The Cleveland Browns continued to stay busy on Wednesday after their super busy Tuesday with the additions of Sheldon Richardson and Odell Beckham Jr.
Cleveland will reportedly sign tight end Demetrius Harris and linebacker Adarius Taylor to two-year deals. Adam Schefter was the first to report the Harris deal and Jordan Schultz was the first to report the Taylor deal.
Harris comes from the Kansas City Chiefs where he’s been since he was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Jacksonville (AR) in 2014 by John Dorsey. He’s been the backup tight end to All-Pro Travis Kelce and has been known for his blocking prowess.
In five seasons, Harris has appeared in 71 games (33 starts) and has 57 catches for 605 yards and six touchdowns over his career.
To get a tight end who is in the same mold as Fells who the team released on Sunday but is five years younger and was a better overall blocker than Fells last season, then it is a solid upgrade at the tight end position.
The one downside to Harris is his hands because he isn’t the best catching tight end but that’s why you have guys like David Njoku and Seth DeValve currently on the roster.
Adarius Taylor has spent the last four seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but has a connection to Browns defensive coordinator Steve Wilks as Taylor spent his rookie season in 2014 under Wilks with the Carolina Panthers.
Taylor got his first season of significant playing time last year when he started ten games because Kwon Alexander tore his ACL and Taylor was the next man up. He had 60 tackles (4 for a loss), one sack, one forced fumble, one interception and five pass deflections for the Buccaneers.
Pro Football Focus graded him as the 91st ranked linebacker in the NFL with a 42.2 grade (below average). He played middle linebacker in Tampa but reports have said he’s better as a weakside outside linebacker. Cleveland needed depth at the position and essentially this is what the signing is.