NFL Notes: Browns, Cardinals, Ravens

Browns

• Jake Trotter of ESPN believes that the money and years Redskins LT Trent Williams would want on his contract extension are a larger issue for the Browns than the assets it would take to trade for him.
• J.P. Finlay says that the Browns may already know what type of contract extension Williams is looking for, as they were previously in negotiations to trade for him last season.
• Scott Petrak of BrownsZone.com believes that the Browns allowing LB Joe Schobert to sign elsewhere is a step backward for a team that can’t afford any mistakes.
• Petrak also notes that while contracts worth $10 million per year are for “elite” players, the Browns should have made an exception for Schobert due to the fact that the team needs players like him and have plenty of cap space.
• Tight end is a “glaring” need for the Browns, according to Petrak, who no longer believes in TE David Njoku. Petrak could see Cleveland drafting a tight end in the second round, mentioning Dayton’s Adam Trautman or Notre Dame’s Cole Kmet.
• As for drafting a tackle with the No. 10 pick, Petrak notes the choice may come down to Cleveland’s willingness to gamble on potential. Louisville’s Mekhi Becton and USC’s Austin Jackson are unfinished products with high upside, while Alabama’s Jedrick Wills, Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs or Georgia’s Andrew Thomas may have less potential, but are currently more complete players.
• Petrak also expects the Browns to cut DE Olivier Vernon in order to save $15.25 million in 2020, but he could also see Cleveland paying him for one more year due to a lack of options in free agency and the draft.
• At the middle linebacker position, Petrak notes that Sione Takitaki may be a premature option as Schobert’s replacement.

Cardinals

Retired Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski said in an interview with 98.7 Arizona Sports that he was praying the Cardinals would draft back in 2010 after his time at the University of Arizona. 

“I loved being in the state of Arizona . . . I was praying that they would take me because I wanted to go there,” Gronkowski said, via ArizonaSports.com. “I felt like they needed a tight end and they brought me in for a little visit.”

“I took a visit there and everything, I could tell they had no interest in me,” Gronkowski said. “I could tell, the people that brought me in, they were just bringing me in to bring me in.”

Ravens

Ravens GM Eric DeCosta said at the Combine that their offensive production could necessitate that they have a “strong pass rush.” 

“If our offense continues to play at the level they played at this past year, we will probably be ahead in some games and we’re going to want to have a strong pass rush,” DeCosta said.

• ESPN’s Josina Anderson reports that Ravens LB Matthew Judon is yet to be informed on whether or not he will receive the franchise tag.
• Jamison Hensley mentions that Iowa’s A.J. Epenesa or Penn State’s Yetur Gross-Matos could be potential draft options at No. 28 overall.
• While it will be tough for Baltimore to afford top-end pass rushers like Jadeveon Clowney, Hensley could Jason Pierre-Paul or even Calais Campbell, assuming he’s released, being options for the Ravens.