Cleveland Browns were interested in signing one of Todd Monken’s past weapons in free agency, but it fell through for an expected reason
The Browns were interested in adding a very nice offensive piece in free agency but an NFC team swooped in.
Through two days of tampering the Cleveland Browns have a trio of signings they can make official later today at the start of the new league year.
Cleveland has been focused on revamping its starting offensive line with all five starters from last year’s team now free agents. The Browns added OT Tytus Howard in a trade from the Houston Texans last week and started free agency off by signing former Los Angeles Chargers G Zion Johnson.
The Browns signed LB Quincy Williams on Monday, then added C Elgton Jenkins on Tuesday along with re-signing Teven Jenkins. Cleveland appears to have had another move they were working on, but it didn’t come to fruition.
The Browns were interested in a key former Baltimore Ravens player whom Todd Monken is familiar with
Whenever a new coach comes in there are always players who could potentially follow in free agency. The Browns haven’t made a move yet with any players who were coached by Monken previously, but it’s not for a lack of effort. According to The Athletic’s Dan Duggan, the Browns were a team in on former Ravens FB Patrick Ricard before he inked a two-year deal with the New York Giants.
Ricard is a former defensive tackle turned fullback who has spent his first nine seasons in the NFL. Following John Harbaugh from Baltimore to New York makes sense and the Giants made him the NFL’s highest-paid fullback to go along with it. Monken was the offensive coordinator for the Ravens for Ricard’s last three seasons there, including his first All-Pro season in 2024.
The Ravens have typically used Ricard as a sixth offensive lineman at 6-foot-3 and 300 pounds. He’s caught 49 passes for 323 receiving yards, as well as 11 rushes for 22 receiving yards in 132 games played with the Ravens.
Monken is going to run his system in Cleveland, of course, so bringing in guys who have done it makes sense. Plus, bringing in someone like Ricard would only level up the run game led by RB Quinshon Judkins in his second season.
The Browns may have missed on Ricard, but they still have DT Adin Huntington on the roster, and he showed plenty of potential last season lining up behind the quarterback. It’s still noteworthy the Browns were in on the soon to be 32 year old Ricard.
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