2012 NFL Free Agents: Cleveland Browns Crazy to Target Matt Flynn

It’s no secret that the Cleveland Browns front office doesn’t have faith in Colt McCoy—and now we have proof.

Steve Doershuk of the Canton Repository is reporting that Mike Holmgren and the Browns' brass plan on making a run for Green Bay Packers free agent Matt Flynn:

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There will be a budget that will not be exceeded in the play for Flynn. The brass will make a play for Matt Flynn. Mike Holmgren is no great fan of quarterback competitions. If he signs Flynn, it would be with the intention of starting Flynn. Flynn would be told so. Colt McCoy and Seneca Wallace would be told so.

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The budget better be pretty big because the Packers are currently tossing around the idea of franchise tagging Flynn (via Green Bay Press Gazette). If so, he will come with a $14.4 million price tag. The Browns would likely sign him to a long-term deal worth less money per year, but much more over the life of the deal. They’d also have to surrender players/picks in the trade.

The Browns would be insane to consider such a move.

With the fourth pick in April’s draft, they won’t be landing Andrew Luck, but Robert Griffin III may still be there. If not, Ryan Tannehill has been rising up the big board, and the Browns could use their other first-round pick (22nd) to select him.

There are also free-agent options like Kyle Orton, Jason Campbell and David Garrard, who all have had various levels of success in the past. They all have been the starter for multiple seasons in their respective pro careers. All three would be much cheaper as well. As for Peyton Manning? No way he’s going to Cleveland.

Flynn, 26, has a grand total of two starts in his four-year NFL career. Sure his six-TD performance to end the 2011 regular season was impressive, but how quickly we forget that the Detroit Lions had already clinched a postseason bid; the urgency wasn’t there.

His other start in 2010 came against the New England Patriots, and he completely botched a game-winning drive with his poor time-management skills.

I’m not saying he can’t become a solid starter, but it’s way too much of a risk. What if Flynn signs a three-year deal worth $30-35 million and leads the Browns to yet another 5-11 season in 2012? They can’t afford another Jake Delhomme-esque gaffe.

The McCoy question is still a tough one to answer. With arguably the worst receivers in the league, has the 25-year-old really gotten a fair chance to succeed? Or, is two years and 21 career games enough of a sample size to realize he isn’t the guy?

Considering the circumstances, I think McCoy deserves another chance. With teams blowing up the St. Louis Rams' phone line trying to secure the No. 2 pick and RGIII, it looks like he won’t be on the board when the Browns pick.

It’s a top-heavy rookie class at QB, and a weak free-agent pool. Might as well continue to develop McCoy and actually put some talent around him—that way there are no more excuses.

If it results in another disappointing season, well, there’s always Matt Barkley in the 2013 draft.