The Patriots have gotten in on the Cleveland Browns’ dizzying flurry of trades. Field Yates of ESPN tweeted on Saturday that the Pats have acquired defensive tackle Danny Shelton and a 2018 fifth-round pick from the Browns in exchange for their 2019 third-round pick.
Shelton, 24, was selected 12th overall by the Browns in the 2015 NFL Draft. He’s compiled 71 tackles in 46 career games (44 starts), missing just two contests in his three-year career.
Due to the recent decline of Alan Branch, who won’t be back in 2018, the Patriots have been in need of a big body in the middle of the defensive line to help against the run. The 6-foot-2, 343-pound Shelton should bring that to the table. Ricky Jean-Francois will also be playing elsewhere in 2018.
As explained by Mike Reiss of ESPN, the Patriots will have a fifth-year option on Shelton that would equal the average salary of the 3rd-to-25th highest-paid defensive linemen. Shelton will be due a $2.03 million base salary in 2018.
Bill Belichick typically scouts these kinds of players well. The hope is that he gets the most out of Shelton as a run-stuffer, with a chance to add talent in the pass-rushing department via free agency.
— By Matt Dolloff, 985TheSportsHub.com
Matt Dolloff is a digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff or email him at matthew.dolloff@bbgi.com.
Sources:
— Salary information via Spotrac
— Stats via Pro Football Reference