Cleveland Browns Rumors: Expect the Browns to Continue Trend of Snagging Former Philadelphia Eagles

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

By Bob Evans
Senior Writer

Since getting named the general manager of the Cleveland Browns in January of 2010, Tom Heckert has made a habit of bringing in a player or two from his old stomping grounds in Philadelphia.

Before the 2010 season, Heckert acquired cornerback Sheldon Brown and linebacker Chris Gocong (currently starters) in a pre-draft trade from the Eagles, and then signed one of his former tight ends in Alex Smith. In 2011, he continued the trend by signing another one of his former draft picks in cornerback Dmitri Patterson away from the Eagles.

With the Browns in desperate need of talent across the board heading into the 2012 season, Heckert will once again have the opportunity to pluck a player or two away from his former team. And if the money is right, he could have the opportunity to land one of his most prized draft picks while in Philadelphia.

Headlining the list of potential players to pry away from Philadelphia is game-breaking wide receiver DeSean Jackson. The 25-year-old is a former second-round pick of Heckert’s back in 2008, and has blossomed into one of the most dangerous players in the NFL.

However, he comes with a ton of current baggage—not to mention possibly a hefty price tag. Per the Philadelphia Enquirer, the Eagles will franchise Jackson, forcing any team to send them a high draft pick to acquire his services. If the Browns are willing to pay the price, Jackson could be the answer to their wide receiver woes.

While Jackson may be an unrealistic option for the Browns, Steve Smith may be a more affordable option. After spending one season with the Eagles, it is likely Smith will be looking for more playing time on the open market. Coming off an injury with the Giants, Smith signed a one-year deal with Philadelphia and caught just 11 passes for 124 yards and a touchdown in nine games.

The 5’11”, 195 pound receiver had a breakout season in 2009 for the Giants, catching 107 passes for 1,220 yards and seven touchdowns. During that season Smith proved he can excel as a down-field threat or in the slot—both positions in which the Browns could use an upgrade.

Outside of those two receivers, the Eagles do have a number of players available at positions of need for the Browns.

On the offensive line, guard Evan Mathis and tackle King Dunlap are both unrestricted free agents. Mathis excelled at opening up big holes for LeSean McCoy, and will likely be out of the Browns’ price range thanks to his big season.

On the other hand, Dunlap could be a perfect player for the Browns to look into signing. At 6’9”, 330 pounds, the 26-year old former Auburn Tiger was a seventh-round pick under Heckert in 2008. He has starting experience from 2010, as he was forced to take over the starting left tackle duties after Jason Peters suffered a knee injury. He has started seven games in his three-year career, and played in 38 total.

On the defensive side of the ball, defensive ends Victor Abiamiri and Juqua Parker, along with linebacker Akeem Jordan could all be on Heckert’s radar.

Abiamiri is a former 2007 second-round pick out of Notre Dame. At 6’4”, 267 pounds, he could be a low-risk, high-reward signing. He has missed the last two seasons due to injury, with the latest being an Achilles tendon rupture during training camp in 2011. If he is healthy, his 4.7 40-yard dash speed could wreak havoc in the Browns’ defensive line rotation.

If the Browns are looking for a veteran addition to the line, Parker could be up their alley. He is coming off a 10 tackle, 1.5 sack season in limited time in 2011; but has proven effective in the past. He has registered 36.5 sacks and 231 tackles in his NFL career, and could provide depth for the Browns.

The most intriguing defensive player on the Browns radar is Jordan. Cleveland has a need for some youth/speed in their linebacking corps, and the 2007 undrafted free agent from James Madison could be just what they are looking for. He primarily plays outside linebacker, and has excellent coverage skills. He amassed 40 tackles in 2011, and could be a possibility for Heckert and the Browns.

While these players may not be “glamour” picks for Browns’ fans, Heckert has never been a big-name signing kind of the guy. Thanks to his familiarity from drafting or signing these players in the past, don’t be surprised if one or two of them end up in the orange and brown next year.


Follow National Football Authority on Twitter: @NFAuthority & @TheRealBobEvans
For more college football coverage, follow @NFA_CFB
Don't forget to "Like" us on Facebook, too.



More stories on the Cleveland Browns:

Cleveland Browns Rumors: Will They Tap into the Saints' Free Agent Pool Once Again?

Cleveland Browns 2012 NFL Draft: Examining GM Tom Heckert's Draft Tendencies