NFL Free Agency: Who Should the Cleveland Browns Be Targeting?

The words "unprecedented," "wild" and "crazy" have been used about 248,198,734,121 times (give or a take) on sports talk radio and TV over the past three days to refer to a summer's worth of NFL free agency being jammed into a couple days this week.

I feel like it's my obligation as a writer/fan of the Cleveland Browns to give this whole free-agency frenzy a rundown of my own, even though "predicting" who the team will sign is only slightly more of a crapshoot than predicting who the team will take in a seven-round mock draft.

But here are a couple of players that the Browns should be targeting to make the 2011 season better than the utterly disappointing past three.

First of all, players I won't spend time on because there's either no chance of them coming to Cleveland or no reason I want them at all: Nnamdi Asomugha, Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, Plaxico Burress, Vincent Jackson and Braylon Edwards.

Oh yeah, and Derek Anderson.

There are a couple positions that I think the Browns should look to improve. We need help at wide receiver, defensive end, cornerback and safety.

Some think that there's a need on the right side of the offensive line but I'm willing to let the young guys that we have there mature and get better.

First, a couple receivers that are attainable commodities.

Sidney Rice

Rice has been one of the biggest names that Browns fans have been clamoring for. I don't really think there's much of a chance of Rice landing in Cleveland, but I felt the need to include him nonetheless.

I'm also not sold on Rice being a top receiver. He's really only had one good season and that was with Brett Favre throwing to him. In the same vein, he had to deal with running routes for Tavaris Jackson before that so there's always two sides to that one.

James Jones

Jones played very well for the Packers the past couple years (with the exception of a couple untimely drops in the playoffs last year). Green Bay is up against the cap and will need to pass on a few players from their Super Bowl-winning team that they'd no doubt like to keep.

Jones is a very good player and still young at 27 years old. He's a playmaker who very well could be better than most of the guys currently on the Browns roster right now.

Steve Breaston

Breaston had a disappointing season last year but a lot of that could be attributed to the tumultuous QB situation in Arizona. Since Braylon in 2007, has there been a single player that DA ever made look good? Breaston could come at a decent price and his speed would help out on a team in Cleveland that lacks burners at WR.

The pickings are pretty slim at the safety spot in free agency with the top two players Eric Weddle and Quintin Mikell already off the board. 

Donte Whitner

Whitner has played very well in obscurity in his six-year career in Buffalo. He's from Cleveland and went to Ohio State. I would love to have him on the Browns.

I don't know if he would really fit next to T.J. Ward since he's also more of a strong safety (140 tackles last year). But Whitner has skill and experience and would help right from the start in the defensive backfield. I love the idea of infusing youth with veterans. Whitner would be awesome.

Michael Huff

The former Texas standout has had six interceptions in Oakland over the past two years. It's tough to rate players who play on crappy teams but Huff would certainly be an improvement over Abe Elam, who cover receivers about as well as Shaun Rogers.

Brodney Pool

How about a return for Brodney Pool to the shores of Lake Erie? Pool was a solid free safety for the Browns but was allowed to walk after missing five games with concussions in 2009 (he still had four picks). He caught on with the Jets last year and played well in that dominant defense.

I always liked Pool and wouldn't mind at all having him return to Cleveland. He's no worse than most of the guys out there.

Keeping it moving, let's look at cornerbacks...

Johnathan Joseph

It would be nice to steal Joseph from the Bengals. Not sure if it could happen but I'd take it. He's the second-rated CB on ESPN behind only Asomougha and ahead of Ike Taylor of the Steelers.

He had three picks and nine passes defended last year. He would start right away on the other side of Joe Haden if the Browns could pick him up.

A couple players that would be nice but aren't very likely are Antonio Cromartie and Brent Grimes. Cromartie will probably sign back with New York if they can't land Asomougha and Grimes is a restricted free agent who Atlanta probably would like to hang on to.

I think the Browns' best bet is just to hang onto Eric Wright. I know he struggled at times last year. But you can't discount his strong play in his first four years in Cleveland.

Wright has all the speed and skills you want in a corner. It may have been some injury or mental issues that could explain his problems last season. All in all, I think he's the best bet we have.

And he's got a good bond with the other DBs on the Browns right now. You can't discount team chemistry, especially when it comes to a defensive back unit. I played DB in college and unity in that group is essential to success. I wouldn't mind keeping things as they are and continuing to improve. You could do a lot worse than Wright as a nickle corner.

Finally, with the move to the 4-3, I think the biggest need is to add a defensive end. We picked up Jabaal Sheard in the draft but still need someone on the other side. Without a pass rush, we have no chance on defense next year. I want the Browns to go big!

Ray Edwards

Ray Edwards is the big name out there that all Browns fans want. And I'd be all for it. Playing on the other side of Jared Allen didn't hurt, but he's still a very good player, his hate for the commish aside.

I could dwell on Edwards but I don't see much point. If you're reading this, then you probably already know what you'd be getting with Ray Edwards. 

Cullen Jenkins

Jenkins is going to be allowed to walk from the Packers for cap reasons. He's played in the 3-4 the past couple years but has experience in the 4-3. All things aside, seven sacks last year doesn't hurt.

Jenkins can play and would be way better than anything on the roster right now.

Jason Babin

Babin was dominant last year in Tennessee, racking up 12.5 sacks. Some people believe he's even the best DE in this year's free-agent class. An eight-year pro, he would bring some welcomed experience to a very young defensive line.

Oh, yeah...and he had 12.5 sacks last year. I'd take that.

Finally, I don't know why this hasn't been talked about, but why not bring back Matt Roth to play DE? He played well as a 3-4 OLB last year but started out as a DE. I don't see any reason why he can't come back as a DE.

I might be alone on this one, but I hear talks about the Patriots going after him that make me want him even more. Continuity doesn't often hurt.

All of this will probably be obsolete by the end of the day, but I hope that helps you all get an idea of where the Browns could be going. We certainly need football now more than ever, with the Cavs locked out and the Indians getting pathetically no-hit today.

You can follow me on Twitter @ClevelandFlack