Jarvis Landry helped turn the Browns from perennial losers to a playoff winner in 2020, but his last two seasons in Cleveland were difficult ones for him. (Cleveland Browns)
Why nobody should have expected Jarvis Landry to accept a paycut to stay with the Browns
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland.
Takeaways from the first day of NFL free agency …
The biggest transaction the Browns made on Monday was to say goodbye for a third time to wide receiver Jarvis Landry.
They were unenthusiastic about being able to bring back Landry at the end of the 2021 season and at the Combine two weeks ago. And then again after they traded for $20 million-a-year receiver Amari Cooper on Saturday.
So now it’s official.
Landry’s contract was terminated with one year remaining to save $14.8 million in salary cap space.
It was no surprise after the team gave Landry permission to seek a trade following their acquisition of Cooper in a salary-dump move by the Cowboys on Saturday. Still, reports persisted the Browns were trying to persuade Landry to accept a paycut, raising hopes that Landry might stay.
But Landry never bit.
His last two years with the Browns were extremely difficult for him on and off the field. There was a hip injury resulting in major surgery in the winter of 2020, broken ribs, his first-ever missed game in 2020 due to COVID protocols, a sprained MCL injury in 2021 that cost him four games, a partial quad tear, a bone bruise, and a fifth game missed because of COVID.
Meantime, Landry saw the Browns release his good friend, Odell Beckham Jr., in the middle of the season, and Beckham earn a Super Bowl ring with the Los Angeles Rams. He also saw uncertainty cloud the Browns’ quarterback situation.
Even though Landry stated in a social media post that he would like to stay, it’s understandable why he wouldn’t agree to a significant paycut after all that happened to him the past two years.
Landry’s four years with the Browns can be divided into two distinctly different couplets.
In the first two years, he ignited a positive change in the culture of the team with a firebrand training camp speech captured on Hard Knocks. He averaged 81 receptions for 1,075 yards and five touchdowns, and made the Pro Bowl both years.
In the last two, amid all the injuries and tough times, he averaged 62 receptions for 575 yards and 2.5 touchdowns. In the last two seasons, Landry didn’t have a touchdown catch until the team’s 11th and 13th games, respectively. He ended his weekly media availabilities after the Beckham divorce in November.
In a statement announcing Landry’s release, GM Andrew Berry said, “The trade for Jarvis Landry in 2018 was a key moment for our organization. Jarvis’ on-field production and fiery competitiveness speaks for itself, but his leadership and team-oriented attitude impacted our culture in a way that will last in time even beyond his release. These decisions are always difficult, but we wish Jarvis well and we look forward to the day when he returns as a storied Browns alumnus.”
Landry, 29, is expected to have no problem finding a new team. He has been mentioned as a possible acquisition for playoff contenders Kansas City, New England and Buffalo.
Patching a big hole
The Browns’ lone acquisition on the first day of free agency was Jacksonville defensive tackle Taven Bryan. They reportedly agreed to a one-year contract for up to $5 million. Teams won’t confirm any acquisitions until Wednesday.
Bryan, 26, was the 29th overall selection in the 2018 draft by the Jaguars. He made 17 starts in 63 games for Jacksonville, compiling 86 tackles and 5.5 sacks.
Bryan, 6-5 and 291 pounds, will join a defensive tackle rotation that includes Browns 2020 fourth-round pick Jordan Elliott and 2021 fourth-round pick Tommy Togiai.
Backup quarterback dominoes
It’s possible the Browns could bring back veteran backup quarterback Case Keenum, who’s due a $1 million roster bonus on March 20 added to his scheduled 2021 base salary of $6.1 million.
But if they release Keenum to save $7.1 million on their salary cap, the Browns have to replace him. And that replacement pool has dwindled.
The Pittsburgh Steelers agreed to terms with Mentor-native Mitchell Tribusky (two years/$14.25 million). The Steelers view Trubisky as a possible starter.
Other quarterbacks to agree to terms: Jeff Driskel with Houston, Tim Boyle with Detroit, Brian Hoyer with New England, Colt McCoy with Arizona and Teddy Bridgewater with Miami.
