NFL News and Notes for March 27

Re-signing with the Browns was a No-Brainer

Veteran WR Rashard Higgins will be entering his sixth year with the Cleveland Browns. Higgins tested free agency for a few days and was handed offers that would take him to another team, but Higgins knew what he wanted, his sixth season in Cleveland.

Higgins stated on Friday [3/26/2021] "I knew where I wanted to be, let's say that. I knew where I wanted to be, and obviously, there were a lot of teams hitting on me, and I had decisions. Why not be a Cleveland Brown?"

"Going to another team, how does that really benefit me?" Higgins said. "Then, you start over with a whole other quarterback; then you start over with a whole new playbook. It's just like, what in another team would you be looking for? We just made a playoff run. We have everything I need here with the Cleveland Browns. Why not?"

Bengals Continue Looking to Build on Defense

The Bengals are doing everything they can to be able to have a good look on defense this coming year. To do that, the Bengals DB coach attended the Carolina pro day to watch CB Jaycee Horn.

Horn was for sure the main attraction for South Carolina's pro day, not just for the Bengals but for four other NFL teams (Bears, Patriots, Eagles, and Panthers). Measuring in at 6 foot and 1 inch and weighing in at 205 pounds, Horn put up some incredible numbers.

Horn ran a 4.39 40-yard dash, jumped 41.5 and 133 inches on the vertical and broad jump, and put up 19 reps on the bench press.

With these numbers, Horn will likely become a first-round pick in the NFL Draft, so it might be difficult for the Bengals to pick him up at the top of the second round. Even if Horn is available, it would be difficult for him to have any current or future opportunities to start with Chidobe Awuzie and Mike Hilton around.

Bengals re-sign Mike Thomas

The Bengals announced on Friday [3/26/2021] that they have re-signed Mike Thomas to a one-year deal.

The deal is worth about $1 million. The breakdown is one year, $1.015 million, $990K base salary, $25K first-game active-inactive 2021 roster bonus.

In the 2020 season, Thomas played in 14 games, where he had career-highs in targets (21), receiving yards (132), touchdowns (1), and catches (13). It was noticed that Thomas hauled in 13 of 17 targets when Joe Burrow played but failed to catch a pass when Burrow was sidelined.

Thomas wasn't targeted much, but he stepped up and made several big plays when called upon. Now that A.J. Green, John Ross, and Alex Erickson are gone, Thomas has a chance to have a bigger role this year, even if the Bengals spend a high draft pick on another receiver.

Other Free Agency News

Sammy Watkins signs with the Baltimore Ravens for one year, 6 million (5 million fully guaranteed)

Seattle Seahawks sign defensive tackle Al Woods to a one-year deal worth $3 million.

Lawrence Guy signed with the New England Patriots to a four-year contract worth $11.5 million.

Leonard Fournette is re-signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on a one-year deal worth up to $4 million.

The Minnesota Vikings have agreed to terms with defensive back Mackensie Alexander.