Terrelle Pryor Reportedly Wanted to Return to Browns After Redskins' Offer

Terrelle Pryor reportedly did not leave the Cleveland Browns hanging high and dry after all.

Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reported Sunday that Pryor gave Cleveland one last opportunity to sign him before agreeing to a one-year, $8 million contract with Washington. It had previously been reported that Pryor left without giving the Browns a matching opportunity, which in turn drew some ire from the Cleveland area.

Cabot reported the Browns reduced their initial offer to Pryor in final negotiations, leading him to take the prove-it deal in the nation's capital. The Browns pivoted from Pryor to sign Kenny Britt to a four-year deal, which in many ways mirrors their original offer to Pryor.

Terry Pluto of Cleveland.com reported the Browns offered Pryor a four-year deal worth $32 million, with $17 million in guarantees. Pryor's representation, spearheaded by power agent Drew Rosenhaus, balked at Cleveland's price in hopes of getting him paid like a top-level receiver.

Cabot reported three different teams offered Pryor a deal with an average annual salary of $10 million, while his most lucrative offer came in at $11 million per season. That's a massive upgrade after Pryor was on the scrapheap prior to arriving in Cleveland and switching to receiver, but he was willing to bet on himself and go to Washington.

It's unclear if any of those other teams were willing to offer similar one-year deals. The Browns' final offer topped out at $8.5 million per season.

There is little doubt that Pryor is entering a better passing situation than the one he left in Cleveland. Washington used its franchise tag on Pro Bowl quarterback Kirk Cousins for the second straight season but lost top wideouts Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson. Pryor will enter camp as the clear-cut No. 1 receiver on the outside, with Jamison Crowder handling the underneath routes.

If Washington produces the way it did last season through the air, Pryor could wind up being a borderline Pro Bowler. He'd then hit the open market next offseason as perhaps the NFL's most sought-after receiver—a bet well-placed. 

Either way, the narrative that he left the Browns without any recourse proved false. He just chose to roll the dice on himself in a situation that would allow him to do so.