Miles Austin Goes To Browns, Who Also Add Earl Bennett At Receiver

The Cleveland Browns show no signs of slowing down this offseason.

Continuing a flurry of activity that began with an eventful NFL draft, the Browns landed another big name Thursday by agreeing to terms with former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Miles Austin. The details of the contract weren’t announced.

The Cowboys announced they would release Austin on March 11, ending the receiver’s eight-year tenure in Dallas.

Austin compiled nearly 4,000 yards and 31 touchdowns over a four-season stretch from 2009 to 2012, but his production dropped sharply in 2013 with Dez Bryant’s emergence as Dallas’ primary receiver.

Still, the 29-year-old could provide much-needed help for the Browns, who face the possibility of losing star receiver Josh Gordon for the entire NFL season because of a violation of the league’s drug policy.

With Gordon sidelined, Austin could emerge as the top receiver on a team that features Greg Little, Nate Burleson, Andrew Hawkins and Travis Benjamin as its main options. Who Austin will catch passes from remains undetermined, as incumbent quarterback Brian Hoyer should see stiff competition from highly touted first round draft pick Johnny Manziel.

Regardless, Austin will add additional buzz to a Cleveland team that has loaded up on both sides of the ball this offseason, taking Manziel and Oklahoma State cornerback Justin Gilbert in the first round of last week’s draft and re-signing top-tier cornerback Joe Haden to a five-year, $68 million contract Tuesday.

UPDATE (4:53 p.m.): The Browns added another wide receiver in Earl Bennett, who had 2,277 yards and 12 touchdowns and averaged 12.3 yards per reception over five seasons with the Chicago Bears. The Browns also added undrafted free agent defensive lineman Elhadji Ndiaye.

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