Editor's note: Tony Grossi covers the Cleveland Browns for ESPN 850 WKNR.

Takeaways from the start of NFL free agency and league trading period ...

1. Whither Terrelle Pryor: The Browns feel their analytics department is pretty good at forecasting the market value for their own players. Last year, they correctly gauged the market for right tackle Mitchell Schwartz, which was less than what Schwartz thought. The problem was when Schwartz came back to accept a previous Browns offer, the team told him it was no longer available, and he signed with the Chiefs. Now the Browns are testing their acumen again by confidently allowing receiver Terrelle Pryor to seek his value. Former agent Joel Corry of CBSSports.com estimates Pryor’s value at a $12 million-a-year average (five years, $60 million). I’ve heard the Browns held the line way below that figure and Pryor believes he can get more. We’ll soon find out who’s right. One difference this time is that if Pryor does come back to accept the Browns’ offer, I wouldn’t expect them to be so haughty to yank it off the table, as they did to Schwartz. If Pryor does attract a number closer to his target, I would not expect the Browns to budge off their number. Playing into Pryor’s interest in seeking greener pastures has to be the Browns’ deplorable quarterback situation.

2. Cornerback? Really?: News reports of the Los Angeles Rams exploring trades for franchise cornerback Trumaine Johnson naturally linked him to the Browns because of defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, formerly of the Rams. The Rams tagged Johnson a second straight year at the league-high price tag of $16.7 million, and reportedly are now trying to unload Johnson to recoup a No. 1 draft pick they surrendered in their trade for Jared Goff last year. Corry estimates Johnson’s multi-year value at $71.25 million over five years. It would be insanity for the Browns to give up the No. 12 pick and then sign a cornerback to such a preposterous deal. For one thing, they already have Joe Haden under contract for about $33 million over the next three years and Jamar Taylor for $14.4 million over the next three years. They also have developmental corner Briean Boddy-Calhoun entering his second season and don’t know yet what they have in 2016 fifth-round pick Trey Caldwell. I’ve reported the Browns have put Haden on notice and will seek his eventual replacement, but that will come in the draft, which is absolutely loaded with speedy cornerbacks. If the Browns are going to sign a defensive back from Williams’ former team it more likely would be safety T.J. McDonald, a 6-foot-3, 220-pound banger safety, not Johnson.

3. Offensive line help: The Browns could make strides in fortifying their offensive line by signing Nick Mangold to hold down their troublesome center spot a year or two and signing Ravens free agent Rick Wagner to fill the void at right tackle left by the Schwartz fiasco. However, the free agent lineman most connected to the Browns is Bengals guard Kevin Zeitler. Sure, Zeitler, a 2012 first-round pick, is a good guard, and probably would be the most expensive free agent offensive lineman this year. But, assuming Joel Bitonio and John Greco return from Lis-franc surgeries, guard is not the problem on the Browns’ offensive line. Center and right tackle are. The Browns also could strengthen their line by re-signing Austin Pasztor and slipping him into a guard-tackle swing role. But Pasztor will enter the free-agent market on Thursday.

4. Receiver letdown: The Browns drafted four wide receivers last year, but because the group was underwhelming they still may have to sign a veteran wideout in free agency. The need was created when veteran Andrew Hawkins and the club mutually agreed to part ways. If Pryor departs in free agency, it makes a veteran addition mandatory. Meanwhile, the Less-than-Fab Four 2016 receiver class of Corey Coleman, Ricardo Louis, Rashard Higgins and Jordan Payton accounted for a combined 58 receptions for 604 yards and three touchdowns as rookies.

5. Watch for this: Hue Jackson made a point at the NFL combine of stating his preference for a quarterback of 6-2 or taller, so that he can read the defense from the pocket without obstruction. When I asked him how that explains the drafting of Cody Kessler (6-1) last year, he said, “You play with the hand that’s dealt you.” Which is a lot different from the “trust me on this one” statement he made the night Kessler was drafted. So now it will be fascinating to see how the Browns act if Buffalo quarterback Tyrod Taylor is made available. Taylor is listed as 6-1 and 215 pounds. Signing him may be Plan B if the Browns are unable to trade for New England’s Jimmy Garoppolo. Taylor is a favorite of the analytics Website, ProFootballFocus.com, to which the Browns subscribe. Taylor won’t come cheaply -- estimates are in the $15 million-a-year range. So if the Browns invest in Taylor, it’s fair to wonder who made that call -- Jackson or the analytics department?