Terrelle Pryor Sr.'s free-agent saga ended in Washington, with whom the wide receiver agreed to a one-year contract for $8 million Friday.
Pryor could have had that deal in Cleveland, but he wanted to test the market.
The Browns didn't wait. When free agency began, they gave Kenny Britt the four-year, $32.5 million offer that Pryor probably could have had before free agency began.
Pryor tested the market and wound up in Washington for less money and fewer years than he probably envisioned. ESPN colleague Ben Goessling reported the deal is a $3 million signing bonus, a $3 million base salary and $2 million in incentives. It's clear why the Browns decided to hold the line on their offer believed to be in the $8 million-to-$9 million range, and why the Browns did not franchise Pryor.
The benefit for the Redskins: They sign a 1,000-yard receiver after losing their two top receivers in Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson. With Kirk Cousins at quarterback, Pryor could top his numbers from 2016 (77 catches, 1,007 yards and four touchdowns). He also may see a lot of double coverage.
The benefit for Pryor: It's $8 million, and it's only one year. If he has a big year, he can hit the market again in search of that multiyear payday.
The benefit for the Browns: Their financial projection on Pryor was accurate, but it's still tough to see how losing him makes them better, even with the signing of Britt. Pryor was the Browns' leader in catches, yards and touchdowns last season. But clearly Pryor wasn't going to sign with the Browns without testing the market. Once he did, Britt was headed to Cleveland.
At the same time, add Pryor to the Browns' receiving group, and it still wouldn't vault into the top 10 in the league. Even with Pryor, there would be needs to address.
The Browns now have to count on Britt, who reached 1,000 yards for the first time in his eight-year career last season, and the rookies they drafted a year ago. The combined numbers for Corey Coleman, Rashard Higgins, Ricardo Louis and Jordan Payton: 58 receptions, 698 yards and three touchdowns. Thirty-three of the catches and all of the touchdowns came from Coleman.