Jordan Hicks, a former Jim Schwartz linebacker with the Eagles, will replace departed Sione Takitaki. (Getty Images)
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
Takeaways from Day 1 of NFL free agency …
Close to 100 NFL players changed teams or received new deals with their existing ones on the first day of “legal negotiating” (nee legal tampering) on Monday. Deals don’t become official until Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET.
Here are the player moves that directly or indirectly affected the Browns:
1. Within the first hour, the Browns’ presumed top target – Dolphins defensive tackle Christian Wilkins – agreed to a four-year, $110 million deal with the Raiders, including a whopping $84.75 million in guarantees.
The $27.5 million-a-year average blew the Browns out of the water by about $5 million more than they budgeted. They knew they wouldn’t have a chance for Wilkins when Kansas City’s Chris Jones agreed to return to the Chiefs on Sunday for about a $31.75 million-a-year average. That raised the ante for Wilkins beyond the Browns’ price point.
2. Later in the day, as players of all price ranges were flying off the shelves at a frenzied pace, the Browns secured two defensive linemen they wanted to keep. They agreed with defensive end Za’Darius Smith (two years, $23.5 million) and defensive tackle Maurice Hurst (one year, $3.2 million).
Smith’s re-signing rejoins him with Myles Garrett, Ogbo Okoronkwo, Alex Wright, Sam Kamara and Isaiah McGuire, keeping intact the top six D-ends. Smith’s versatility to move inside on passing downs is valuable.
3. Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz’s influence on defensive acquisitions was apparent again when the Browns came to an agreement with linebacker Jordan Hicks.
Hicks, 32, agreed to a two-year deal for $8 million. Hicks started every game the last four seasons, last year with the Vikings and the three previous with the Cardinals.
He started his career with the Eagles in 2015. Hicks had a good year after Schwartz arrived as the Eagles starting middle linebacker in 2016 and then suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in the Eagles’ seventh game of the Super Bowl season in 2017.
3. A few high-profile veteran defensive linemen expected to be released or traded who may interest the Browns are still with their teams, for now. These include Arik Armstead of the 49ers, and Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa of the Chargers.
4. Three Browns free agents defected to other teams.
Linebacker Anthony Walker returned to his hometown Miami with a one-year deal with the Dolphins. This was surprising because Walker missed the last six games and wild-card game in 2023 after needing arthroscopic knee surgery. The deal hinges on Walker passing a physical.
Cornerback and special teams core player Mike Ford agreed to a two-year deal with the Houston Texans. Ford started one game at nickel back in 2023 and was the second-leading tackler on special teams.
Early in the evening, Sione Takitaki agreed to a deal with the New England Patriots. Takitaki was one of the Browns’ best special teams players before he was forced into regular duty at linebacker.
5. Ford was one of seven cornerbacks who changed teams. That was significant because of rumblings of the Browns shopping CB3 Greg Newsome.
Detroit was a team linked to Newsome, but the Lions chose to trade for Carlton Davis of Tampa Bay for a third-round pick. The Lions also re-signed cornerback Emmanuel Moseley.
Other teams who agreed to terms with new cornerbacks were Tennessee (Chidobe Awuzie of the Bengals), Arizona (Sean Bunting of the Titans), Houston (Jeff Okudah of the Falcons, and Lonnie Johnson of the Saints), Jacksonville (Ronald Darby of the Ravens), and the Jets (Isaiah Oliver of the 49ers).
GM Andrew Berry has indicated the Browns want to keep Newsome and that seems more likely after Monday’s events.
6. Early in the day, the Browns were linked to pursuing a veteran running back, but they didn’t reach a deal despite a totally unforeseen run on running backs.
Josh Jacobs (Raiders) agreed with the Packers, Saquon Barkley (Giants) agreed with the Eagles, Tony Pollard (Cowboys) agreed with Titans, D’Andre Swift (Eagles) agreed with the Bears, Devin Singletary (Texans) agreed with the Giants, Antonio Gibson (Commanders) agreed with the Patriots, Gus Edwards (Ravens) agreed with the Chargers, Austin Ekeler (Chargers) agreed with the Commanders, and Zack Moss (Colts) agreed with the Bengals after they released Joe Mixon. Moss was linked to the Browns in some rumors.
7. The backup quarterback market got interesting.
As expected, Jacoby Brissett returned to the Patriots, his original team, rejoining former Browns offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt.
Brissett was seen as a possibility to return to the Browns if Joe Flacco found a better opportunity elsewhere.
But the night ended with Flacco still unsigned and reports claiming the Browns had an interest in Jameis Winston.
Which would be verification, if true, that somebody in the Browns’ building does not want Flacco’s shadow invading Deshaun Watson’s space.