National Football League

Browns exercise option on DL Phil Taylor

Published May. 2, 2014 12:22 p.m. ET

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CLEVELAND (AP) The Browns have exercised the fifth-year, $5.5 million contract option on powerful defensive lineman Phil Taylor's rookie deal.

Taylor, a first-round pick in 2011, is now under contract through the 2015 season. The team had until Saturday to pick up the option.

Browns first-year coach Mike Pettine said after watching Taylor during a three-day minicamp this week that Taylor ''is a great fit for what we want to do on defense.''

Taylor says he hopes to be in Cleveland for his entire career and ''be part of the team that turns this franchise back into a perennial winner and championship contender.''

Last season, Taylor moved inside to the nose position in Cleveland's 3-4 defense and had 57 tackles and two sacks as the Browns finished ninth in the NFL in total defense.

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