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The Cleveland Browns mean business, and the New England Patriots’ record-setting season seems as though it was years ago, not simply one short month.
Browns' GM Phil Savage inked free agent wide receiver Donte Stallworth to a seven-year deal worth $35 million on Saturday; $10 million of that total is guaranteed.
Stallworth, who has now been a member of four different teams in as many years, caught 46 passes for 697 yards and three touchdowns in New England last season. That production, which may not jump off the page, was complied as the team’s third receiving option – well behind Wes Welker and Randy Moss.
This signing gives the Browns just what they needed alongside Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow in the passing game and should make things even easier for recently re-signed quarterback Derek Anderson.
Savage has now inked Anderson, Stallworth, and running back Jamal Lewis to lucrative deals this offseason – a clear sign that he believes the AFC North is ripe for the picking.
Cleveland ranked twelfth in the NFL in passing last season, with Edwards and Winslow catching well over fifty percent of the team’s completions. The addition of Stallworth, who is expected to replace Joe Jurevicius as the team’s number two receiver, will add another fold to Romeo Crennel’s attack.
When healthy, Stallworth can really move his feet and is tremendous after the catch in the open field. Edwards and Winslow are bruisers and equally effective, but neither possess the same speed and agility that the former Patriot, Eagle, and Saint has showcased throughout his career.
With that said, Stallworth does have a history of nagging injuries, having missed time with the Eagles and at the beginning of his career in New Orleans. If he’s not healthy enough to take the field or pump his legs fast enough to beat the tough corners of the AFC North, he’ll prove to be an overrated addition in Cleveland.
However, much like his role in New England, he won’t be expected to carry the offensive load in Cleveland. That’s what Anderson, Edwards, Winslow, and Lewis are paid to do. Stallworth’s role will be bigger than it was with the Patriots, but he won’t revert to his days in Philadelphia and New Orleans when the strain of being the top receiver often affected his ability to remain healthy.
As we saw in Foxboro, Stallworth will be one of the best third receiving options in the game for Cleveland.
When analyzing the agreement between the Browns and quarterback Derek Anderson for RealGM on Saturday (GTD: Anderson Sticks In Cleveland), I listed another above-average receiver as a need for the team, who appears to be gunning for a division title in 2008. The fact that they filled that void, in addition to the “free” spending of Cleveland management and ownership this offseason, has impressed me tremendously.
Grade for the Browns: A-
The Patriots’ Super Bowl loss to the Giants was just a few weeks ago, but they have been left reeling after the first few days of free agency. In addition to losing Stallworth, they let Asante Samuel (Philadelphia) and Randall Gay (New Orleans) leave town. It looked as though Randy Moss might skip town as well, but New England was able to lock him up with a three-year deal on Monday afternoon.
Grade for the Patriots: B
The re-signing of Moss makes the loss of Stallworth a distant memory. As they always do, Bill Belichick and Tom Brady will find another suitable third target.
Andrew Perna is a Senior Writer for RealGM.com. Please feel free to contact him via e-mail (Andrew.Perna@RealGM.com) with comments or questions.
