A week after Browns general manager John Dorsey first dropped the news of the Browns' interest in Gerald McCoy, the defensive tackle remains unsigned.
The Browns, meanwhile, remain interested. Very interested.
"I liked the kid," Kitchens said of his meeting with McCoy on Friday. "I like the person, of course I like the player, but more importantly just getting to know the kid. I really like him."
It seems somewhat tepid in written word, but Kitchens was clear in how much the Browns want McCoy on their team. The question is: does McCoy want Cleveland?
McCoy chose the Browns for his first free agent visit Friday, which Kitchens said went well. McCoy spent the majority of the day at the team's Berea headquarters before departing and visiting the Baltimore Ravens on Tuesday and Wednesday. He left Baltimore without a deal as well, and is reportedly visiting the Carolina Panthers, according to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport. Kitchens added he feels the Browns still have a good chance of signing McCoy.
A player shopping his options via the tour McCoy is taking might make a needy team uncomfortable. That isn't the case with the Browns.
Check out photos from the ninth day of OTA practices
Defensive tackle Trevon Coley (93) and Offensive tackle Drew Forbes (79) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson (98) and Cornerback Robert Jackson (34) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi (65) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Adam Henry during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Cornerback T.J. Carrie (38) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Defensive Coordinator Steve Wilks during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Center Kyle Kalis (68) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson (98) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Linebacker Adarius Taylor (57) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Linebacker Mack Wilson (51) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Defensive Coordinator Steve Wilks during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Safety Tigie Sankoh (40) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Cornerback Terrance Mitchell (39) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Linebacker Christian Kirksey (58) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Cornerback Robert Jackson (34) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Cornerback Terrance Mitchell (39) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Cornerback Terrance Mitchell (39) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Larry Jackson during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Running Back Kareem Hunt (27) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Stump Mitchell during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Linebacker Genard Avery (55) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Defensive end Chris Smith (50) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Cornerback Tavierre Thomas (20) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Defensive end Olivier Vernon (54) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson (98) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Defensive end Chad Thomas (92) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Defensive end Chad Thomas (92) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Defensive Coordinator Steve Wilks during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Wide receiver D.J. Montgomery (83) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Kicker Greg Joseph (17) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Wide receiver Jaelen Strong (10) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Mike Priefer during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Defensive end Olivier Vernon (54) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Offensive tackle Greg Robinson (78) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi (65) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Running Back Nick Chubb (24) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Linebacker Genard Avery (55) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Safety Jermaine Whitehead (35) and Joe Whitt during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Center JC Tretter (64) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Linebacker Joe Schobert (53) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Linebacker Mack Wilson (51) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Tight end Pharaoh Brown (86) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Linebacker Sione Takitaki (44) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Defensive end Olivier Vernon (54) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Joe Whitt during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Linebacker Sione Takitaki (44) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Linebacker Christian Kirksey (58) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Cornerback Greedy Williams (26) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Tight end Demetrius Harris (88) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Cornerback Phillip Gaines (28) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Cornerback Robert Jackson (34) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Defensive end Anthony Zettel (97) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Defensive end Jarrell Owens (62) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Cornerback Lenzy Pipkins (41) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Kicker Austin Seibert (2) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Running Back Nick Chubb (24) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Linebacker Joe Schobert (53) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Willie Harvey during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Wide Receiver Ishmael Hyman (16) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Tight end Demetrius Harris (88) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Wide Receiver Ishmael Hyman (16) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Wide Receiver Ishmael Hyman (16) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) and Wide receiver Rashard Higgins (81) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Cornerback Terrance Mitchell (39) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
Linebacker Anthony Stubbs (90) and Punter Jamie Gillan (7) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.
"We want Gerald to go out and look at other places because when he makes the commitment here, we want him to be all in because everybody that's going to be here is going to be all in," Kitchens said. "That's what we need to get to where we're going. We're fine with him taking a look at everybody else. We don't care because we've told him who we were, and if that's who he wants, he'll end up here. He knows the direction we're headed."
Should McCoy circle back to the Browns after weighing his options, he'd bring a veteran presence that packs quite a punch along the interior. McCoy has racked up 54.5 sacks in his career, including a combined 19 in his last three seasons. He'd fit in nicely with Sheldon Richardson and Larry Ogunjobi and bring an attribute that's incredibly important to Kitchens: leadership.
"He's been through the fire," Kitchens explained. ... "You know, we're still young up front in a lot of areas. Even the guys that we signed this year are still young, relatively speaking. Just every bit of leadership. Leadership is being able to go out and do something and let somebody see you do it. Leadership can also be directing you off the field, on the field and everything else, so there's a lot of different aspects of leadership. We're going to try to create more than just one leader."
McCoy spent his entire career in Tampa Bay and never reached the playoffs. At 31 years old, it would make sense if contending matters more than money at this point in his career, but it's a thought we won't be able to confirm until much later. Asked if that would help elevate the Browns to the front of the pack, Kitchens was concise.
"That's always our goal," Kitchens said of making the postseason. "If that's his goal, then it's going to be the right place."
