Dan Gilbert on firing Mike Brown in 2010: “Yeah, it was a mistake.”
April 24, 2013While We’re Waiting… The Super Bowl is here, it’s Draft Day Cleveland!
April 25, 2013Tomorrow night is the 2013 NFL Draft, which will certainly feature plenty of trade speculation, but Wednesday night brings about a new Cleveland Browns trade rumor. Reportedly, the team is among many interested in the services of 27-year-old Miami Dolphins wide receiver Davone Bess.
From the Twitter account of the Chicago Sun Times’ Sean Jensen:
#Browns seriously considering a trade for Dolphins WR Davone Bess, according to a league source. Several teams in the mix.
— Sean Jensen (@seankjensen) April 24, 2013
#Browns obviously have glaring need at receiver and #Dolphins are in pretty solid shape. Davone Bess had 61 catches for 778 yards in 2012.
— Sean Jensen (@seankjensen) April 24, 2013
WR Davone Bess is a solid player but let's not get crazy; I'm hearing mid-round picks being discussed.
— Sean Jensen (@seankjensen) April 24, 2013
With Miami’s offseason acquisitions of Pittsburgh WR Mike Wallace, St. Louis WR Brandon Gibson and NY Jets TE Dustin Keller, Bess has suddenly become expendable from their deep receiving unit. Rumors have circulated for the past several months on where he might land in 2013. Meanwhile, all offseason, the Browns have been linked to interest in several options to boost their less-than-ideal receiving corps.
Bess originally signed by the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent out of Hawaii in 2008. He has played the entirety of his five-year career with the team, exceeding even the wildest of expectations.
In these five seasons, Bess has 321 receptions for 3,447 yards and 12 touchdowns. He is one of only 10 NFL players (Bess, Boldin, Fitzgerald, Gonzalez, Ca. Johnson, Marshall, Wayne, Welker, White, Witten) to catch 50+ balls in each of the last five seasons. He also helped to return punts for Miami from 2008-2011.
Currently, Cleveland owns the rights to six other draft picks after the No. 6 overall selection on Thursday night: 3rd (68); 4th (104); 5th (139); 5th (164); 6th (175); 7th (227). While potentially unpleasant to fans, it could be possible that the team parts ways with one of these precious few picks on a deal for Bess, who is due approximately $3.4 million in 2013. Such a trade certainly would be more likely if the Browns pull off another draft move to add more picks.
[Related: The best offensive free agents still available for the Browns]
9 Comments
Maybe a package deal if they trade up in the first round. We get their first round pick, a second round pick, we throw them a 4th round pick and get Bess. (I’m reading way to much into this) but I like the security if Nelson doesn’t pan out.
I like to sprinkle in a pick next year too… Maybe a fifth?
That would be awesome. Bess is a decent receiver… he should never be forced to be the best receiver on the team like he was in Miami last year, but he’s good to have. i wouldn’t want to trade a draft pick or multiple picks straight up for him though… the Browns still have too many needs to fill to waste on another wide receiver. But as part of a trade down deal where the Browns swap their 1st and get a 2nd round pick? Yes please.
I really like Bess. Professional. Good hands. reliable.
I’ll be honest guys the more likely scenario would be trading a 6th for Davone or switching spots, getting Davone and giving up a late rounder. You can’t get anything for nothing. I still don’t want him. Just saying, you gotta give to get.
The slot WRs this year are better than him. If we can get Kenny Stills in round5 I’d rather do that
And so the Lombardi Era II begins…
*facepalm*
um, what? None of our slots had 20 catches last year, this dude had 60 and hundreds in the past few years. I like Norwood but this guy is a clear an upgrade.
Or maybe you mean the guys available in the draft who project as slots. If so, and the Browns aren’t satisfied with the current roster, I’d still be fine satisfying this need in free agency as getting a third receiver is not a glaring need.
Bess got that many receptions out of necessity, but your point is still valid. In the draft, I like Wheaton better than Bess and probably Stedman Bailey, but those are 3rd round guys. Any trade requiring less, I would take for Bess.