Which Free-Agent QB Options Best Fit the Cleveland Browns' Needs in 2015?

It's not new news that the Cleveland Browns are in search of a quarterback. It has been the primary topic of discussion whenever the coaches and top brass meet with the media, with the mantra of "no stone unturned" being repeated over and over.

Head coach Mike Pettine said it in December, general manager Ray Farmer said it in mid-January and team owner Jimmy Haslam said it at the end of that month. It's clear that the Browns intend to examine all options available to them, ranging from first-round 2014 draft pick Johnny Manziel, to the undrafted second-year player Connor Shaw, to rookies available in this year's upcoming draft, to of course, veteran free agents.

Let's take a look at the four best free-agent quarterbacks who could reasonably compete and even start for the Browns in 2015. Whether a long-term solution can be had via free agency or simply a one-year stopgap, either way there are at least four veterans who could, at least temporarily, give the Browns some help—or at least some healthy competition—at the position.

Brian Hoyer

The obvious first choice is the quarterback who started for the Browns for most of 2014, Brian Hoyer. Though Hoyer was unceremoniously benched for Manziel in Week 15, only to return in Week 16 after Manziel suffered a hamstring injury, there are benefits to have him return to Cleveland to compete.

Upon the conclusion of the season, re-signing Hoyer seemed a distant possibility. Pettine said, at the same press conference where he vowed to focus the most offseason energy on the quarterback position, that:

"

Brian did some really good things for us. I don't know where Brian is with Cleveland and I'll be very interested to hear where we are from an organizational standpoint. Personally, I have a very good relationship with Brian. He was a big part of our success this year, but I don't know if the circumstances can come together for him to be back here next year.

"

It was non-committal at best. But circumstances since that time have changed. Hoyer's agent, Joe Linta, spoke to ESPN.com's Jeremy Fowler at Senior Bowl practices in January and said the Browns have indeed reached out about a new contract and that, "We've left the door open both ways."

Linta, via Pro Football Talk, elaborated further, hinting that the only way he and Hoyer would be interested in a return is if Hoyer would indeed compete for the starting job, rather than be Manziel's backup.

Considering the sorry state of the Browns' quarterback room at present, there'd be little doubt that Hoyer, should he get a new deal in Cleveland, would be in the mix to start. And he'd also have the edge. Hoyer has the support of the locker room, familiarity with the offense—albeit one that will be tweaked now that John DeFilippo has replaced Kyle Shanahan at offensive coordinator—and a passion for the job. 

	Games	Starts	Atts.	Comp.	Comp.%	Yds.	TD	INT	Y/A	Sack
2014	14	13	483	242	55.3%	3,326	12	13	7.6	24
Career	32	17	630	356	56.5%	4,557	19	19	7.2	36

However, Hoyer's upside may have reached its limit. Though he had a strong start to his season, he finished completing just 55.3 percent of his passes, for 3,326 yards, 12 touchdowns and 13 interceptions, while the Browns went 7-9. Though ranking seventh among quarterbacks in deep passing by Pro Football Focus, much of that was aided by the first half of the season, when the Browns could run the football well.

Center Alex Mack's fractured leg devastated the Browns' ability to run, and with it went the passing game. Hoyer needs a run-centric offense to be an effective quarterback, and that kind of limitation shrinks what an offense can attempt on the field. 

Complicating matters is the hire of Kevin O'Connell as quarterbacks coach. Hoyer beat out O'Connell for the New England Patriots' backup quarterback job in 2009. That could mean awkwardness in practices and in meeting rooms between the two.

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Still, with the Browns on the hunt for a quarterback and seemingly willing to bring in a number of options to help them solve their problems, Hoyer should be tops on the list. 

Pros: Familiarity in the system, trust of the locker room, desire to be in Cleveland, solid quarterback when run game is working.

Cons: Ceiling has been reached, floor is low, won't take Browns to next level in the long term, awkwardness with quarterbacks coach.

Mark Sanchez

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When the Philadelphia Eagles' starting quarterback, Nick Foles, went down with a broken collarbone, the offense fell into the hands of his backup, Mark Sanchez. It had been a rough ride for Sanchez to reach the Eagles; once a playoff-winning quarterback for the New York Jets, he had become the butt (pun potentially intended) of myriad jokes before being laughed out of town.

Now, Sanchez is an unrestricted free agent and despite his checkered on-field past, should still be in relatively high demand once the league year begins in March. Sanchez has played in AFC Championship Games in back-to-back seasons and was a caretaker quarterback of a Jets team that, at that time, boasted an excellent run game and a defense to match.

Beyond that, Sanchez also knows quite well key members of the Browns' coaching staff, namely DeFilippo and Pettine, who both were with the Jets while Sanchez was under center—and in the years when the Jets were dominant. 

	Games	Starts	Atts.	Comp.	Comp.%	Yds.	TD	INT	Y/A	Sack
2014	9	8	309	198	64.1%	2,418	14	11	7.8	23
Career	71	70	2,176	1,226	56.3%	14,510	82	80	6.7	149

For all his faults, Sanchez actually had a respectable half-season as the Eagles' starter. He completed 198—or a career-high 64.1 percent—of his 209 pass attempts, for 2,418 yards, 14 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Still, his career body of work is no more impressive than Hoyer's, with a completion percentage of 56.3 and 82 touchdowns to 80 interceptions thrown.

But Sanchez would be an affordable, familiar quantity for the Browns this offseason. Sanchez made $2.25 million in his one year in Philadelphia, and the same salary could be in play for 2015, especially with the Browns having over $47 million in salary-cap room available.

If the Browns succeed in modeling themselves after the 2009-2010 Jets, in that the run game and the defense is what defines the team, while the quarterback play is a less important component, then Sanchez could fit right in.

Al Bello/Getty Images

The problem, however, is if Sanchez comes aboard, starts and fails. The opportunities for public ridicule of both the Browns and Sanchez could reach new highs (or lows).

Pros: Knows the coaches, can play well in a specific system, very experienced, affordable.

Cons: Very limited capabilities, lots of opportunities for even more negative attention.

Shaun Hill

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Shaun Hill is a 35-year old journeyman quarterback who has played for four different teams since 2005. Most recently, he was with the St. Louis Rams, playing in nine games and starting eight after Sam Bradford went down with a torn ACL. For Hill's many stops in the NFL, there is one important thing he brings to the table—consistency—that could have the Browns interested in signing him this offseason.

Hill completed 145 of his 229 pass attempts in 2014, for 1,657 yards, eight touchdowns and seven interceptions. Interestingly enough, he ranked higher in Pro Football Focus' Accuracy Percentage (which accounts for drops, throw aways, batted passes and the like) than Andrew Luck, Peyton Manning and Matthew Stafford. On his career, he has a completion percentage of 62.2, has thrown for 8,038 yards, has 49 touchdowns to 30 interceptions and has played in 46 games, with 34 starts.

	Games	Starts	Atts.	Comp.	Comp.%	Yds.	TD	INT	Y/A	Sack
2014	9	8	229	145	63.3%	1,657	8	7	7.2	18
Career	46	34	1,183	736	62.2%	8,038	49	30	6.8	82

Hill is not flashy, but he's a consummate professional who won't stir up locker room drama nor take unnecessary risks on the football field. He's probably one of the better, if not the best, career backup quarterbacks in the NFL, able to step in and start on a moment's notice without eliciting cringes from fans.

This may make him no more than a good candidate to be a backup for the Browns, but given his resume and skill set—and the Browns' relatively dire situation at the position—he could very well compete and win the starting job should he be signed. He'd certainly be a calming presence, and given the last month for the Browns, that's not an unwelcome energy. 

Pros: Solid and calm, high floor, experienced, professional, caretaker quarterback, affordable.

Cons: Profiles out as career backup, low ceiling, not a long-term option.

Matt Moore

Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

Matt Moore is much like Shaun Hill in that he's been mostly a career backup, but he's also been solid, and not a liability, when called upon to start. An unrestricted free agent unlikely to return to the Miami Dolphins—especially not for a $4 million base salary, as he had in 2014—Moore could have a higher price tag than all but Hoyer on this list, but he may be worth the money.

Moore hasn't started since 2011, when he led the Dolphins to four wins and six losses. He completed 210 of his 347 passes that season, for 2,497 yards, 16 touchdowns, nine interceptions and, most notably, he took 36 sacks behind a porous offensive line. He's played in 49 games during his eight-year career, with 25 starts.

On the one hand, Moore has only attempted 29 passes since 2012. On the other, his arm is fresh, he has no lingering injuries and likely has a desire to compete for a starting job, something not possible for him in Miami behind Ryan Tannehill. He may be one of the most underrated quarterbacks in the NFL. It's not lack of talent that has held him back, but rather a lack of an opportunity.

	Games	Starts	Atts.	Comp.	Comp.%	Yds.	TD	INT	Y/A	Sack
2014	2	0	4	2	50.0%	21	0	0	5.3	0
Career	49	25	768	452	58.9%	5,342	33	28	7.0	66

Because the Browns are at least paying lip service to a commitment to examining all options at quarterback, Moore could draw their interest. He's not a known quantity like Hoyer nor a lightning rod like Sanchez. Like Hill, he'd be a calming and supportive presence in the locker room and would have no qualms ultimately earning a backup job rather than becoming the starter.

Pros: Underrated talent, team player, capable of starting or being a backup, fresh arm.

Cons: Arm is fresh but could be rusty, could prove expensive, no known ties to Browns coaches or front office.