The 2008 NFL Free Agency was not even underway yet, but the rumors were rampant that the Browns had already made a deal. In fact they had, but it was not by signing a free agent, but by trading for a franchised player in Green Bay's Corey Williams.

The trade is just another in a long line of aggressive moves made by Browns G.M. Phil Savage in his 3 years running the club. In years past Savage has signed big name free agents like Gary Baxter, LeCharles Bentley, Eric Steinbach and Jamal Lewis. This year the top tier free agents are not available in areas the Browns are in biggest need, namely the defensive line. Williams was set to become a free agent, but the Packers decided to use the franchise tag on him for 2008. It was a move that would assure they would either get 1 more year out of Williams or find a team to trade for him. The Browns acquiesced and the Packers got their 2nd round pick in return.

From a truly unbiased position, this was a great deal for the Packers. To get a 2nd round pick for Williams, a player that would have been gone in 2009 with no compensation, was brilliant. That's not to say the deal was not good for the Browns though. The Browns biggest need is on the defensive line and no one in free agency or the draft, where the Browns were picking in round 2, would be the caliber player that Williams is. The true value to the Browns won't be known until they see just what kind of DE Williams can be in their 3-4 scheme.

It is rumored that the Browns will sign Williams long-term. A 6 year deal worth $38 million is what is being reported.

In other Browns news QB Derek Anderson was apparently offered a revised contract late yesterday. The new deal bumped the guaranteed money under the 3 year deal from million to million. Anderson did not sign the deal and is now open to sign with any team in the NFL. Any team that signs him though must be willing to part with a 1st and 3rd round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft as compensation and then sign Anderson to a long-term deal of their own. If the Browns do lose Anderson via free agency the additional picks would more than make up for what they traded away for Williams. It would also mean the beginning of the Brady Quinn era in Cleveland.

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