Browns agree to terms with QB Anderson, acquire DT Williams

Derek Anderson ran a reverse on the Cleveland Browns.

Only a few hours after he hit the free-agent market, Anderson agreed to terms on a three-year, $24 million contract with the Browns, who were prepared to move on without the Pro Bowl quarterback.

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The deal reportedly includes more than $13 million in guaranteed money.

Anderson officially became a restricted free agent at 12:01 a.m. Friday, when other teams were allowed to make contract offers for the 24-year-old. But by 5 a.m. his agents had worked out a deal with general manager Phil Savage for him to stay in Cleveland. The sides had been working on a three-year, $20 million deal and had been negotiating for weeks.

"This is where I want to be," Anderson said. "I told my agent, 'Let's do the right things to get that taken care of.' In my heart, I knew I was going to get back."

If Anderson had signed with another team, Cleveland would have received first- and third-round draft picks as compensation. The Browns also would have turned their high-powered offense under second-year coordinator Rob Chudzinski over to Brady Quinn, their QB in waiting.

"Honestly, I wasn't interested in late ones and late threes," Savage said. "I'm interested in keeping the player, keeping our offense in tact with Chud at the controls and bringing our playmakers back, having them at full strength, keeping the offensive line in place and seeing how far this particular group of players can go."

Later Friday, the Browns made a trade with Detroit for Shaun Rogers after the Lions' deal to send the defensive tackle to Cincinnati fell through, a person familiar with the moves told the Associated Press.

The person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity Friday night because the Lions and Browns were not commenting on the trade, said Detroit got cornerback Leigh Bodden and a third-round pick from Cleveland. Detroit previously was set to get Cincinnati's third- and fifth-round picks.

The Browns also acquired defensive tackle Corey Williams from Green Bay for a second-round draft pick in April. The Browns then signed Williams to a six-year deal. Financial terms were not immediately available.

The 6-foot-4, 313-pound Williams, who tied a career high with seven sacks last season, was designated as the Packers' franchise player last week.

The Browns desperately need some defensive linemen as Robaire Smith and Shaun Smith are the only ones under contract.

"It's worth a second-round pick for us to get a defensive lineman who played in the league, had success in the league," Savage said. "I think he'll fit in well with our team and give us some legitimacy on the defensive front."