The Browns signed cornerback Hank Poteat today. He played for the past three seasons for the New York Jets and Browns coach Eric Mangini. Before that he played for New England, Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh.

In 13 games last year, Poteat started one, finishing with 41 tackles and two interceptions. The 31-year-old Poteat was drafted in the third round by Pittsburgh in 2000.

Notes…

Cornerback Karl Paymah will visit the Browns on Tuesday. No word yet if that interview will be canceled based on the signing of Poteat.

The Browns (and Bengals) have shown a good bit of interest in South Carolina tight end Jared Cook. He's an athletic pass-catching tight end, but I don't see the Browns taking him.

Linebacker David Bowens should be signed by the Browns soon.

The Browns reached an agreement on Friday with free agent defensive end C.J. Mosley, formerly a backup with the Jets under head coach Eric Mangini.  Mosley will back up both starting ends, Robaire Smith and Corey Williams.

With Mosley in, it seems that Shaun Smith will probably run his course in Cleveland.  He's most known for questionable committment, and slugging Brady Quinn.  If Smith is released, it won't be an issue of money.  He has a cap figure of $1.1 million for the 2009 season.

Per the Philadelphia Eagles website, they have signed former Browns starting strong safety Sean Jones to a one year contract.  Terms of the deal were undisclosed.  With only a one year agreement, it certainly appears Jones value was not high in free agency.  Playing a year in Philadelphia's aggressive zone blitz scheme should help bring Jones value back up if he is productive in 2009.  

It's rough to lose a starter like Jones who had been a leader on defense, but safeties are easily replaceable.  As I mentioned earlier, the Browns have been heavily scouting safeties in preparation for the loss of Jones, so look for this hole to be filled in the draft.  

So what are your thoughts on the loss?  Let us know in the comments and by voting in the poll…

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Per Marla Ridenour, strong safety Sean Jones is going to visit with the Eagles on Friday.  The former Brown hasn't taken an official visit yet in free agency.  The Eagles have a need at safety after Brian Dawkins departed for Denver in free agency.  Since the Eagles weren't willing to pay the face of their franchise more than $3 million a season, it seems unlikely Jones would get a huge payday out of this visit.

An interesting twist on the Eagles need at free safety is that they are also courting former Buckeye Shawn Springs to convert from corner to safety.  Springs had one of his best seasons as a pro playing in a similar zone blitz scheme in Washington in 2004, where he tallied six sacks.  At this stage in his career, Springs doesn't have the wheels still play corner, but a move to safety could lengthen his career.

Also mentioned earlier in Marla's article is that the Browns have resigned free agent defensive back Mike Adams to a three year contract.  He gives the Browns a versatile option should Jones depart.

The Browns have shown a strong interest in safeties in this draft class.  They were heavily scouting Missouri's William Moore at the Senior Bowl, who would be available at either No. 36 or No. 50.  They have also kicked the tires on Chip Vaughn (Wake Forest), Louis Delmas (Western Michigan), Patrick Chung (Oregon), Rashad Johnson (Alabama), Michael Hamlin (Clemson) and Derek Pegues (Mississippi State).  Of that group, Johnson was the only who did a confirmed interview with the Browns at the Combine.

Members of the Browns will travel to Austin, Tex. on March 16 to work out defensive end Brian Orakpo.

As far as we can tell, this is the first prospect the Browns will observe outside of the Senior Bowl and NFL Scouting Combine. Southern California linebacker Clay Matthews III said he will come to Cleveland for a work out, but didn't specify when.

Orakpo is an intriguing player for the Browns. He had a good senior season with 11.5 sacks and 40 tackles, but was inconsistent the rest of his career.

The Browns came to terms with former Bills tight end Robert Royal, per Mary Kay Cabot.  Terms of the deal were undisclosed.

So who is Royal?  For a quick scouting report, lets turn to Sportsnet Ontario:

Assets: Decent blocker. Has some speed. High-effort player. Solid special teamer.

Flaws: Drops too many passes. Jumps offside too much. Speed rarely translates into production. Isn't enough of a powerhouse blocker to overcome his lack of receiving skills.

Overall: Stopgap starter. Adequate role player.

Royal was primarily a starter in Buffalo until this season, starting a total of 37 out of 48 games as a member of the Bills.  He could end up pushing for the starting job in Cleveland because of the health of Steve Heiden, but long-term he looks like a stop gap to see if Rucker can handle an expanded role.  Royal is a jack of all trades, master of none.

The Browns have two other visitors planned, defensive lineman C.J. Mosley and linebacker David Bowens.  Bowens would be another stop gap linebacker solution, unless the Browns drafted someone else more talented.  Mosley would be a backup at both end spots.

Cornerback Jabari Greer left Cleveland and promptly signed with the Saints.  Greer received a big money deal to help fix the Saints leaky secondary.

Comment:  Despite having roughly $25 million in cap space the Browns are being very quiet in free agency.  With the initial wave of free agency over, the big names are accounted for.  Now it will be about making smart moves both financially and on the field.

The Browns have needs still at starter or top backup needs at strong safety, corner, inside linebacker, and outside linebacker.  They also have lesser needs at wide receiver, quarterback, running back, and right guard.  With a total eight needs listed, and five draft picks, it's easy to assume the Browns need to make at least three more free agent signings.

Terry Pluto thinks that Brandon McDonald could be moved to safety.

Comment: He prefaces it by saying that it would be contingent on the Browns signing Greer, which clearly didn't happen.  McDonald didn't extensively play either safety spot in college, although he did play all three defensive back spots in 2006, tallying 84 total tackles, two tackles for loss, four interceptions, one forced fumble, and one blocked field goal, earning second team All-Conference-USA honors (media).  I can't see moving McDonald to safety, unless it was a pure emergency.

Jim Brown's charity, Amer-I-Can, has run out of money.

Comment: The charity's Cleveland chapter has gone broke.  It is based out of Los Angeles, and this appears to be a regional problem.  Hopefully something can be done to help revive the cause.

For Southern California linebacker Clay Matthews III, the path to the NFL Draft has been a unique one.

Barely recruited in high school, Matthews walked on at USC, a team typically packed with blue-chip recruits. That's where his father, Clay Matthews Jr., and his uncle, Bruce, were All-America selections.

At USC, Matthews caught the attention of coaches with strong play on special teams. He earned the school's Special Teams Player of the Year award three consecutive years, beginning in 2006.

"For me, it's been a career of ups and downs, but I wouldn't change anything," Matthews said in a phone interview from Orange County, Calif. "I've had to fight for everything I've earned and it makes me play with a chip on my shoulder and realize what I need to become."

What Matthews has become is a possible first-round pick in April's NFL Draft. He has gone from a 166-pound walk-on to a possible first-round pick. Currently, he is ranked 20th among overall prospects by ESPN's Scouts Inc.

In 2008, his only full season as a starter, Matthews played the "elephant" position. The elephant is a hybrid defensive end/linebacker position that allowed Matthews to stand up at the line of scrimmage and rush the passer while still relying on his linebacker instincts against the run.

Transitioning from the elephant to 3-4 rush linebacker is an intriguing option for Matthews.

"If I was fortunate enough to play in a 3-4 system, I think I'd be an outstanding outside rush linebacker just because of my work ethic, my motor and I have a knack for rushing the passer," he said. "I think it's something I can excel in and I look forward to playing in a system like that."

Playing the elephant, Matthews turned in a 56-tackle, nine-sack senior season. That was good enough to get him an invitation to the NFL Scouting Combine held in late February. Matthews impressed at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, second only to Aaron Curry of Wake Forest among outside linebackers in the 40-yard dash.

His times — unofficially 4.59 and 4.63 seconds — were also better than Trojan linebackers Rey Maualuga, Brian Cushing and Kaluka Maiava. Still, unless agent David Dunn advises him not to, Matthews intends to run again at USC's pro workout day on April 1.

"Despite doing well in Indianapolis, I still need to compete and show why I'm the premier linebacker and why I'll fit with certain teams. It's just the nature of competing — it's what I was brought up to believe in and what Coach (Pete) Carroll has taught me. "

Matthews also learned plenty from his father. The elder Matthews made his name in Cleveland as a hard-working four-time Pro Bowler, playing in a franchise-record 232 games over 16 seasons.

What the father hasn't taught the son much about is the possibility of playing in for the Browns. At least not yet.

"We haven't really gone into too much depth about him playing in Cleveland," Matthews said. "Obviously he has some great memories of playing out there, but I remember very little of it being a kid. I know he'll always be in debt to the city and it will always hold a special place in his heart, as it does my whole family. "

The Browns didn't schedule a formal meeting at the combine with Matthews, but he said the team plans on flying him to Cleveland for a workout. Matthews said it's a trip he's looking forward to making.

"It's something that, if I'm fortunate enough to play in Cleveland, I would love to and just be able to follow in my dad's footsteps."

File this one under the "rumor" bin, but Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk is posting today that the Browns could be interested in disgruntled Denver Brocnos quarterback Jay Cutler.  Florio notes per a source if a deal goes through (which he even notes as only a possibility), it would involve quarterback Brady Quinn, nose tackle Shaun Rogers, and Denver's third round pick, 79th overall.

We can't take this one too far, as it doesn't have much weight to it, yet.  As Florio notes, the ManKok regime holds their cards close to the vest, so it seems unlikely that they would allow this leak.  Unless T.J. McCreight somehow got ahold of this one (we kid, we kid).

While this one will only play out as a trade in Madden 2010, it's still interesting to speculate on.  Who wouldn't want a high quality quarterback like Cutler?

With no official free agent visits thus far, the only news is that we have to keep waiting.

Dolphins cornerback Andre Goodman has plans to visit the Browns if he does not complete a deal with the Broncos today. Per Marla Ridenour, he is still in Denver.

Comment: The Broncos are much more active in free agency, plus they can guarantee Goodman a starting job.  Don't hold your breath on Goodman. (Editor's note, Goodman's signing with the Broncos became public about an hour after this was published.)

Former Giants strong safety James Butler did not visit the Browns as initially planned.  Butler would be a quality addition to the Browns secondary and a replacement for Sean Jones, should he depart.  One safety who won't be joining the Browns is James Sanders.  He has decided not to test the free agent market and return to New England.

Comment: Depending on who you listen to, Sanders allegedly was offered a contract by the Browns.  There are a few interesting names like Josh Bullocks (Saints), Darren Sharper (Vikings), Jermaine Phillips (Buccaneers), and Rashad Baker (Raiders), but if the Browns don't resign Jones they could be focusing on this in the draft.  Butler is the top free agent safety left.

Along the defensive line, the Browns also intend to bring in defensive end C.J. Mosley for a visit.  He would be a backup at both end spots.

Comment: Mosley's value is that he knows Mangini and the system.  The Browns have injury concerns with Robaire Smith and Shaun Smith, plus the other backups aren't as experienced as Mosley. Look for the Browns add at least one experienced end in free agency.

Ryan Tucker has re-worked his contract to give the Browns extra cap relief, per the OBR.

Comment: Hopefully he's the Browns starting right guard to start next season.