Browns are “team to watch” in trade for Darrelle Revis
March 11, 2014Donte Whitner coming home to Cleveland, signs four-year, $28 million deal
March 11, 2014We officially have D’Qwell Jackson’s replacement in the middle of the Cleveland defense. In what is the first day of NFL free agency, the Browns have agreed to terms with veteran linebacker Karlos Dansby, formerly of the Arizona Cardinals, on a four-year, $24 million contract.
don't know if this has been out there since twitter broke. hearing Dansby to Browns, 4yrs/$24m. $10m year 1, $14m guaranteed.
— Kent Somers (@kentsomers) March 11, 2014
The deal is incredibly front-loaded, which makes sense for a 32-year-old who made just $2.25 million a season ago. Of the $24 million given to Dansby, it includes $10 million in the first year and $14 million guaranteed. A lot of money to be sure, but Dansby also represents an upgrade over Jackson on the field given his body of work within a 3-4 defense and his skill set against the run as well as the pass.
In 2013, Dansby piled up 114 tackles, 6.5 sacks (in addition to 11 hurries and four hits), four interceptions (two touchdowns) and 19 pass breakups. Pro Football Focus ranked Dansby fifth overall, third amonst all inside linebackers against the pass behind just Derrick Johnson and Kiko Alonso.
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(Image: Stephen Brashear/AP)
13 Comments
That headline! Hahahaha
I now agree with bupalo on getting Moats for the other ILB spot. Alone, I didn’t want him (if it meant NOT getting Dansby). With Karlos, it’s a prudent move.
Hoping that the lack of OG rumors is just because OG’s don’t sign day1 of FA.
So he was the best ILB out there, right?
“So he was the best ILB out there who fits well within Mike Pettine’s defensive system, right?”
TFTFY
i like the structure of the contract more than I like the guy they signed.
The Cleveland Browns 2014 Offseason Strategy, 15-time Offseason Champions since 1999.
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Unless their name is Shawn Freaking Lauvao! BOOM!
He’s old, he’s a stop-gap, and I’m totally fine with that. He’s still an exceptional linebacker, and more importantly he’s a LB who excels in pass coverage (without giving up much if anything in the running game). The Browns have been aching for that. It’s a passing league and the Browns had too many guys who don’t play on the line / are right down the middle of their defense who were better against the run than the pass.
what he said.
yeah, ummm…wow. Well, good for him and his family.
Putting that rollover money to good use, I see. Way to go out and get somebody who helps right now, but doesn’t cost any long term flexibility at all.
As much as I disliked Banner, I thought his theory of going after under-30 types in FA was a good one. The execution may have been lacking (Paul Kruger) but I liked the idea. That said, Dansby still seems like a heck of a player and a big part of the very underrated Cards D last year.
I see Karlos has 4 inches and 10 pounds on D’Qwell. I like that tradeoff. Does anyone know if he’s significantly faster than D’Qwell? If he could cover TE’s and RB’s, that would be a first for a Browns’ ILB since 1999!
Dansby rated above DQ in both run and pass defense. In pass defense he only rated below Kiko and Derrick Johnson in the entire NFL for LBers (per PFF).