Keeping Jamie Collins by restructuring his contract isn’t exactly what Dorsey has in mind either.
The 2019 Draft class isn’t thought to be very deep at linebacker, but the good news for Dorsey and the Browns is that an intriguing option might present itself Tuesday afternoon.
ESPN reported Monday that Baltimore does not intend to use the franchise tag on four-time Pro Bowl linebacker C.J. Mosley in advance of Tuesday’s 4 p.m. deadline meaning that should the Ravens not tag Mosley, teams – including the Browns – can begin negotiating with him next Monday in advance of the new league year commencing on the 13th.
“Obviously, C.J. is a critical part of our team, a big part of our defense. We hope that we can bring him back next week,” Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said last week at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. “We have expectations that we’ll have some progress this week.”
DeCosta planned to meet with Mosley’s agent prior to leaving Indianapolis and he indicated that the Ravens would prefer not to use the franchise tag, which would cost over $15 million.
“I think our preference would always be to do a long-term deal with a player like C.J,” DeCosta said. “He’s a great player. We have to use every means to build our team that we can, whether that’s the draft, free agency, undrafted free agency, looking at prospective trades. All the different tools that we have that the league office lets us build our team, we’ll consider it.”
If Mosley does become available, Dorsey should go get him.
Mosley has started all 77 games he’s played for the Ravens where he has tallied 597 tackles, 43 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, 32 QB hits, nine interceptions, 35 pass breakups, six forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries in five seasons.
Both Dorsey and DeCosta spoke about fiscal responsibility in Indianapolis, and from the Browns perspective, overpaying in free agency is not a habit one wants to get into, but it could be worth it in this case.
Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly is the league’s highest-paid inside linebacker at $12.3 million after he signed a five-year, $61.8 million deal in 2015 and it stands to reason that Mosely, a four-time second-team AP All Pro, would like to top that.
Mosley, selected 17th overall in the 2014 NFL Draft, helped the Ravens secure a playoff berth by sacking, and then later intercepting Baker Mayfield in the regular season finale, a 26-24 victory over the Browns.
Ironically, the Browns are scheduled to pick 17th in this year’s draft.
The trade of quarterback Joe Flacco to Denver will save Baltimore $10 million is cap space leaving the Ravens with an estimated $28 million in room to work with in the new league year. The Browns are slated to have approximately $72 million after re-signing left tackle Greg Robinson a week ago.
As for Collins, Dorsey was scheduled to meet with Collins’ agent, Bus Cook, over the weekend in Indianapolis to discuss Collins’ future, which would involve a restructuring of his contract, trade or release.
Although Collins led the Browns with 13 tackles for loss last season, Dorsey lamented the lack of consistent production and impact plays from him.
“There was some inconsistencies,” Dorsey said. “You don’t know what leads to it. He may have been nicked. There’s certain things that come. All I know is he’s a very talented football player and you can’t have enough of those guys on your team.”
The Browns paid Collins like a Pro Bowler with a four-year, $50 million extension but he didn’t play like one.
Since being acquired from the Patriots in the middle of the 2016 season, Collins has started all 30 games in Cleveland where he has totaled two interceptions, three forced fumbles, seven pass breakups, a fumble recovery, 25 tackles for loss, seven sacks and 14 QB hits.
With all the guaranteed money already paid from that extension, moving on from Collins would be of little surprise and very easy to do.
Prying Mosley away from the Ravens would be a big splash.
If Dorsey would be able to add Mosley with a defensive tackle at 17 to combine with Myles Garrett, at least on paper, the Browns’ front seven could be transformed.