Cleveland Browns: Trust in Front Office Deteriorating?

The 2010 Cleveland Browns draft picks were very productive their first year. Four of the picks started at least one game (Haden, Ward, McCoy, Lauvao) and two more are expected to contribute this year (Hardesty, Mitchell).  

Their success showed the fanbase that Tom Heckert knows how to build a team through the draft.

As fans, we can only hope that this year’s draft choices can have the same impact as the 2010 draft class. But, success for rookies does not often lead to a winning record. Teams also have to sign free agents, and many times overpay for those players too.

It seems the Cleveland Browns are reluctant to participate in free agency. To hear reports that they never contacted DE Ray Edwards is concerning. We the fans understand that the Browns are more than two or three players away from competing in the AFC North.

And if all goes as planned with the 2011 draft class, the Browns should only need one more draft to fill in the rest of the holes. But, once that draft is completed, expect the front office to make more moves in free agency.

It is hard for any rebuilding team to fulfill all their needs in two drafts. It becomes even more difficult when there is a lack of free agents signings. This year’s free agent signings Usama Young and Brandon Jackson should help out the team, but neither is the “game changer” many fans are hoping for.

Also, with the departure of Eric Wright, the Browns are currently in need of an experienced cornerback. It is only befitting that once the Browned filled one hole (FS), they have to turn around and find a player to fill another hole (CB). As of right now I would say that the Browns are going to have a losing record.  And barring any big trade, the Cleveland fan should prepare oneself for another painful season.

The lack of interest in free agents confirms to the fans that this front office is not concerned with winning this year. With the implementation of new offensive and defensive schemes, the Browns know that they will most likely be picking within the top 10 of the draft next year.

So what’s the rush in going out and signing free agents to big contracts? Even the “big name” free agents won’t help them win more than six or seven games, which is why the front office has taken a conservative approach to free agency.

But, we cannot forget that for the past decade we have seen regimes that have tried to build through the draft and free agency. Each of those regimes failed miserably.

There is reason for hope as both Heckert and Holmgren have experience building championship teams. But, if in the near future the team finds itself one or two players away from contending, they must acquire significant free agents or else they will lose the trust of the fans.

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