Hours after reportedly agreeing to a trade that will send guard Kevin Zeitler to the New York Giants in exchange for Pro Bowl pass rusher Olivier Vernon, the Cleveland Browns announced another -- albeit more expected -- move.
According to a press release, the Browns have placed restricted free agent tenders on three players ahead of the league's "legal tampering period" that begins on Monday.
Of the three players tendered, the biggest name of the bunch comes in the form of fourth-year wide receiver Rashard Higgins, who caught career highs of 39 receptions for 572 yards and 4 touchdowns in 2018. According to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, Cleveland has placed an original-round tender on Higgins, which means he'll have the option of signing a one-year deal for $2.025 million for the Browns before becoming an unrestricted free agent in 2020.
Higgins, however, can now sign an offer sheet with another team, which Cleveland would be able to match and keep the player. Should the Browns decline to match any offer sheet Higgins signs, they would then receive a fifth-round pick from his new team.
In addition to Higgins, the Browns placed exclusive rights free agent tenders on defensive tackle Trevon Coley and defensive back Jermaine Whitehead. Both players will be offered one-year contracts at $2.025 million, without the ability to sign with other teams until next offseason.
Initially signed to the team's practice squad at the end of 2016, the 24-year-old Coley went on to start 29 games for the Browns over the course of the next two years, tallying 80 tackles, 11 of which came for a loss, 2.5 sacks and a safety. Whitehead, meanwhile, was claimed off waivers from the Green Bay Packers last season and recorded 4 tackles while serving on special teams in seven games.
As had previously been reported, Cleveland declined to place a free agent tender on defensive back Briean Boddy-Calhoun, who appeared in 43 games, including 22 starts, over the past three seasons. As a result, Boddy-Calhoun will become an unrestricted free agent, free to sign with any team.