The Browns made a huge splash Friday by agreeing to trades for Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor, Miami Dolphins slot receiver Jarvis Landry and Green Bay cornerback Damarious Randall and shipping quarterback DeShone Kizer to the Packers, a person familiar with the moves confirmed for the Beacon Journal/Ohio.com.
The compensation for Taylor is the Browns' third-round pick (No. 65 overall) this year, the source said. In exchange for Landry, the Browns will surrender two undisclosed draft picks, one this year and another next year, with neither selection being a first- or second-round choice, the source said. The Browns gave up Kizer, who went 0-15 last season as a rookie, in the deal for Randall.
They're the first trades John Dorsey has pulled off since the Browns hired him as general manager on Dec. 7. In a flurry reminiscent of the Cavaliers at last month's NBA's trade deadline, Dorsey didn't wait until free agency kicks off next week to become involved in some blockbuster moves.
The negotiating period begins Monday, and teams can begin signing players Wednesday. Trades cannot be completed until then, but 10 deals have been agreed upon leaguewide this offseason. The Browns are involved in three of them.
Taylor, 28, will give the Browns the veteran quarterback they plan to start next season as a bridge to the rookie they're expected to draft on April 26, when they'll have the first and fourth overall picks.
Taylor is 22-21 as a starter, including 0-1 in the postseason after leading the Bills this past season to their first playoff appearance since 1999. He completed 62.6 percent of his passes last season for 2,799 yards and 14 touchdowns with four interceptions. He has been a full-time starter for the Bills the past three seasons.
Browns 10-time Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Thomas, who's contemplating whether to play next season or retire, is a fan of Taylor and said as much recently on the ThomaHawk Show podcast he co-hosts with former Cleveland receiver Andrew Hawkins.
The Dolphins used their franchise tag on Landry last month, and he signed the one-year contract worth $15.982 million guaranteed on Thursday, paving the path for a trade. The Browns, though, are expected to work on a new deal with Landry, 5-foot-11 and 208 pounds. They're armed with $114 million in salary-cap space, according to NFL Players Association records, but if they can't settle on a new contract with Landry, he'll play next season under the tag.
"Y'all better understand s--- about to get SERIOUS... ON MY MAMA," Landry wrote on Twitter after ESPN and NFL Network broke the news of the trade.
Landry, 25, has made the Pro Bowl in each of the past three seasons, the two most recent as an alternate. He caught 112 passes for 987 yards and nine touchdowns last season, 94 passes for 1,136 yards and four touchdowns in 2016 and 110 passes for 1,157 yards and four touchdowns in 2015. A second-round draft pick (No. 63 overall) in 2014, the Louisiana State product had 84 receptions for 758 yards and five touchdowns as a rookie. He hasn't missed a game.
Landry's 112 catches led the league last season. His 400 receptions _ resulting in 4,038 yards and 22 touchdowns _ in his first four NFL seasons is an NFL record. Anquan Boldin is second on the list with 342 catches in his first four seasons.
Suddenly, the Browns have a dynamic receiving corps, at least on paper, with Landry joining 2013 All-Pro selection Josh Gordon. In response to the news of the trade, Gordon tweeted four trophy emojis.
"I could be the browns QB with Flash (Gordon) & Juice (Landry) playing receiver! Just throw it up," Arizona Cardinals safety Tyrann Mathieu tweeted.
Landry's arrival could make 2016 first-round pick Corey Coleman expendable after two disappointing seasons. Landry is best in the slot, and Gordon is expected to play the "X" position on the outside.
Landry's tenure in Miami was tumultuous. Late last season, he had an on-field shouting match with Dolphins coach Adam Gase and was ejected from the finale for his instigating a fight with the Buffalo Bills. Those incidents could have contributed to his departure after he and the Dolphins appeared to be headed for a long term deal earlier in the year.
The Baltimore Ravens, an AFC North foe of the Browns, were among the other teams interested making a move for Landry, the Miami Herald reported.
