Cleveland Browns release wide receiver Jarvis Landry in cost-saving move

Jarvis Landry provided an undeniable and invaluable spark to assist the Browns in reversing their fortunes four years ago.

But now the five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver's journey in Cleveland is complete.

The Browns released Landry in a predictable cost-saving move, the team announced Monday afternoon.

Landry had been scheduled to make $15.1 million in salary and bonuses while carrying a salary-cap hit of $16.38 million in 2022, the final year of his contract with the Browns, according to OverTheCap.com. Cutting him cost the Browns just $1.5 million in dead cap and saved them $14.879 million in cap space.

"The trade for Jarvis Landry in 2018 was a key moment for our organization," Browns General Manager Andrew Berry said in a statement. "Jarvis’ on-field production and fiery competitiveness speaks for itself, but his leadership and team-oriented attitude impacted our culture in a way that will last in time even beyond his release. These decisions are always difficult, but we wish Jarvis well and we look forward to the day when he returns as a storied Browns alumnus."

Browns tight end David Njoku also expressed gratitude for Landry in an Instagram tribute.

"All I can say is thank you," Njoku wrote. "Thank you for creating the standard & culture that was needed to be established here in Cleveland. Thank you for showing what true leadership is. U will never be forgotten in this city for all u have done!! I love u & I’ll see u on the other end."

With Landry gone, the Browns are looking for another veteran to complement Cooper in their receiving corps. The Browns and Chiefs are among the teams that have shown interest in Chicago Bears receiver Allen Robinson, a league source confirmed Monday afternoon.

The writing had been on the wall for Landry's departure.

The combination of Landry's salary and lack of production in an injury-plagued 2021 season pointed to Berry bidding him farewell in the absence of a restructured contract or trade.

Almost immediately after the Browns acquired four-time Pro Bowl receiver Amari Cooper on Saturday in a trade with the Dallas Cowboys, Cleveland gave Landry permission to seek a trade but also kept the door open to restructure his deal and retain him.

In the end, it didn't work out. Landry requested his release after he couldn't reach an agreement on a restructured contract with the Browns and a trade didn't materialize, a league source said.

Landry is expected to garner plenty of interest on the open market. ESPN reported the two teams that have expressed the most interest in him are the Kansas City Chiefs and New Orleans Saints.

Free agency doesn't officially begin until 4 p.m. Wednesday, but Landry's release allows him to sign anytime.

Asked about Landry's future on Jan. 11 in season wrap-up news conference and again March 1 at the NFL Scouting Combine, Berry twice offered what sounded like a goodbye.

“Jarvis, he’s been a productive player for us the past four years, a big part of helping us turn the tide, and everything like that,” Berry said during the combine. “You know, the next couple weeks are big for us in terms of assessing the entirety of the roster. But Jarvis has been a key veteran for us, a key producer, and we’re really grateful for all that.”

In the same interview with Browns beat writers, Berry said he wouldn't discuss “our specific planning” when asked whether he envisioned Landry staying with the franchise for the 2022 season.

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On March 2, Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said “we'll see how it all plays out” while fielding a question about Landry at the combine.

“I think you've seen countless examples of this is a business,” Stefanski added. “I think the players understand that, and sometimes there are situations that are hard. We'll work through all of those.”

Landry's representatives and Berry met at the combine, where the subject of a restructured contract was broached.

The meeting came on the heels of Landry tweeting Feb. 22 he had told the Browns he wanted to return to the team next season, but he's also prepared to help another NFL franchise win a championship if coming back to Cleveland isn't in the cards.

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Last season, Landry missed games due to an injury for the first time in his career and compiled career lows in catches (52 on 87 targets), receiving yards (570) and receiving touchdowns (two) to go along with six carries for 40 yards (6.7 average) and two TDs.

He appeared in 12 of 17 games, sitting out four with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee, plus other injuries, and one with COVID-19.

The MCL injury occurred Sept. 19 in Week 2 during a 31-21 win over the Houston Texans, the same game in which quarterback Baker Mayfield suffered a completely torn labrum in his left, non-throwing shoulder, which contributed to his poor individual performance in 2021 and was surgically repaired Jan. 19.

"Reality behind all this is I came back to play in the best shape of my life, I got hurt week 2 with a high grade MCL Sprain, Partial quad tear and bone bruise," Landry tweeted last month. "Then came back way to early and ended up staying hurt the entire season. You never heard me mention anything about it.

"Before this year I missed 0 games. So push y’all narrative, it’s noted. ... I GAVE EVERYTHING!!!! EVERYTHING."

In eight NFL seasons, Landry has started 113 of the 123 regular-season games in which he has appeared and compiled 688 catches on 1,045 targets for 7,598 yards and 37 touchdowns to go along with 40 carries for 239 yards and five touchdowns.

In four seasons with the Browns, Landry made two of his five Pro Bowls (2018 and 2019) and started 56 of his 59 games in the regular season. He had 288 catches on 475 targets for 3,560 yards and 15 touchdowns, plus 14 carries for 140 yards and four touchdowns. He also threw a touchdown pass.

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Landry, who will turn 30 in November, was uncharacteristically quiet off the field last season.

He quickly became a team leader after former Browns GM John Dorsey acquired him in a trade with the Miami Dolphins in 2018.

The Dolphins drafted Landry in the second round in 2014. The Browns signed him to a five-year, $75.5 million contract extension in April 2018.

The Browns 2019 Walter Payton Man of the Year, Landry addressed local beat writers weekly in each of his first three seasons in Cleveland, but the communication was cut off last year.

After Landry's close friend and fellow receiver Odell Beckham Jr. forced a divorce from the Browns in early November, with OBJ's father disparaging Mayfield's play on Instagram, Landry did not speak to media in a team setting. His only interview the rest of the season took place Nov. 16, when he hosted the second annual Jarvis Landry Thanksgiving food drive at Parma Senior High School.

“It definitely was something that hurt. It stung. It still does,” Landry said then of Beckham's departure.

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However, Landry clearly didn't blame Beckham for the breakup. In the buildup to Beckham winning Super Bowl LVI with the Los Angeles Rams on Feb. 13, Landry surprised OBJ by crashing a virtual news conference, offering support and urging his former Louisiana State University teammate to “go get that ring.”

Landry blamed his health for his silence.

"My media availability didn’t happen,” Landry tweeted last month, “because I was focused on getting on the field as healthy as possible during the week and after games."

Perhaps Landry will now use another method to say so long to Browns fans who adored him.

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Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Browns release wide receiver Jarvis Landry