Buffalo Bills free safety Jairus Byrd (31) looks to make a tackle on Miami Dolphins running back Daniel Thomas (33) at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
The Cleveland Browns have long been viewed as a potential landing spot for Buffalo Bills star free safety Jairus Byrd, as they have the cap space to pay him the $9 million-plus he covets on the open market. Byrd wants to be the highest-paid safety in the NFL, and he will almost certainly get his wish due to the amount of cap space in the league, the need for an elite free safety, and the relative lack of options outside of Byrd this offseason. The Browns could still re-sign top-notch strong safety T.J. Ward, but there are many people who would rather see the Browns go after Byrd at FS and build a secondary with Byrd and Joe Haden as the centerpieces.
Per a source close to the Cleveland Plain Dealer’s Mary Kay Cabot, the Browns did not make an inquiry on Jairus Byrd during the first day of the legal tampering period on Saturday, and it will be interesting to see if they decide to show interest soon. Their lack of interest doesn’t mean that they won’t offer Byrd or aren’t interest, but it is a potential sign of that. If they are interested but haven’t asked about him, then it puts them behind the curve in negotiations.
Byrd received interest from the St. Louis Rams yesterday, and they could definitely use an elite free safety like him. While they haev a need at corner, the Rams biggest need on the roster is definitely at the safety position; it’s why so many people (like me) have them using their second first-round pick in the draft on Ha Ha Clinton-Dix.