Believeland: A story about sports, but mostly a story about Cleveland
May 13, 2016Indians place Michael Brantley on DL; call up Michael Martinez
May 14, 2016With rookie minicamp beginning Friday, some of the Cleveland Browns rookies were busy putting pen to paper and signing their first NFL contract. Out of the team’s 14 draft picks, the Browns signed six: first-round wide receiver Corey Coleman, fifth-round receiver Jordan Payton, fifth-round offensive lineman Spencer Drango, fifth-round receiver Rashard Higgins, fifth-round defensive back Trey Caldwell and seventh-round linebacker Scooby Wright.
Coleman, the Browns’ first selection at No. 15, signed a four-year deal worth roughly $11,654,980, according to overthecap.com. He may not have played a game in the NFL yet, but the rookie is expected to be arguably the team’s top receiver. He will not only open up the field for other players on offense with his speed, but at 5-foot-11, his ability to jump up and get the ball, Coleman could be one of the Browns’ top red zone targets as well, along with tight end Gary Barnidge.
While much of the post-draft talk has been around the Browns drafting quarterback Cody Kessler, the rookie has yet to sign with the team but will participate in rookie camp due to an injury protection clause. Obviously, if he wants a shot to compete with quarterback Robert Griffin III and others for the starting spot this fall, the rookie will have to get as much work in with his teammates as possible.
Here are some projected contracts for some other Browns’ rookies who have yet to sign, according to overthecap.com (all of which will be four-year deals):
- Second-round linebacker Emmanuel Ogbah: $6,609,640 with a $3,007,012 signing bonus
- Third-round defensive end Carl Nassib: $3,229,756 with a $889,756 signing bonus
- Third-round offensive lineman Shon Coleman: $3,127,536 with a $787,536 signing bonus
- Third-round quarterback Cody Kessler: $3,004,788 with a $664,788 signing bonus
- Fourth-round linebacker Joe Schobert: $2,973,956 with a $633,956 signing bonus
Along with the signings, 14 other players have been invited to rookie camp this weekend:
- LB Ryan Aelker, Bluffton
- K Andrew Baggett, Missouri
- RB Jordan Canzeri, Iowa
- LB Ryan Flannigan, Kentucky
- K Chad Hedlund, SMU
- OL William McGahee, Arizona State
- DB Eric Patterson, Ball State
- P Zach Paul, Akron
- QB Ricky Stanzi, Iowa
- K Brent Wahle, Ohio Dominican
- RB Marteze Waller, Fresno State
- OL Isaiah Williams, Akron
- LB Terrell Williams, Youngstown State
- LS Kirk Willis, Cincinnati