The NFL offseason is here, and while teams are at the combine in Indianapolis to try and get a good look at the physicality of the incoming draft class, other front office members are doing a scouting of a different kind and are looking at current NFL talent. With free agency just around the bend, teams are starting to hammer out strategies to get better through the players they acquire and one team looking to make a splash are the Cleveland Browns.
New head coach Mike Pettine used to be the defensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills, and his connection to free agent safety Jairus Byrd has Ian Rapoport hearing that the possibility of Cleveland landing Byrd is real.
Hear the possibility of reunion between #Browns coach Mike Pettine and S Jairus Byrd is real. Bills could complicate with a tag & trade tho
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 21, 2014
Browns would get a playmaker in Jairus Byrd, while Pettine gets someone who could teach their defense to teammates. Would mean Ward walks
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 21, 2014
The Browns aren’t a lock to land Byrd, but it’s a possibility. As Rapoport points out though, they’d have to let T.J. Ward walk which means there may be a small window of time to make a move to get Byrd or the Browns risk losing out on both Byrd and Ward.