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Buffalo Bills free agent defensive lineman Alex Carrington is drawing serious interest from the Cleveland Browns and the St. Louis Rams, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
Cleveland's interest is not surprising. Carrington emerged as a starter last season, playing a significant role up front in the team's first three games before a quad tear ended his season prematurely. Mike Pettine is now the Browns' head coach, and he's likely eyeing Carrington as a contributor in that very same defense in his new home.
The Rams' interest is a bit murkier, though they could simply be looking for quality depth behind starters Kendall Langford, the former Dolphin, and third-year pro Michael Brockers.
Carrington's odds of returning to the Bills diminished when the team re-signed Alan Branch to a three-year contract in December, then plummeted when Pettine left for Cleveland was replaced by Jim Schwartz, who brings a 4-3 scheme. Buffalo likely will not be willing to pay Carrington quality money as the fourth defensive tackle in the rotation, so his departure seems all but official.