Remember when Cleveland Browns general manager Ray Farmer said he was pleased with the wide receiving group of the Cleveland Browns with or without Josh Gordon being available? Well apparently he changed his mind because the team has made more moves at the position in two days than one that is satisfied with their player personnel. After adding two players in free agency following the NFL Draft, the Browns are releasing Greg Little which could cause several teams to come calling.
In a not-so-surprising-but-kind-of move, the Browns have released Little instead of attempting to trade him. Little faced trade rumors for almost all of last season, but remained on the roster through the year. With Cleveland now dealing with the potential suspension of Josh Gordon for half the season to a year, it seemed like Little's roster spot was guaranteed for the long-term. He was one of the best returning options for either Brian Hoyer or Johnny Manziel at quarterback.
Following the news of the suspension, the Browns went out and signed Miles Austin and Earl Bennett to contracts to join Nate Burleson and go-to Andrew Hawkins in the rotation. That gives the Browns a veteran corps of receivers, but not a lot of youth. Little was a second-round pick in 2011 and has started all but seven games in that time period. He has suffered some inconsistencies during his tenure, but given his lack of quarterback consistency, he should have some worth on the open market.
Several teams have been sifting through the free agent pool and toying with signing someone. The Oakland Raiders are still in desperate need for a big playmaker to help out quarterback Matt Schaub. ESPN.com has linked the team to a potential trade of Andre Johnson, but the chances of that happening are not good. With Santonio Holmes being the last available option, Little could move to the top of their list. The Raiders have the cap space to sign another player and the receiver will not demand much.
The New England Patriots could also be in play for Little. They were the remaining team interested in an Andre Johnson trade. The Boston Herald noted that New England was expected to call about a trade price for the receiver, but Little will be cheaper and could thrive under quarterback Tom Brady. With depth issues at the tight end position, grabbing Little could be a wise investment.
The Dallas Cowboys might be the last option for Little. The team was still considering signing Austin to a deal despite having grabbed a wide receiver in the draft. If they are still searching for depth at the position, they could likely sign Little to a similar contract that Austin would have earned.