It was a divorce that has been coming down the pike since the New York Jets drafted back-to-back safeties in the first round of April’s NFL Draft. Thursday it just became official as the Jets traded former first round safety Calvin Pryor to the Cleveland Browns.
In return, the Jets get linebacker Demario Davis, who actually left the Jets for the Browns on a free agent contract last offseason.
We’ve acquired DB Calvin Pryor from the Jets in exchange for LB Demario Davis.
Details » https://t.co/pD0gSjNE5e pic.twitter.com/ve3p5cLWOd
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) June 1, 2017
“Calvin is a young, experienced safety that has upside,” Browns VP of football operations Sashi Brown said. “We are pleased to be able to add him to our defensive back room and just like every player we acquire, we expect him to come in with a hard-working mindset ready to compete. Demario is a guy that we developed the utmost respect for in his time with our team, not only as a professional but also as a person. We appreciate all he did for our organization in his time in Cleveland.”
Pryor had a decent statistical season for the Jets last season, recording 60 tackles, one forced fumble and six passes defended, but head coach Todd Bowles obviously wanted to move on with the position.
Davis returns after a solid year with the Browns where he recorded 99 tackles, two sacks and two passes defended. Davis signed a two-year, $8 million deal with Cleveland last year.
Maybe Calvin Pryor sucks, but trading a depth LB for a former first round pick is always a smart move.
— Goodberry (@JoeGoodberry) June 1, 2017
It’s been an offseason of big acquisitions that could pay off for Cleveland. Earlier this year the Browns altered the complexion of the AFC by taking Brock Osweiler off the Houston Texans’ hands. Reportedly Osweiler is impressing Browns head coach Hue Jackson in his early work. I predicted all along that Osweiler, if they kept him, would end up being a solid starter for the Browns.
Bad news for Ravens’ Young
The Baltimore Ravens had big plans for second-year cornerback Tavon Young. Now, after Young tore his ACL in organized team activities Thursday, those plans are on hold for at least a year.
Coming back stronger than ever, GOD got me, thanks for the prayers
— Tavon Young (@TY_Real1) June 1, 2017
Young was a fourth-round steal for the Ravens last year. After the first month of the season, he slid right into the starting line up. Young finished 2016 with 50 tackles, one fumble recovery, eight passes defended and two interceptions.
Young was going to be a key member of what should have been a standout unit for the Ravens this season, along with first round pick Marlon Humphrey out of Alabama, free agent acquisition Brandon Carr from the Dallas Cowboys and stalwart corner Jimmy Smith.
Christine Michael a Colt
The long, odd ride of running back Christine Michael will take a stop in Indianapolis for a while as the Colts signed the free agent running back Thursday. No length or financial terms have been released, but it’s probably a one-year deal in the $2 million range.
We have signed free agent running back Christine Michael and waived running back Brandon Radcliff: https://t.co/hSHcDJFxJr pic.twitter.com/XCHIPnZfaM
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) June 1, 2017
Michael’s career has been an enigma since he entered the league as a second round pick of the Seattle Seahawks in 2013. He’s seemingly been productive enough and priced right to find an NFL forever home, yet he’s bounced around between the Seahawks off and on, with stops with the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers over the last couple of years.
With Frank Gore likely entering the twilight of his NFL career and his main competition on the depth chart Marlon Mack, a rookie running back out of USF, Michael has a chance to at least sign a one-year lease on a townhouse this season.
Last year Michael played for two teams (the Seahawks and the Packers), carried the ball 148 times for 583 yards and seven (yes, seven) touchdowns. Those look like employable numbers to me.
Matt Jones on the way out in Washington
After being informed he was officially the No. 5 running back on the Washington Redskins depth chart heading into OTAs, Matt Jones saw the writing on the wall and decided to spend the offseason voluntary workout period on his couch.
Jones, a third round pick out of Florida in 2015, was one of the reasons the team moved on from Alfred Morris last season. As a rookie, he carried the ball 144 times for 490 yards and three touchdowns and caught 19 passes for 304 yards and one touchdown. Last year his rushing stats improved, gaining 460 yards and three touchdowns on just 99 carries, but ball security issues kept him sidelined. Evidently it’s not a problem with Redskins and head coach Jay Gruden care to fix.
Ex-Washington starter Matt Jones has been told by coach Jay Gruden he is the team's No. 5 RB and is staying away from OTAs. @nflnetwork
— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) June 1, 2017
For his part, Gruden played his role as a guy who “wants” Jones in camp while, in reality, not giving a single, solitary shit.
“I hope so. I expect him to be (at OTAs),” Gruden said. “He’s on our roster, he’s eating up a spot. We all know that this is voluntary, so there’s really nothing that we can do. We’d like everybody to be here without a doubt, but at the end of the day, Jordan Reed is in Miami working out, Trent (Williams) is working out in Oklahoma, Matt Jones chose not to be here, so we obviously want people to work together and learn together, but it is voluntary at the end of the day.”
The Redskins drafted Samaje Perine out of Oklahoma with a downright larcenous use of a fourth round pick and I’d be surprised after early work if Gruden doesn’t already have him pencilled in as the starter. The rest of the depth chart shakes out with Chris Thompson, Rob Kelly, speedster Keith Marshall and Mack Brown. There’s no question that Jones is expendable.
The good news for Jones is he has NFL talent, without question. If and when the Redskins cut him free, he should have no trouble finding his way onto another roster. The only reason Washington hasn’t already cut him is they’re probably looking for a mid to late-round trade offer.
Other NFL News
Tennessee Titans quarterback Matt Cassel will miss six weeks after breaking his thumb Tuesday. Cassel started one game for the Titans last season and played in four. He finished 1-0, completed 58 percent of his passes for 284 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Denver Broncos linebacker Shaquil Barrett will miss a few months with a hip injury, but there is some good news. According to Broncos head coach Vance Joseph, the injury won’t require surgery.
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