The New York Giants traded Pro Bowler Olivier Vernon to the Cleveland Browns. Cleveland will send back right guard Kevin Zeitler in return.
The Giants will also swap a fourth-round pick in the upcoming draft for Cleveland’s fifth rounder. On Wednesday, the official start of the NFL year, the trade will become official.
In Vernon, Cleveland finds a productive defensive playmaker. Last season he led the Giants with seven sacks and 21 quarterback hits in just 11 games. While New York runs a 3-4 defensive scheme, under Steve Wilks‘ 4-3 defense, Vernon can expect to line up as a defensive end.
Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter!
A week of sports news in your in-box.
We find the sports news you need to know, so you don't have to.
SLIDESHOW: 30 BEST SPORTS INSTAGRAMS
The move is being interpreted by some as a salary cap dump. Vernon is projected to make $15.5 million in each of the next two seasons. While Zeitler does bolster an atrocious offensive line and save the Giants $1.5 million in cap space, he doesn’t warrant a one-for-one trade for Vernon.
During the NFL combine, New York looked into moving the 28-year-old. They had previously hoped to swap him for draft picks and get another premier pass-rusher. Some speculate that this may mean the Giants are looking into more trades.
In Cleveland, Vernon joins Browns defensive line that includes young phenom Myles Garrett and Larry Ogunjobi.
While his time with the Giants didn’t lead to any deep postseason runs, it wasn’t because of poor performance on the field. If anything it was because he wasn’t on the field enough. Since signing a five-year, $84.75 million deal in the 2016 offseason, injuries have plagued the lineman. Despite not missing a game in his first five seasons, he missed nine in the last two alone.
Vernon has been one of the most electrifying players in the league when he was on the field. To see him lined up next to talented teammates will be a spectacle to watch.
With their big three finally back in action Wednesday, the Philadelphia 76ers suffered another setback…
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/tny--EWynOQ Nike paid tribute to Spanish tennis legend Rafael Nadal with a 10-meter-tall animated display…
https://youtu.be/dtJoJz9hC48 Tennis legend Rafael Nadal bid a heartfelt goodbye to his devoted Spanish fans as he brought…
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/DQ9Rxhnuer4 U.S. Olympic fencer Eli Dershwitz shed light on the critical skills necessary in fencing…
Two offensive linemen for the Chicago Bears returned to practice, a massive step in the…
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/s2g9t_33Myw President-elect Donald Trump received a warm welcome from Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fighter Jon…