Mingo Signs and Will Participate Today

May 10, 2013; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns linebacker Barkevious Mingo (51) stands on the field during rookie minicamp at the Cleveland Browns Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

The Browns 2013 draft class is all signed and will be in camp this morning with Barkevious Mingo agreeing to the terms on his deal over night.  Media reports suggest he was pushing to get the deal done so he could be participate in camp today.  While it would have been better to get this deal done in time for rookie camp, Mingo will still be able to absorb a few days of rookie camp before veterans report on the 25th, which is good news.  Rather than a contract negotiation, the focus can be on whether Mingo will be able to chase down either Paul Kruger or Jabaal Sheard for a starting job, though that really is not all that important at this point.  The faster Mingo is acclimated and ready to go, the more he will be ready to be let loose on opponents by Ray Horton this season.

After Dion Jordan and Lane Johnson’s deals were done, Mingo was the next one to fall.  As with both of them, the offset language was included in the deal in exchange for a signing bonus being included for the first year of the contract.  The Browns get some financial protection on the last year of the deal, should Mingo be a disaster while Mingo gets a little more money up front.  The squabbles over offset language are bizarre in what they are really about; the worst case scenario for both sides.  In any case, the draft class is complete and instead of being worried about guys getting signed, the focus can be on them getting better and getting ready for the 2013 season.