Colts acquire defensive lineman Billy Winn in trade with Browns

The Indianapolis Colts this afternoon traded a conditional late-round draft pick in 2017 to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for defensive lineman Billy Winn.  To make room on the roster for Winn, the Colts waived guard Robert Myers (who they claimed off of waivers last week from the Ravens).  The team also waived running back Boom Herron from injured reserve (with an injury settlement).

Winn is a 6-4, 300 pound defensive lineman who was drafted by the Browns in the sixth round of the 2012 NFL Draft out of Boise State.  During his three years with the Browns, Winn played in 40 games (starting 18) and recorded 87 tackles, three sacks, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, five passes defensed, and two picks.  Last year, Winn played in 13 games (starting five) and notched 31 tackles, a forced fumble, two passes defensed, an interception, and also blocked a field goal.  Entering this season, Winn was listed as the third-team right defensive end for the Browns behind Randy Starks and John Hughes III.

There was a question of whether Winn would make the Browns' 53-man roster, according to Dawgs by Nature's Chris Pokorny, because Winn missed much of training camp with an injury.  It was clear that his role was going to be decreased this year, but in his first three years with the Browns he played 43.6% of the defensive snaps, impressive numbers for a sixth round defensive lineman in his first three years.  It seems that Winn played pretty well with the Browns for the most part and was considered a nice find by the team in the sixth round of that 2012 draft.

For the Colts, it makes sense to add experience to a very inexperienced defensive line.  Though Winn has played in just 40 career games, he is far and away the second-most experienced defensive lineman that the team has behind only Kendall Langford.  With two rookies projected to start, adding a guy with experience who has done some good things in the NFL for a late-round conditional pick in two years isn't a bad move.  It remains to be seen just how much he will play with the Colts, but at first glance it seems like a solid move.  And, as many are noting, at least this trade with the Browns doesn't include a first round pick.