Cleveland Browns reportedly attempted to sign star who took a $42 million deal

The Cleveland Browns were active in the market for offensive line help, but ultimately came up short on one big-name target as free agency got going around the league.

According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, the New England Patriots came to an agreement with former New York Jets guard Alijah Vera-Tucker on a free-agent deal. She added that Cleveland had interest.

“Good morning. Lots of moves overnight, including the Patriots agreeing to a three-year, $42 million deal that can be worth up to $48 million with former Jets guard Alijah Vera-Tucker, per sources,” Russini wrote.

“The New York Giants and the Cleveland Browns were also aggressively in the mix,” Russini added.

For Cleveland, missing out on Vera-Tucker means the team may need to continue exploring other options to strengthen its offensive line. Protecting the quarterback and improving the run game has to be at the top of the list during the offseason. 

The Browns' line was nowhere near good enough at times last season.

While they didn’t land one target, their reported interest shows the front office was actively trying to address a key area of need, which is a good thing.

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