The Browns have retained a key player for their defense by re-signing linebacker Jamie Collins to a four-year contract worth $50 million, $26 million of which is guaranteed.
Now will they do the same for their offense by re-signing wide receiver Terrelle Pryor, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent, and running back Isaiah Crowell, who would be a restricted free agent?
It’s an interesting, telling and important situation.
After suffering through a franchise-worst 1-15 season in 2016 with an offense that couldn’t score and a defense that couldn’t stop anyone from scoring, the Browns obviously need all the good players they can get, and as part of that, they can ill afford to allow the good ones they already have to get away.
In the past, the Browns have been reluctant to spend money, even though they had plenty of it to spend since they were well under the salary cap. It’s as if they were saving it for a rainy day. Well, it’s finally a rainy day. In fact, it‘s pouring out now, and has been for a while.
It’s great that they cleaned the cobwebs out of their wallets and kept Collins instead of letting him walk away and getting nothing in return since he would have been an unrestricted free agent. That’s great. It sends a message to the players already in the locker room and the ones who will be joining it – or are thinking about joining it – this offseason that the Browns are willing to spend money if they think it’s a good fit, and worth it.
But that message – that momentum — has to continue. The Browns can’t rest on their laurels. They still have a lot of work to do – and that’s even if they lock up Pryor and Crowell.
Like Collins, Pryor and Crowell are players who legitimately worry opposing coordinators. It’s been a long time since the Browns have had three players in that regard for any length of time.
What happens with Pryor and Crowell will have a lot to say about where the Browns are headed. So stay tuned
