Jimmy Haslam sounds like the Browns owner we always wanted
March 26, 2014Carlos Carrasco wins the fifth starter job; Josh Tomlin sent to Columbus
March 26, 2014
With all due respect to the recently signed Paul McQuistan, the Cleveland Browns offensive line would look mighty nice with Evan Mathis in tow.
#Eagles have made it known Pro Bowl guard Evan Mathis is available via trade, sources say. So WR DeSean Jackson is not alone on trade block
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 26, 2014
NFL Network and The Philadelphia Inquirer are reporting that the Philadelphia Eagles are willing to part with their First Team All-Pro guard. Mathis, 33, is heading into a season where he saw his left tackle and center get raises all while he has been one of the best offensive linemen in football over the last three seasons. It was, after all, just one year ago that Mathis was dubbed the team’s MVP by the local media.
The Alabama product would like a bit of an increase on his current $5 million salary—who wouldn’t? Conviniently, the Cleveland Browns have the space to make this work. They also have a cornucopia of late-round draft picks which can be packaged and moved if needed. The team has already invested in their running game by signing the top free agent at the position in former Ben Tate. What better way to show conviction than to put the game’s best left guard next to the game’s best left tackle? Sure, the cost isn’t yet known1, but 33-year-olds looking for new contracts aren’t exactly being dealt for early-round picks.Who knows? This could also be the move that would show Alex Mack that things are—finally—happening in Cleveland.
Get it done, Berea.
- Update: The Eagles reportedly want a third-rounder. [↩]
33 Comments
I’d be shocked if a 33 y/o interior lineman would net PHI more than a late round pick. That said, I would hope the FO is at least looking at him (and several others we’re likely unaware of)…
Two year deal with an option, nice guaranteed bonus as a carrot, give Tate some space to run, give your QB some breathing space, and he’s off the books in a few. Why not. Like the infusion of Francona, Swisher and Bourn appears to have jump-started something at First Energy, maybe a few older but still good players like Mathis and Whitner can finally start a culture shift in Berea.
First, be careful the valuation of a LG. The RG is the guy that is more often tasked with the tougher assignments and being forced to be left on an island with his man while the LG often has center help (at least initially). It is the nature of most OL plays.
However, Mathis would be a massive upgrade at OG and I fully support acquiring him. I wouldn’t want to give him too much of a salary bump as he is getting older and is likely not long for the team (up to 3 years maybe?), but a small bump and 3yr contract (so, 2 year extension) is fine by me.
For why Philly might be willing: they realize that he will likely leave next offseason and rather than risk what compensatory pick they might get in the 2016 draft for him, they can try to acquire one in the 2014 draft and work on a replacement now (perhaps they feel they can use one of their top picks on an OG).
What does it take to get him AND DeSean Jackson? Seriously?
give a 4th rounder and have him play out his contract. that a good deal for him, best he’ll find.
don’t see why you’d bump him when he’s signed through 2016. fourth rounder seems reasonable. third rounders we need to keep in case we have to move up in the first round.
https://twitter.com/JasonLaCanfora/status/448837125354815488
Depending on whether or not the Browns are willing to agree to Philly’s demands, you could probably kiss our 4 draft picks in the first three rounds of this years draft goodbye.
With the moves Philly has made their offense is probably the best in the NFL right now, arguably. They’re not deep at oline, however, and to be honest they’re going to ask something decent, probably a third and something or maybe even a second, for him. This draft they’re probably looking defensive backfield and oline, but its deep at WR so they feel comfortable seeing if a team will overpay for desean and pick up a replacement. Lets not delude our ideas were about to get a probowl o lineman for a sixth and some magic beans.
why are you trying to adjust his contract up? what am i missing? he’s signed through 2016 at pretty high dollars.
ah, I did not realize through 2016, no reason to. I’d give them a 5th rounder and the cap relief, and maybe even switch spots in the 4th if they insist.
Yes, I don’t see why they’d bump him up. A 4th rounder would be great (and if you need to throw in a late-round pick, sure).
After Mack signs and you draft Watkins… wow, a potent CLE offense?!
That is too much, but, I’d be curious to see what Philly would “settle” for.
The Browns need the OL more then Jackson especially when they can get a nice WR in the draft at a much cheaper price.
Thomas, Mathis, Mack…
http://wellntruly.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/loki_ooh.gif?w=250
I’d do a fourth rounder any day then en at #26 I’d be looking to draft another OL. OR draft a top notch OL at #4 say Robinson or Matthews and then at #26 grab yourself another WR.
the reason you bump him is that it is likely the only reason Philly has him on the block is due to his desire for a bump and if you are going to be the team that wants him, then you will need to demonstrate it. I don’t see how a team acquires him and gets away with not doing it.
there’s a reason Philly has him on the block and it sure doesn’t look like it’s his play.
?? no. if that is what they are asking you wish them the best of luck and politely hang up the phone before laughing at their incredulity.
i know scott ref’d that he wanted more money; maybe he has a no trade or something? i just shot from the hip on this. but even tho his cap hits next couple years are a little on the high side, he’s definitely still playing at high level.
DeSean is rumored to fetch a 3rd round at highest, but his lack of maturity will probably drop that to a 4 or 5th round
I think he’d be a bad influence on Gordon. I want to keep Gordon out of trouble and as hungry to show last season was just the beginning. Pair him with another legitimate WR as well as Hawkins and Cameron and look out. He had 1600 yards a year ago with nobody to throw him the ball.
Another question is, are the Browns willing to give up anything for those two players?
I wasn’t advocating the CLE get him, just at what it would take to get him. I don’t want a premadonna WR. Dude reminds me of Hillis.
Do it. Now, please.
Presumably Davone Bess represented the worst possible influence on Gordon last year, and JG had an elite season of production. I think the “bad apple” concern may be a bit overblown.
guarantee this guy some early loot and wind him up and watch him go. 33 is older but not ancient and ineffective for a guard. I think this would be an absolute monster move for Cleveland. a 5th rounder should really do it.
Then they can go OL/WR/CB in the first 3 picks. boom – playoffs.
i think that’s actually an astute comment. I can’t imagine someone in last year’s NFL being a worse influence than Bess.
I would LOVE to get Jackson to Cleveland. He still has 3 high-end seasons left in him. And WRs don’t normally come in and dominate right away, so Watkins, etc… wouldn’t be expected to light it up, exactly. Making a move like that would thrown down the hammer to win NOW. And they could.
yeah – those primadonna WRs suck to have. Michael Irvin, Randy Moss, Dez Bryant…
you can’t get a WR like Jackson for a cheap price. I would argue that it’s easier to find above average lineman at a cheaper cost.
Offer them the Indy 4th rounder, which was our 5th rounder last year(would look like a great trade off in the end!). Odds are that will be the best trade offer that they get, and we were already looking at Guards in the first couple rounds anyway, this would be the best case scenario. MAKE IT HAPPEN FARMER!
Agreed. It always sounds great in the heads of the fans, but I believe Farmer likes his 10 picks and wants to use them. I’m hoping a 4th(we have 2 of them) would get it done for Mathis. Dude would seriously bolster our line.
Jackson ≠ Irvin/Moss
Trade up in the first? What, is Heckart still on the payroll?
i’m just thinking a justin gilbert or taylor lewan would be worth #26 + a third rounder and if they happen to slid into the late teens you might get that price.. just thinking ahead.
I think it would cost more than that third though. Didn’t Heckart set the bar and give up a high fourth to move up ONE spot in the first? If Farmer is any good he will have multiple players targeted that will probably fall to him without trading up, unlike both his predecessors.