Daily Dawg Tags: Free agency week is here!

The Cleveland Browns were busy over the weekend with a host of trades, which might just the appetizer to a busy week as free agency opens on Wednesday.

It was quite a weekend for the Cleveland Browns.

General manager John Dorsey got to work on the latest phase of the rebuilding project as he completed four separate trades. After the dust settled, the Browns had acquired quarterback Tyrod Taylor from the Buffalo Bills, wide receiver Jarvis Landry from the Miami Dolphins and defensive back Damarious Randall from the Green Bay Packers.

On their way out of town are last year’s starting quarterback, DeShone Kizer, and defensive tackle Danny Shelton, a mainstay on the defensive line since being selected in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft.

Kizer was part of the trade for Randall, while the Browns only received the equivalent of some loose change that Bill Belichick found between the couch cushions in his office for sending Shelton to the New England Patriots.

Cleveland Browns

Otherwise the Browns look to have come out on the positive side of the deal as Dorsey only relinquished draft picks, the highest of which was a third-round selection (No. 65 overall) to the Bills for Taylor.

This past weekend was only the beginning, however, as today starts the NFL-approved legal tampering period for free agents. Teams can’t formally announce any deals until the league year begins on Wednesday at 4 p.m., but many of those deals will be finalized during the next two days.

Dorsey and head coach Hue Jackson have talked about how the Browns will move “swiftly” in free agency, so even with the players acquired in the trades, the Browns have more than $77 million in cap space, per spotrac.com, so Wednesday afternoon could be a busy one for the club.

Hopefully while Dorsey is busy moving “swiftly” in free agency he also moves smartly and doesn’t burn through all the cap space needlessly.

Strap in Browns fans, this has the potential to be a crazy week.

Cleveland Browns news:

Will free agency bring more excitement for the Browns?

The Cleveland Browns made four trades this weekend, and with free agency opening soon will they look to make another big splash?

Joe Thomas won’t let trades affect retirement decision (ESPN)

"Joe Thomas is more than excited about the flurry of moves made by the Cleveland Browns over the past two days, but he said that won’t affect his decision on whether to play in 2018 or retire."

No one is afraid of Jarvis Landry (NFL Spin Zone)

"The Cleveland Browns added a slot receiver that defenses love when they acquired Jarvis Landry from the Miami Dolphins."

Examining where the Browns trades leave the team heading into free agency (ohio.com)

"The sales pitch is suddenly enticing. The Browns knew it would be difficult to lure free agents to Cleveland because their record of 1-31 the past two seasons under coach Hue Jackson reeks of incompetence. So new General Manager John Dorsey went shopping for some air fresheners to mask the stench."

NFL news:

Keep criticism of Steelers’ Le’Veon Bell about greed, not production (triblive.com)

"A strange sidebar has emerged surrounding the Le’Veon Bell contract saga. Who am I kidding? The whole thing is strange. Every time Bell says something, it gets stranger. But what’s become odd is the new narrative that Bell isn’t worth the money."

Who fits the backup quarterback position for the Titans? (Tennessean.com)

"You want a relatively young, mobile quarterback with starting experience to back up Marcus Mariota? You might be looking for a unicorn. Or less than enthused by the closest alternatives. But the Titans are in the market, searching for a backup signal-caller after releasing Matt Cassel, who was ineffective in six quarters in relief of Mariota last season."

Is there any way the Giants could get fair value for Odell Beckham (nj.com)

"Odell Beckham Jr.’s trade value has never been lower, which is exactly when you hate to move a player. Of course, his value usually is sky high given he has averaged 14.1 yards per reception, 94.1 receiving yards per game and has scored 38 touchdowns in 47 career games with three Pro Bowl selections in four years."

As free agency begins, what’s next for these seismically altered Seahawks? (newstribune.com)

"Richard Sherman is a 49er. Michael Bennett is an Eagle. Doug Baldwin is a bummed-out Seahawk. What’s next?"