It’s NFL Combine week. We’ll get to find out the exact height and weight of all the players participating in the combine, as well as their hand size. We’ll see how fast they can run, how much weight they can lift, if they failed a drug test and how they did on an intelligence test. And all this will be done in prime time on the NFL Network. Aren’t you thrilled? As you can probably tell, I’m not. I don’t watch it, but I do read what the experts think. To me the best part about the NFL Combine are all the rumors of free agent signings and trade deals that circulate during this week. It is the beginning of the “illegal” tampering period. Two years ago, former Browns GM John Dorsey worked out the flurry of trades that brought to the Browns Tyrod Taylor, Jarvis Landry and Carlos Hyde. And last year the big trade for Odell Beckham Jr. This year I think the Browns will work on free agent signings.
So far there are rumors the Browns are targeting Titans RT Jake Conklin. Browns ESPN reporter Jake Trotter first reported the Browns are “all in” on Conklin and that would probably take about 13 million per year to sign him. This figure seems about right. Earlier in the week the Cardinals signed their young LT, D.J. Humphries to a three year, 45 million contract. Conklin is a right tackle, so he should cost a little less. The reason Conklin is available is because the Titans didn’t pick up his 5th year option of his rookie contract at the beginning of the season. This isn’t a deciding factor for Conklin to look elsewhere, but it is a reason. Why would the Titans let Conklin get away? The Titans are a little busy trying to secure the services of Ryan Tannyhill and Derek Henry. Plus add to the mix the rumors of Tom Brady coming to the Titans. The Titans are walking a fine line right now with who their future QB will be and how much to spend on a two down RB.
I think the Titans would like to get a deal done with Henry first. Henry told Rich Eisen in an interview during Super Bowl week that his starting point was the deal that Ezekiel Elliott signed with the Cowboys, six years, 80 million. Since then Henry has walked that back. Then you have the Tom Brady rumors. If the Titans start to woo Brady, Tannyhill might just go ahead and sign elsewhere. This is a dangerous dance. Personally I think Brady will stay with the Patriots and will enjoy all the attention he’ll receive in free agency. What does this have to do with the Browns and Jack Conklin? Too much distraction and too much money. Last year the Titans had 89 million wrapped up in their offensive line. They also have to resign OL Ben Jones and possibly Logan Ryan, who made 10 million last year. Again, this is a potential dangerous dance. There is talk of franchising either Tannyhill or Henry. The franchise tag for quarterbacks is around 30 million and for running backs it’s about 12 million. Here’s the problem with these two situations, is Tannyhill worth 30 million and will Henry like being franchised? There could be a holdout in the case of Henry. Titans fans will find out soon enough, the franchise and transition tag period starts on February 25 and ends on March 10.
Of course Browns twitter, the absolute NFL experts, are all bothered because Conklin didn’t play in a zone blocking scheme. The Titans did use zone blocking about 25 to 30 percent of the time and Conklin did play in a similar scheme at Michigan State. He must have been pretty good because the Titans traded up to select him with the eighth pick. Anyway, the Browns have one of the best offensive line coaches in the NFL. If Bill Callahan thinks Conklin can help the Browns, then sign Conklin. Other potential free agent rumors prior to the combine are Denver’s Chris Harris and Vikings Anthony Harris. DC Joe Woods has ties to both players and both would fill positions of need. Chris Harris would play the slot corner and Anthony Harris free safety. Hopefully as the week progresses, we’ll hear more on potential free agents and possible trades.
As for the draft, I want the best available tackle at pick ten. Browns twitter is currently going through a fixation with Clemson’s Isaiah Simmons. First of all he won’t be there at ten, unless he fails a drug test or gets arrested. He’s a top five talent, so it’s not going to happen at the tenth pick. Browns twitter is also concerned that the Browns will trade down from the tenth pick. If one of the three top ten quarterbacks falls to ten, then hell yeah you trade down. But not too far. Depending on free agency, I could see the Raiders at 12, the Colts at 13 or the Falcons at 16 as potential trade partners. The Browns could still get a tackle and acquire some more draft capital. But like I said, stay at ten and get your plug in and play right away LT. Sounds simple right?
Finally, I have to correct something I wrote in last weeks blog. No one likes to admit when they’re wrong, but if I screw something up, I’ll jump right in and own up to it. I wrote that the Browns could have about 5 to 10 million in cap money to carry over from last year. Well, I have since found out it’s over 30 million. That’s a mistake in the right direction. So, with the four players who were cut and the additional 30 million over carry over, the Browns would have over 92 million in cap space. If the current CBA is approved by the players union, that would add an additional 20 million. Aren’t numbers fun? As for the CBA, the sticking point is the 17th game. I’m still trying to wrap my head around how the NFL plans to schedule home and away games with an uneven amount of games. Not every team can play in London every year. Speaking of London, there’s a 33% chance that the Browns will play Jacksonville in London this year. It would be an away game for the Browns, so no loss of home games. So as the league year begins, sit back and enjoy the “underwear olympics”, take any rumor with a grain of salt and Go Browns.