Indians have injury setback; scooter is day-to-day
March 6, 2015Browns re-sign Shaun Draughn and Spencer Lanning
March 6, 2015NFL Free Agency starts on Tuesday, beginning the annual bidding for the top free agents. The Cleveland Browns have a lot of holes to fill this offseason. The team will most likely look towards the NFL Draft to answer these question areas, but the team has quite a bit of money to spend in free agency to help shorten the list of weaknesses they will need to address in late April.
The Browns’ biggest weaknesses include: Quarterback, wide receiver, tight end, offensive line, defensive line, and pass rusher. I believe the Browns will address the offensive line in the draft because they need depth rather than older free agents to play right away. Quarterback was already addressed in free agency with the signing of Josh McCown, but here are some realistic options to fill these other needs.
Wide Receivers
Brian Hartline
Hartline had a meeting with the Browns earlier this week and is still considering joining the Browns. He had 39 receptions for 474 yards and two touchdowns last year with the Miami Dolphins. He has been a solid receiver in his career and has shown the ability to be a reliable pass catcher with good quickness. He would be a good addition to the Browns receiver depth chart.
Michael Crabtree
Crabtree is a former first round pick who has struggled with injuries and consistency. Last year with the San Francisco 49ers, he had 68 receptions for 698 yards and four touchdowns. He has the talent to be a big time receiver with good route running ability and quickness to gain separation from defenders. He can highpoint balls in the air, but struggles with drops. The Browns could take a chance on him and get a good return from him.
Cecil Shorts
Shorts is a Northeast Ohio native who has shown a lot of promise, but has dealt with injuries. Last season with the Jacksonville Jaguars, he had 53 receptions for 557 yards and a touchdown. He is a fast receiver with the ability to make big plays for his team. He has struggled with drops along with nagging injuries. The Browns could get a steal by adding the Northeast Ohio native.
Other Options: Kenny Britt and Brandon Tate
Tight Ends
Virgil Green
Green has not gotten a lot of playing time with the Denver Broncos, but has a lot of potential to be a starting tight end. Last season, he only had six receptions for 74 yards and a touchdown. His biggest role with the Broncos was as a very good blocker, receiving a +5.5 overall grade for his run blocking by ProFootballFocus. He has the talent to be a receiving threat, so in an expanded role with the Browns he could become a good tight end.
Ed Dickson
Dickson has shown glimpses of very good talent, but has not been able to do it consistently. Last season with the Carolina Panthers, he had 10 catches for 115 yards and a touchdown. He has the ability to block, but his biggest skill set is his athleticism in the passing game. He has the ability to be a mismatch in the passing game because of his combination of size and athleticism. The Browns could take a gamble on him and get a starting caliber tight end.
Other Options: Owen Daniels and Lance Kendricks
Defensive Line
Dan Williams
Dan Williams fits exactly what the Browns need, a run stopping nose tackle. With Arizona last season, he had 38 tackles and one sack. ProFootballFocus graded his regular season and postseason with a +14.4 overall grade, including +13.7 grade for his run defense. He could fit right in the middle of the line for the Browns and be the nose tackle that takes up multiple blockers for his fellow teammates. In an expanded role with the Browns, he could improve upon his pass rushing.
Terrance Knighton
Knighton is a very underrated defensive tackle and could be one of the best free agents on the market. With the Denver Broncos last year, he had 33 tackles and two sacks, while garnering a +15.3 overall grade by ProFootballFocus for his performance last year in the regular season and postseason. He is a very good run stopper, but also adds the ability to put pressure on the quarterback. The Browns would be in great shape if they could add a player of his caliber.
Corey Peters
Corey Peters does nothing special except being stout against the run. With the Atlanta Falcons last season, he had 26 tackles and two sacks. ProFootballFocus graded him with only a +0.9 overall grade, but against the run he earned a +2.3 grade. He is a cheaper option for the Browns, but he would help improve the Browns horrible run defense.
Other Options: CJ Mosley and Kenrick Ellis
Pass Rushers
Jerry Hughes
Hughes has shown that he fits very well in Mike Pettine’s defense. With the Buffalo Bills last year, he had 53 tackles, 9.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles. In his two seasons with the Bills, he has completely turned his career around and shown the talent that made him a first rounder. He also showed last season that he is solid against the run. He had his best season under Mike Pettine in 2013, notching 10 sacks that year. He would give the Browns another pass rushing outside linebacker opposite of Paul Kruger. He is my top target in free agency for the Browns.
Brandon Graham
Graham is a young outside linebacker with the ability to rush the passer and defend against the run. Last season with the Philadelphia Eagles, he had 46 tackles, 5.5 sacks, and four forced fumbles. He is a dangerous pass rusher with great strength and technique to get to the quarterback. In an expanded role with the Browns, he could become one of the best outside linebackers in the NFL.
Pernell McPhee
McPhee has been very productive in limited playing time with the Baltimore Ravens. Last season, he had 27 tackles, 7.5 sacks, and one forced fumble. He is a versatile player who can play outside linebacker or move inside to defensive end. His pass rushing production is very impressive given his lack of playing time. With an expanded role, McPhee could be just the pass rusher the Browns need opposite of Kruger.
16 Comments
The more I read, the more I think Dan Williams is at the top of my wish list.
Who are we most likely cutting ties with?
Sad the only realistic WR options out there are sub-600 yard guys. 37.5 yards per game doesn’t really speak volumes.
I’ve lived in Phoenix the past 5 years. Dan Williams has had a lot of issues with conditioning and not playing to his potential. The issues were mostly under Ken Wisenhunt though, so there’s that. I’d say he’d be interesting on the team but it would depend a lot on how much they pay him.
I’ll take one Terrance Knighton please.
I know lots of people love Suh, and he’s awesome…but 15% of your entire cap awesome? That’s tough to do I think. Then again, Knighton isn’t exactly in the bargain bin, so what do I know?
Suh is a hall of famer. He is a game changer. Yes, 15% of your cap awesome. I’m sick of the Browns not spending any money. For once, don’t go bargain hunting for 8 cheap guys and use the excuse, “we have a lot of holes that need filling,” because Suh fills the most important holes – the running lanes.
(and now that there is a penalty for not spending your cap, the Browns have no reason not to spend)
here’s how I think about it: that 15% may not get spent on anyone, so why not spend it on Suh?
hey joe, enjoyed your article and looking forward to more! Tell your dad I said hello!
oh man, that’s perfect.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. The NFL needs to move the Draft ahead of FA. Or, given the amount of scouting time involved in the former, move FA past the Draft into late May. Why? Because FA is for need and the Draft is BPA. And how does a team truly know what it needs until it utilizes its first and second round picks, which, more often than not, bring immediate starters?
I bring all this up because the Browns’ needs in FA will be drastically different if we knew we could add DT Danny Shelton and WR Davate Parker at 12 and 19, respectively. That’s my ideal scenario because those guys are arguably the BP’sA at those spots and also fill huge needs. But, given the high number of teams picking in front of us in both spots, who knows if either guy will be there? We may wind up having to pick a BPA at a position where we’re already set. For example–what if Todd Gurley is sitting there at 19? Or a top 3 CB? If we still had FA as a fallback, we could jump on whatever stud is available and then look for a vet (who is obviously easier to scout because there’s NFL game tape to look at) to fill our weaknesses.
Long story short, if we could add Shelton and Parker in the Draft and Hughes in FA, I’d be a very happy fan.
I agree with this post. The Browns do have several holes to fill. But their biggest hole outside of quarterback just happens to line up with the greatest free agent since Reggie White. We finally have the cap space, supply AND demand all lining up. Seize the day!
It makes sense to pass on guys like Randall Cobb. He played 93% of 2014 in the slot, a spot already occupied on this team by Baby Hawk. I’d wager a pretty penny that if the Browns traded Baby Hawk to Green Bay, he’d put up comparable numbers in that offense and that quarterback.
But Suh? Arguably the best and most consistent NFL player at stopping the run and–just as important–creating pressure in the backfield. How is this not Cleveland’s top target? What kills me most is the Browns need a true defensive identify up in their front seven. They play in a nasty, gritty, smash-mouth conference–their defensive line should reflect it. The Cleveland Browns need to add a true playmaker. I’m not sure there is a bigger one on defense–this side of J.J. Watt–than Ndamakong Suh.
But allow me to put forth another scenario.
We already know that Ray Farmer is not the greatest drafter out there. He somehow managed to screw up two picks in the first round of the draft last year. Had he stuck with his original board, it sounds like the Browns would have had Sammy Watkins and Teddy Bridgewater. Had he sided with his offensive coordinator over his quarterbacks coach, we would likely have been looking at Sammy Watkins, Joel Bitonio and Jimmy Garappolo.
With this in mind, and the Browns need for some pass-rushing consistency, why not sign OLB Justin Houston, from the Kansas City Chiefs? In the last three years, he’s graded out #1, #1, and #4 overall at his position, as per PFF. Oh, and he came within half a sack of the record this past year. Did I mention he improved his run-stopping prowess each of those three years? Why not sign him to a longterm contract? We’ll lose two first-round picks, sure, but does it truly matter? What about Cleveland’s 12-year history in the first round–and Ray Farmer’s admittedly shorter 1-year history–indicates we’ll find anything close to that even with two solid picks? The Browns are horrible at the NFL first-round lottery. Why continue playing such horrible odds when we could instead sign away a home run instead? Houston has already stated he wants to make the Hall of Fame, and he’s definitely on the fast track to achieving that dream. Why not take the chance he’ll do the majority of his good work to get there in a brown and orange uniform?
The Browns currently have three first round picks spread between this year and next. They could end up with three draft busts. They could end up with three solid players. Maybe they shock the world and end up with three great players. If some rumors are to be believed, Ray Farmer’s trigger finger will get the best of him, and we’ll end up with one quarterback for all three picks. Instead, why not end up with Justin Houston and a pick?
Joe Thomas doesn’t have much longer when it comes to playing at such an elite level. Alex Mack is as good as gone after the 2015 season. Fans (and writers) seem to forget that his contract he signed with Cleveland last year prevents him being franchised. It also allows him an opt-out clause after 2015. Mack said last year that all the change at the coach and offensive coordinator positions was wearing on him. We kept Pettine, but allowed Kyle Shanahan to walk. Barring a playoff appearance and (possibly) advancement, one has to admit Mack will likely opt-out and fly as fast as possible back home or down South to reunite with his favorite offensive line coach in Tampa Bay.
At this point, what is there to lose? Seriously.
Owen Daniels? Didn’t we just send one concussy injury prone TE to free agency? Daniels has a hard time staying on the field as well. There’s a decent amount of research that says TE in the 4th-5th rounds are the best draft value for production… FWIW
hi NJO … i would say rubin is gone for sure & somebody is going to overpay for skrine & cameron , so i expect they will be gone as well.
hi MARY … good post. don’t expect the browns to make a big splash during free-agency … i’d expect them to fill some holes with reasonably priced talent.
farmer not a good drafter ? … i’m only going to say i think haslam & pettine may’ve “influenced” farmer in the 1st round last year. look waht farmer did from the 2nd round on & then what he did with un-drafted free-agents rookies … he did very well. and , farmer also holds another 1st round pick from last year’s 1st round. i say let’s reserve judgement until after the draft.
justin houston was tagged by the chiefs … he’s not leaving KC.
hi MARK … interesting thought. it’s basically the same either way … you draft or sign free-agents according to what you did not address in the other.
… i think sheard is gone as well.
Pats are interested in trading Garapollo.
What will you give us for him?