Clint Lamb
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The Cleveland Browns are projected to be a Super Bowl contender in 2021. Their +1600 odds over at the FanDuel Sportsbook give them the seventh-best chance to hoist the Lombardi Trophy come February of 2022.
If they were to re-sign former defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson, those odds might get even better.
Earlier in the offseason, the former first-round pick was released by the Browns after two seasons. The move saved the team over $12 million in valuable cap space, but there was always the hope Richardson would return on a cheaper deal after he crossed the 30-year mark last November.
Unfortunately, a report from Mary Kay Cabot with Cleveland.com suggests that a reunion isn’t likely — at least not at the moment:
The Browns hoped to re-sign Richardson, 30, after releasing him in April in a salary cap move, but the defensive tackle has decided he wants to move on, a league source told cleveland.com.
On the same day, Jack Day with Vikings Wire reported that a reunion could be in the works. It just wouldn’t be with the Browns. Instead, the Minnesota Vikings, where the Missouri product played in 2018, could land him once again.
I’m hearing that there could be a reunion in store for the #Vikings and free agent DT Sheldon Richardson, per source. Some more good news shaping up for the team’s defensive line ahead of the start of mandatory mini camp tomorrow.
— Jack Day (@jack_h_day) June 14, 2021
With Minnesota sitting at +4000 odds, they aren’t the contender many expect Cleveland to be, but Richardson understands the franchise and what awaits him, should he choose to sign with them. The same goes for the Browns.
Either team would be fortunate to have him back, as he’s been a solid interior defensive line presence ever since the New York Jets selected him with the No. 13 overall pick back in the 2013 NFL Draft.
In his eight seasons in the NFL, the 6-foot-3, 294-pound defensive lineman racked up 461 tackles, 58 of which went for a loss, 31 sacks, 92 QB hits and 10 forced fumbles. Let’s see where he ends up, as it could be one of the last destinations of his successful career.
Follow Clint Lamb on Twitter @ClintRLamb.
