NFL notebook: Browns' busy Friday includes trio of trades

[March 10, 2018]  The Cleveland Browns have struck separate deals to acquire three-time Pro Bowl receiver Jarvis Landry from the Miami Dolphins and quarterback Tyrod Taylor from the Buffalo Bills, according to multiple reports Friday.

Cleveland continued its trading spree by also adding some defensive help, as it reportedly will acquire cornerback Damarious Randall from the Green Bay Packers. The trades can't be formally announced until Wednesday, the start of the NFL's new year.

Miami will reportedly receive two draft picks -- a fourth-rounder in the 2018 draft and a seventh-round pick in 2019 -- for Landry, the first player to catch 400 passes over his first four NFL seasons. Meanwhile, Cleveland will send a third-round pick (No. 65 overall) to the Bills for Taylor.

Cleveland will reportedly send quarterback DeShone Kizer to the Packers in the deal for Randall.

--Three-time All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman was released by the Seattle Seahawks. Releasing Sherman, who spent seven seasons with the team, saves the team $11 million against the 2018 salary cap.

The move gives Sherman a head start on free agency. He can meet with and sign a contract to play for any team in the league.

NFL Network reported both sides are open to Sherman returning under a new contract if he cannot find the right deal in free agency.

--The San Francisco 49ers will let the man that led the team in sacks last season, defensive end Elvis Dumervil, become a free agent next week.

The Niners announced they informed Dumervil his contract option for 2018 wouldn't be picked up. Dumervil had 6.5 sacks in a limited role last season, 3.5 more than anyone else on the team.

Dumervil, 34, was set to receive a $500,000 roster bonus on Tuesday and would have carried a $4.25 million cap hit in 2018. He has 105.5 career sacks in his 11 NFL seasons.

--Nick Foles hears many of the swirling offseason trade rumors, but the Super Bowl LII Most Valuable Player prefers not to talk about them.

Since guiding the Philadelphia Eagles to the franchise's first Lombardi Trophy in February, Foles' name has been a popular one in the NFL rumor mill. With Carson Wentz, sidelined in December and for the playoffs with a knee injury that required surgery, due back in August or September, the Eagles could be dealing from a position of great strength if they choose to part with Foles.

"I don't want to talk about anything," said Foles, via USA Today Sports. "It's the offseason and I just want to stay out of it."

--The Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced they locked up star receiver Mike Evans with a five-year contract extension.

The deal, which runs through the 2023 campaign, is worth $82.5 million with $55 million guaranteed, according to published reports.

Evans caught 71 passes for 1,001 yards and five touchdowns in 2017.

--The team that saved Adam Jones' career is apparently parting ways with the veteran cornerback.

Jones, who is 34 years old and was due more than $5 million in 2018, told the Cincinnati Bengals website the team is not picking up his option for next season.

But, Jones added, Bengals coach Marvin Lewis told the 2014 All-Pro kick returner that the team would "crunch some numbers" and see if it could bring him back to compete for the nickel corner and returner jobs.

--The Philadelphia Eagles reached agreement to trade receiver Torrey Smith to the Carolina Panthers for cornerback Daryl Worley, according to multiple reports.

The move reportedly saves the Eagles $4 million in cap space. Smith, 29, is slated to make $5 million in 2018 in the second season of a three-year, $15 million contract.

Smith caught 36 passes for 430 yards and two touchdowns in the 2017 regular season and added 13 receptions for 157 yards and one score in the Eagles' playoff run to the Super Bowl crown. Worley, 23, had two interceptions last season and three in his two-year career. He started 25 games in his two seasons with the Panthers.

--Safety Mike Mitchell will be released by the Pittsburgh Steelers, saving the team $5 million against the 2018 salary cap.

NFL Network and ESPN reported the move was imminent due to Mitchell's scheduled salary of more than $8 million for next season.

Using the franchise designation to retain running back Le'Veon Bell all but evaporated any salary cap space the team will have for shopping the open market next week at the open of free agency.

--Field Level Media

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