Offline
Cleveland Browns will pursue Baltimore Ravens' Paul Kruger, Detroit Lions' Cliff Avril in free agency, sources tell Plain Dealer | cleveland.com
Kruger, who helped the Ravens defeat San Francisco in the Super Bowl last month, will be one of the most sought-after pass-rushers on the market if the Ravens don't re-sign him by Tuesday. A second-round pick of the Ravens in 2009 out of Utah, Kruger (6-4, 270) had nine sacks in five starts at outside linebacker last season, and added 4.5 in the playoffs. Kruger could command as much as $9 million a year on the open market.
Man, I hope this happens! The Browns are one of the teams who seems to be popular in mock drafts to pick a pass rusher. Makes you wonder if they consider Sheard a DE, but that isn't my problem. One less team picking a pass rusher is a benefit to us.Avril, a defensive end, will also be a hot ticket come Tuesday. But the Browns might have the inside track, because their new defensive line coach Joe Cullen helped draft Avril, 26, in Detroit in 2008 and developed him as a rookie. That season, Avril led all rookies with six sacks and four forced fumbles.