201,695 of cap room, according to Sportrac.com.

Money talks louder than team loyalty in the first frenzied days of free agency, which does not bode well for the Ravens in their quest to re-sign Mosely. They rank 17th with just under $32 million of available cap space.

The Browns could move

Joe Schobert back to outside linebacker if they are successful signing Mosely. Schobert was an outside linebacker as a rookie.

Pro Football Focus ranks Mosely second among free agent linebackers behind Jordan Hicks of the Philadelphia Eagles. Hicks hasn’t gotten as much buzz as other free agents because he missed nine games in 2017 with an Achilles injury and four in 2018 with a hamstring injury.

“The former third-round pick upped his efforts in run defense, as he posted a career-best 81.3 run-defense grade (10th) while missing just five tackles all

season,” PFF reported regarding Hicks.

The Browns are also showing interest in cornerback Bradley Roby of the Broncos, according to James Palmer of NFL Network. The Broncos want to re-sign Roby, but are getting competition from the Steelers, Texans, 49ers and Raiders, according to Palmer.

The Browns have more salary cap space than all five of the other teams.

Roby, from Ohio State, was picked 31st overall by the Broncos in the first round of the 2014 draft. He started 15 games in 2018 after starting a total of 14 in

his previous four seasons. He has 238 career tackles and seven interceptions.

The Browns are also believed to be interested in wide receiver Tyrell Williams of the Los Angeles Chargers. Williams, 6-foot4, is ranked second among free agent receivers behind Golden Tate, according to Pro Football Focus.

Williams could be a starter with the Browns, but he had the misfortune to play behind Keenan Allen and Mike Williams with the Chargers last season. Tyrell Williams caught 41 passes for 653 yards and five touchdowns last season.