Dwayne Bowe to Browns: Latest Contract Details, Comments and Reaction

Former Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Dwayne Bowe has found a new NFL home, agreeing to a contract on Thursday with the Cleveland Browns. The team announced the deal on Friday:

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The Browns have signed wide receiver Dwayne Bowe, general manager Ray Farmer announced Friday.

Bowe, 30, comes to Cleveland after eight seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, where he ranks among the franchise’s best in numerous receiving categories.

“Dwayne is a player that adds a big, tough and physical presence to our group,” Farmer said. “His ability to play in high traffic areas of the field for contested catches is something we really like. We have talked about having a versatile group of wide receivers that can align and play from various positions, and he can do that. His position versatility to inside and outside numbers appeals to us in a variety of ways. We look forward to seeing how he will help our team.” 

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Bowe talked about joining the Browns, according to the official announcement:

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“The Browns were the perfect situation from the fan base to the style of offense and the way I'll be utilized to help the team go to the next level,” Bowe said. “After eight years, you're a pro's pro. I've had every style of coaching, every personality. I've been through a lot and it's going to make this transition a little easier because of what I've been through. The fan base is crazy just like Kansas City and is something I'm excited to be a part of. The positive energy I'm going to bring to the locker room is definitely going to take the Dawg Pound to the next level.”

Bowe said new Browns offensive coordinator John DeFilippo’s plans for him in the passing game also excited him about his move to Cleveland.

“That's something I wanted to be a part of, getting more opportunities and being able to showcase my talent,” Bowe said. “The way he brings the energy and that positive excitement is another reason why I made my decision to be here.”

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Joel Corry of CBS Sports broke down the financial details of the deal:

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport first reported the news, which Fox Sports' Mike Garafolo confirmed:

ESPN's Adam Schefter noted it's a two-year deal.   

Bowe turns 31 in September and is coming off a season in which he and every Chiefs receiver failed to record a single touchdown reception.

The 2010 Pro Bowler has failed to reach 1,000 yards receiving in each of the past three years, so Bowe's best football may be behind him. A new environment may be just what Bowe needs for a gridiron renaissance, though.

Chris Burke of Sports Illustrated shared his thoughts on the move:

NFL.com's Gregg Rosenthal also noted how accomplished Bowe was in Chiefs lore:

With a huge catch radius, usually reliable hands, tremendous strength and strong route-running ability, Bowe has the tools to still make an impact. However, he did struggle to secure the ball the past two seasons, per ESPN Stats & Info:

Bowe's frame and ball skills make for an attractive red-zone target—even if he did fail to find paydirt in 2014. It's difficult to pin where Bowe's drop issues have been rooted, but he never had a truly elite quarterback in Kansas City.                           

In his only taste of postseason experience, Bowe did have eight receptions for 150 yards and a touchdown following the 2013 campaign. That's easy to lose since Indianapolis staged an epic comeback to defeat the Chiefs 45-44 in that wild-card game.    

Cleveland will have to hope Bowe can overcome his struggles, get a second wind and become a dependable contributor for the foreseeable future. If this next stop doesn't work out for him, the conversation will shift to whether he has enough left in the tank to continue playing.