| Andrew Perna. 27th February, 2009 - 2:41 pm
 After a highly disappointing season, and with a new regime in town, it was no secret that the Browns wanted to make some significant roster changes this offseason.
General manager George Kokinis, along with new head coach Eric Mangini, made a splash through a pretty unconventional route on Friday.
On the first day of free agency in the NFL, Cleveland found a taker for troublesome tight end Kellen Winslow, who has battled both injury and ego problems in his brief five-year career.
Cleveland shipped Winslow to Tampa Bay, another club undergoing sizable changes, in exchange for a few undisclosed draft picks.
The trade solved a few problems for the Browns, who suspended Winslow for a short time last season over a squabble with the front office on how his staph infection was handled. Prior to the deal, Cleveland had just four draft picks and an outspoken tight end.
Now they have more draft picks to build for the future, and won’t have to put out fires when Winslow speaks his mind.
What has been lost in all his injury and happiness issues during his tenure with the Browns is that he’s among the most talented players in the league at his position. He was a Pro Bowler in 2007 after catching 82 passes for 1,106 yards in a season that many felt as though signified that both Winslow and his teammates had arrived.
After missing all but two games in his first two seasons, he played in just ten contests in 2008 and the Browns reverted to their losing ways.
His request for a contract extension, a desire that Cleveland wasn’t willing to accommodate him with, appeared to put a nail in the coffin.
When healthy, Winslow is a proven commodity. That’s the only issue with his deal, which leaves Cleveland with Steve Heiden (32) and Martin Rucker (23) at tight end. Heiden is aging, and Rucker had just two receptions last season, his first in the NFL. Unless a move is made, Derek Anderson (or whoever is throwing passes for the Browns) will have to rely heavily on Braylon Edwards and, gulp, Donte Stallworth at least until Rucker gains a little more experience.
Assuming Cleveland receives a similar package to what the Giants got from the Saints for Jeremy Shockey last summer -- second and fifth round picks -- the Browns accomplished a number of goals with one calculated move.
Grade for Browns: B+
The Buccaneers, who counted on three tight ends last season, immediately receive an upgrade at the position and add a safety value for Luke McCown, or, as in the case of the Browns, whoever happens to be their starting quarterback come September.
Jerramy Stevens, Alex Smith and John Gilmore combined to catch 72 passes for 794 yards and six touchdowns in 2008. When healthy, Winslow is capable of more than that on his own.
The acquisition of Winslow means they’ll likely let Stevens walk as a free agent, while leaving Smith and Gilmore as very capable backups, or injury replacements, behind their new starting tight end.
Tampa Bay didn’t have any extra picks to deal, so they’ll be short on selections in the draft, but it would have been hard for them to grab a tight end of Winslow’s caliber with no pick higher than 19th.
With that said, as a team looking to undergo substantial changes themselves, holding onto those picks (once again, under the assumptions they are in the neighborhood of a second and fifth-rounder) would have been productive as well.
Losing those picks will hurt twice as badly if Winslow continues to have issues staying healthy.
Grade for Buccaneers: B-
Andrew Perna is Deputy Editor of RealGM.com and co-host of RealGM’s Radio Show. Please feel free to contact him with comments or questions via e-mail: Andrew.Perna@RealGM.com |
