Packers: Unsurprisingly, Mike Daniels to visit Browns, per report

Mike Daniels could be on his way to the Cleveland Browns.

On Wednesday, the Green Bay Packers announced that they had released Mike Daniels, a key part of the defense for the past seven years.

And unsurprisingly, his next team could be the Cleveland Browns. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Daniels’ first visit is with the Browns, which will take place on Thursday afternoon.

This would be a great move for both Daniels and the Browns, but also for the Packers.

Daniels signing with an AFC team, and not a team on Green Bay’s 2019 schedule, would be an ideal situation. The Packers wouldn’t have to play against Daniels and the Browns this season. But Cleveland does play against three potential NFC playoff contenders: Seattle, San Francisco and the LA Rams.

For Daniels, he’d get the opportunity to play for a potential contender. And the Browns could be contenders in the AFC this season with an exciting young offense led by quarterback Baker Mayfield, especially now with the addition of Odell Beckham Jr.

Cleveland’s defense already features a number of former Packers: Morgan Burnett, Damarious Randall, Jermaine Whitehead, and Lenzy Pipkins are all on the roster. But Daniels could help turn a very strong defensive line into arguably the league’s best. A line of Daniels, Myles Garrett, Sheldon Richardson and Oliver Vernon could dominate.

Green Bay has plenty of talent along the defensive line, too. And even without Daniels, they have young star Kenny Clark leading the way. Dean Lowry signed a contract extension this week, and the team will also have high expectations for Montravius Adams and rookie Kingsley Keke.

Za’Darius Smith and first-round pick Rashan Gary could also line up along the defensive line.

The Packers had their reasons for releasing Daniels, but make no mistake, the defense is worse without him. But signing with the Browns would be an ideal situation for the Packers.