The wide receiver free agent market could be getting a bit more talented as reports surface that the Cleveland Browns appear unlikely to use the franchise tag on Terrelle Pryor.
According to a Cleveland.com report, the Browns have no interest in using the franchise tag on the 27-year-old who should garner significant interest on the open market once the league year begins on March 9.
The franchise tag at the wide receiver position is slated to be in excess of $15 million, the average of the top-five highest paid players at the position.
Eagles’ NFL Combine to-do list
News of the Browns’ intentions with Pryor comes hours after the Pittsburgh Steelers made Antonio Brown the highest paid receiver in the NFL to a five-year deal worth north of $72.7 million.
Pryor is an interesting name to watch for the Eagles once free agency begins because he would provide some much needed speed on the outside of a wide receiving corps that led the league in drops in 2015 and added 24 more last season while the team’s top three receivers combined for just 146 receptions for 1,561 yards and seven touchdowns.
The Browns’ decision couldn’t come at a more fortuitous time for the Eagles and every other team across the NFL as the Scouting Combine is a week when every team meets with virtually every agency representing the top players and could give a chance for Howie Roseman and Co. to lay the groundwork for future talks with Pryor and his agent Drew Rosenhaus.
Last season, Pryor paced the Browns 77 catches for 1,007 yards and four touchdowns which would have made him far and away the Eagles’ leading receiver.
The Eagles have previously been linked to impending free agents Alshon Jeffery — who will not be tagged by the Bears, according to multiple reports — along with DeSean Jackson and Kenny Stills.
Pryor would be the type of player who is young enough to blossom along with quarterback Carson Wentz and also experienced enough to step into the No. 1 spot in a wildly inconsistent receiving corps.
However, given that the Eagles are relatively cap-strapped with just over $10.2 million in spending flexibility with free agency opening in 10 days, inking Pryor could prove difficult if a bidding war for his services ensues with several teams having upwards of $60 million to spend this offseason.
Regardless of the Eagles’ level of interest in Pryor, his mere presence in a largely top-heavy but limited talent pool at the position could drive down the cost of the likes of Jeffery, Stills, Jackson and others as teams have more options at the position if the Ohio State product eventually sees the open market.
What Eagles need to accomplish at NFL Combine
Matt Lombardo may be reached at MDLombardo@yahoo.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattLombardo975.
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