Browns Roster Construction Continues With Additions Of Giovanni Ricci, Tony Brown
The roster tweaking continues for Browns general manager Andrew Berry deep into the first night of the new league year.
According to multiple reports, Cleveland is expected to sign former Panthers tight end Giovanni Ricci to a one-year deal. The move comes after backup tight end and 2020 fourth-round pick, Harrison Bryant signed with the Las Vegas Raiders earlier in the day. Bryant also signed a one-year deal worth $3.25 million.
Ricci brings a unique skill set to Cleveland having doubled as a tight end and fullback for the Panthers over the course of his three years with the club. The Browns used center Nick Harris as a full back periodically throughout the 2023 season, but his departure to Seattle earlier in the day could pave the way for Ricci to assume those responsibilities when needed.
The Loveland, Ohio native spent most of the 2023 season on the injured reserve with a shoulder injury. He appeared in 15 games in 2022, starting three of them and eight passes for 100 yards on the season.
Along with Ricci, another report from Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle revealed that the Browns had also agreed to terms on a one-year deal with veteran CB and special teams ace Tony Brown. The 28-year-old spent the last two seasons in Indianapolis as he now gets a chance to reunite with his former special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone in Cleveland.
Brown was actually suspended by the Colts for conduct detrimental to the team in December along with wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie. No details ever emerged about what triggered the suspension that kept Brown out of the final three games of the regular season but he wound up being waved by the franchise one day after the season's conclusion.
Keep up with all of the Browns offseason moves with our Free Agency Tracker.
