Countdown to free agency…

The free agent signing period begins shortly after midnight tonight, and the Browns figure to be players in that market, with roughly $32 million to spend on free agents and draft picks. Unlike other teams, and the Browns of the past, Phil Savage is quite comfortable taking advantage of the free agency period. Free agents of note are Jamal Lewis, Eric Steinbach and LeCharles Bentley.

Depending on which side of the argument you are on, the biggest free agent prize might be QB Derek Anderson. Anderson be a restricted free agent, meaning the Browns have the right to match any deal that Derek strikes with another team. As of this writing the Browns had a $20 million dollar, 3 year deal on the table for Anderson to accept. In addition, the Browns today offered him the league’s top one year tender contract of $2.562 million, which ensures that if Anderson signs with another team the Browns would be compensated a 1st and 3rd round pick from the team that signs him, should the Browns decline to match the offer.

While the Browns left the long term contract on the table, it sounds like Savage isn’t going to sit on his hands and wait for Derek to make up his mind.

Savage said he’d like to know before midnight Thursday if Anderson’s salary will be on the books or not so the Browns know how much they have to spend in free agency. Their offer is believed to be about $20 million over three years with $10 million guaranteed.

Savage said if Anderson does not accept the Browns offer, it must mean he has a better deal in the works. At least eight NFL teams have quarterback issues this off-season and some might be willing to part with the picks for Anderson.

“I wouldn’t say we’d take (the offer) off the table, but I think the offer would be impacted,” said Savage of Anderson hitting the market. “I think if Derek wants to be a Brown and go forward, he can do that rather easily. If he explores the possibilities, he can do that also. I feel like we’ve put a really strong offer out there, and if he opts to do something else, that’s his prerogative. He’s earned that right.”

Reading between the lines of this one, it sounds like this is the most the Browns are willing to spend on Anderson and might even be hoping someone signs him to a bigger contract. It’s no secret Savage loves the draft, and I’m sure he’d be thrilled to get back into the first round of this year’s draft. It isn’t out of the question to think that Savage could turn those two compensatory picks into a top 5 pick this year. (Sniff, sniff…McFadden? Gholston?) Savage might have indirectly called Anderson a product of the system with this comment-

The team is fully prepared to move forward with Brady Quinn as its starting quarterback, Savage said. “It’s a pretty good cockpit for a quarterback to be in,” Savage said. “Derek capitalized on that last season. We think Brady will too. He’s got all the ingredients to be successful. The Browns are in pretty good shape.”

So who will the Browns target in free agency? The Browns have made early splashes under Savage, but Savage says through the team’s official site that he isn’t looking to be over-aggressive in this year’s market.

“The last two years we’ve been very aggressive in terms of trying to jump out there and make a play for some of the top free agents,” Savage said. “This year I’d anticipate we would be more visit-oriented, not necessarily committing to anyone (Friday) at midnight, but saying, ‘We’d love for you to come in and visit with us, see if it’s a fit’ and go from there.

“We’ll be aggressive in terms of trying to get guys into our building but I don’t know that we’re going to jump out there at 12:01 and say, ‘This is the contract we’re ready to offer you.'”

Some of that may certainly be true, but rest assured this team will be pursuing defensive players. In fact, with the release of Orpheus Roye the Browns are amazingly thin on the defensive line. And this wasn’t an area of strength to begin with. Who might the Browns go after for help?

Assuming that the Browns avoid players who have been franchised, the best prospects available are Justin Smith (Bengals), Mike Rucker (Panthers), Bobby McCray (Jaguars) and Chris Canty (Cowboys). Not exactly guys that would make you buy season tickets. In fact, Scout’s Inc. has included Simon Frasor and Ethan Kelley in the ‘next tier’ of defensive linemen. Ouch. If Justin Smith isn’t immediately interested in joining the Browns, look for them to pass on these guys that will probably demand more money than they are worth because of the dramatic need for d-linemen.

Staying on the defensive side of the ball, it would make sense for the Browns to look for help at one or more of the linebacking positions, something Scott discussed earlier. Impact players available on that side of the ball include Lance Briggs (Bears), Michael Boley (Falcons restricted FA), Clark Haggans (Steelers), Calvin Pace (Cardinals), Kawika Mitchell (Giants), and the Patriot’s duo of Bruschi and Seau. Briggs is going to demand major money, but don’t think that eliminates the Browns from contention. If Briggs isn’t a fit, figure on the full court press to court Haggans away from Pittsburgh.

Perhaps the most intriguing name that is being connected to the Browns is for CB Asante Samuel. Samuel may well be the most sought after of all the free agents this year (at least defensive ones) and several media outlets have made a connection with the Browns and Asante. Certainly there is history between Crennel and Samuel, but will the Browns shell out that kind of cash for a CB? Particularly when the Browns spent two draft picks on Wright and McDonald? Savage will likely trust his players to develop instead of throwing tons of money at Samuel. There are serviceable CB’s available aside from Samuel if the Browns are concerned about the position. Drayton Florence (Chargers) and Brian Kelly (Buccaneers) could step in and help this unit.

On the offensive side the Browns will figure to stand pat, unless they are unable to sign any of the top defensive players they are targeting.

“Defense is going to be a big part of our off season,” Savage said. “The next four or five days will probably dictate how the off season goes. If we get into this and we miss out on some defensive players we’d like to get, maybe we shift our money to a couple offensive pieces and say we’re going to have to do the best we can in the draft. There’s no way to know what’s going to happen.”

The name that surfaces the most around the net is Bears receiver Bernard Berrian. He is a speed receiver that can line up opposite Edwards and spread the field vertically. This would make Kellen Winslow’s job easier as well, finding creases in the defense to be softer with the quicker Berrian 15 or 20 yards downfield.

If Derek Anderson departs the Browns will be in need of a quality back-up. While they could address that through the draft, it would make more sense to bring in a veteran, someone of the Billy Volek/Todd Collins mold. Volek was last seen leading the Chargers to a victory over the Colts in the divisional round of the playoffs, and may be looking to cash in on a possible starter’s spot. Todd Collins performed beyond anyone’s expectations in relief for the Redskins last season, but would not likely expect to start anywhere.

Whether through free agency or the draft, look for the Browns to address the RB position as well. Despite signing Lewis to a contract, the Browns will likely look to find a suitable back-up and eventual replacement for Jamal.

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