NFL Free Agency: Browns should pass on Matt Schaub
March 10, 2014Top pick Anthony Bennett out three weeks with knee strain
March 10, 2014The Cleveland Plain Dealer is reporting that the Browns are “very serious” about bringing Donte Whitner to Cleveland to replace SS T.J. Ward.
Source told http://t.co/AxL2Mqzjbd #Browns "are very serious'' about signing Cleveland native Donte Whitner, 49ers safety. He'd replace Ward
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) March 10, 2014
Whitner, a Cleveland native and Ohio State Buckeye made just a hair under $5 million dollars in 2013. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that the Browns, Bears and Jets all inquired about Whitner over the weekend.
There is still a chance that the 49ers hold onto Whitner as well.
“The 49ers are “still pushing” to retain Whitner, but it appears likely there will be a competitive market for his services when free agency begins at 1 p.m. Tuesday. Whitner, 28, has spent the past three seasons with the 49ers and earned his first Pro Bowl berth in 2012. He is expected to receive a more lucrative contract than the three-year, $11.75 million deal he signed in 2011.”
Perhaps signing with the Browns would allow Whitner time to finally change his last name to ‘Hitner’ like he tried to do last season.
Buckle up Browns fans. With $50 million dollars in cap space, free agency won’t be boring this year. The Browns will likely be connected to a lot of rumors. The safety position in particular should be interesting.
[Related: Jets expressing interest in T.J. Ward]
[Related: Jairus Byrd seeking $9 million per season]
20 Comments
Why?
What an awful idea
Interesting. If Whitner can be gotten for a couple million less a year than Ward, then a Whitner/Byrd combo would be much more economical. He didn’t rank far behind Ward and may be slightly better in coverage.
Where does PFF have him as compared to Ward?
Other possibility is that this is just to get Ward’s value on the market down a bit since there are other good options out there, though that seems unlikely.
I can get behind this move. Whitner seems like a cheaper, yet slightly older version of Ward. Maybe this will free up some cash to pursue Byrd.
also, he is not as good as Ward. I hope he is just the backup option if we cannot get Ward (regardless of Byrd).
Whitner better in coverage? Ezzie, I don’t believe so.
I was basing that more on Ward’s misses. Who wants to sponsor a PFF subscription for me? 🙂
I would rather keep Ward as well. However I don’t see that happening as of now. That can change and hopefully will. I don’t think Whitner is coming here to be a backup and I would rather have a Whitner/Gipson/pick if we are unable to sign Ward or Byrd
Sounds like a job for Kanick!
I am seriously starting to wonder if the Browns realize that you win with players on the field, not with clever manipulations of cap space.
I’m starting to sense Smartest Guy in the Room syndrome again.
Whitner played in all 16 games last year. He had 73
tackles, 2 INTs, 2 Forced Fumbles, 1 Fumble Recovery and 12 Passes Defensed
Ward also played in all 16 games. He had 112 Tackles, 2 Sacks, 2 INTs, 1 Fumble
Recovery and 7 Passes Defensed
Who seems to be more of a ball-hawk?
Whitner probably had fewer tackles because San Fran had a *MUCH* better corps of linebackers than CLE.
They also have some serious holes to fill on other parts of the team. They have to prioritize and get value where possible to try and fill as many needs as possible.
Filling holes with mediocre players gets you 4-12. We need stars, studs, playmakers. We’ve got the money to spend, so we ought to stop jerking around and acquire (and keep) some top available talent.
So much hand wringing over TJ Ward? Really? If they replace him with a real pro like this (i.e., not Usama Young) I have a hard time getting my pitchfork out.
I’m getting the same feeling.
We’ll see for sure when they draft players from Alabama, Ohio St, LSU, Michigan…
OR
North Dakota State, Montana, Georgia Southern, Grand Valley State…
“I’m starting to sense Smartest Guy in the Room syndrome again.”
I think that’s just how Jimmy Haslam operates. I just don’t think any of this will end well.
SF could actually stop teams on third down, meaning their D could get off the field quickly = less opportunities for tackles. It doesn’t always reflect well to have a DB as a 100 plus tackle guy.
Chaun Thompson agrees.
Ahhh, yes, West Texas A&M…
Yes, IF they replace him with someone better, not someone with a friendlier contract.