Roye, 26, was regarded as one of the diamonds in the rough in this year's free-agent pool. He was the 21st rated player in SportsLine's analysis of the league's unrestricted free agents. Roye has started only 20 games in four years and had just nine sacks, but most personnel directors feel that he is ready for a breakout season.

The former Florida State standout played all four seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers after the club made him a sixth-round pick in the 1996 draft.

With plenty of money to spend, the Browns had hoped to land a proven pass rusher like Simeon Rice of Arizona or Jacksonville's Tony Brackens, but both were designated as "franchise" free agents. The Browns were interested in Seattle free agent Phillip Daniels, but dropped out of the bidding on Friday night, and he signed Saturday with the Chicago Bears.