NFL Free Agency Rumors: Cleveland Browns Have Contacted Dannell Ellerbe
By Josh Hill
The Cleveland Browns are entering a new era in their franchise’s history and it seems the front office is determined to use free agency to fill massive holes and make major upgrade all over the roster. Cleveland has already been linked to Paul Kruger and according to the Cleveland Plain-Dealer, another soon-to-be ex-Baltimore Ravens linebacker is on the Browns radar, as Dannell Ellerbe has reportedly been in contact with the Browns about possibly hashing out a contract.
The #Browns have talked to the agent of #Ravens linebacker Dannell Ellerbe, a league source told the PD.
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) March 10, 2013
If the Browns made a run at both Kruger and Ellerbe as well as Cliff Avril, they’d potentially have an entirely new linebacking corps next season. Kruger played outside linebacker for the Ravens last season while Ellerbe is an interior linebacker. Avril is the wild card as he played defensive end in the Detroit Lions 4-3 scheme last year but may slide to outside linebacker in the Browns new 3-4 look should he sign in Cleveland.
The Browns were expected to be one of the most active teams in free agency and so far that’s proving to be true. While they haven’t agreed in principle to a deal with any players yet, they’re linked to almost every free agent on the market at the moment from top targets like Avril, Ellerbe and Kruger to quarterback Derek Anderson.
When free agency officially begins on Tuesday, don’t be at all surprised to see at least one of the above mentioned names ink a brand new contract with the new look Browns.