2015 Cleveland Browns Free Agency: An Early Guide to the Market
As the Cleveland Browns enter the offseason and begin to evaluate their roster they will find plenty of holes. Some were there all season, some were developed through poor play and others will emerge as players leave in free agency. Luckily for the Browns they have the second most money to spend, according to the NFLPA (h/t NFLTradeRumors.com).
Just because they have an estimated $25 million to spend does not mean that they will. Lavish spending in the offseason grabs headlines and appeases fans but rarely wins a title. Cost-conscience spending with good drafting is what gets the job done in this league.
The Browns must also find guys who fit what they are trying to do as a culture in Cleveland. Head coach Mike Pettine feels like he has made progress, and signing the wrong guy could undo a lot of hard work this season.
"#Browns HC Pettine: we did a lot of positive things here. I think I instilled culture change. Most players bought in. Need everyone on board
— Nate Ulrich (@NateUlrichABJ) December 29, 2014"
Still, there will be opportunities to sign some impact players when free agency kicks off on March 10. Let’s take a look at some of the guys who the Browns might pursue.
Offensive Line
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The Browns need to take a serious look at their offensive line this offseason. It would be easy to blame the league’s worst rushing offense on Alex Mack’s season-ending injury, but that does not explain everything.
Guard John Greco is a journeyman who has performed admirably but is in over his head at times. Left tackle Joe Thomas is now 30 years old, and right tackle Mitchell Schwartz is serviceable but not great. The line could use some more depth too, as free agent Paul McQuistan was an absolute disaster.
The Browns will probably address this need in the draft, but there are a few interesting names that could be on the free-agent market.
Mike Iupati – Guard
Currently with the San Francisco 49ers, Iupati is a just 27 years old and one of the best at his position. At the very least, he will be paid like the best at his position. The 49ers have just about $13 million to spend this offseason and a slew of free agents to re-sign.
If the Browns could land Iupati they would get one of the best run-blocking guards in the league. With Mack healthy and Iupati and Joel Bitonio to each side they could have the best line in the NFL.
Offensive Line Cont.
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Bryan Bulaga – Tackle
If the Browns choose to not spend huge money this offseason they could look to create some competition at the right tackle position. One of the guys they could bring in to do so would be Green Bay Packers tackle Brian Bulaga.
After playing just nine games combined through 2012-13 he bounced back and missed just one game this season. He is a right tackle by trade and one of the better pass-blockers you can find at that spot. His price tag would be relatively cheap because of his history of injuries.
The Browns need to create some competition for Schwartz because his inconsistent play has haunted them at times. According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required) Schwartz was eighth in pass blocking among right tackles but 38th in run blocking. That is a position they could certainly upgrade.
Defensive Line
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This is a position the Browns felt was a strength heading into 2014, but it ended up being a weakness by the end of the season. Both Phil Taylor and Armonty Bryant found themselves on injured reserve. Desmond Bryant was hampered by injures, and Ahtyba Rubin, Billy Winn and John Hughes all underperformed.
They finished the season ranked last in rushing defense, and that is a huge reflection on the line. Things get even trickier now that Taylor and Rubin will hit the open market. I expect the Browns to make a run at Taylor but let Rubin walk.
This is where they could make the biggest splash this offseason. Every free-agent class has a prized horse, and this is that guy in 2015.
Ndamukong Suh – Defensive Tackle
Sure, Suh is going to get the biggest defensive contract in the NFL this season, but he is well worth it. He is dirty, and he is nasty. But he produces results on the defensive line. He has missed just two games in five seasons and has averaged over seven sacks per year. Those are crazy numbers.
The NFL announced he was just suspended one game for yet another dirty incident on the field, where he stepped on Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers' leg. You don’t have to like him; you just have to like the numbers he produces.
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Wide Receiver
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The Browns find themselves in a weird spot this offseason. They waited 10 games for Josh Gordon to return from suspension only to have him underachieve and miss a walkthrough. Mike Pettine was forced to suspend him for Sunday’s season finale.
“I think everybody recognizes the talent that’s there, but this isn’t an individual sport,” Pettine told the media on Monday. “You have to be accountable to your coaching staff. You have to be accountable to your teammates, more importantly. That’s the thing that we have to get right with Josh.”
When the coaching staff does its evaluations it very well might find itself having to move on from Gordon. If the Browns do, then they will probably need to bring in two or three bodies to fill roles. The draft is where good young receivers can be had, but there are a few proven guys still in their prime who will hit the market as well.
Jeremy Maclin – Wide Receiver
Maclin is only 26 years old and coming off a huge season. He and LeSean McCoy are both free agents this offseason, and while the Philadelphia Eagles have a ton of cap space they may not have the ability to sign both. Head coach Chip Kelly admitted as much on Monday.
“Do I want LeSean back? Yeah. Do I want Jeremy back? Yeah,” Kelly said, per CSN Philly's Geoff Mosher. “But is that the reality? I don’t know. I don’t know what’s going to happen.”
Maclin caught 85 passes for 1,318 yards and 10 touchdowns this season. He is a playmaker and can stretch the field against any opponent. He is exactly the type of weapon that offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan would love to have in his arsenal.
Tight End
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The Browns will probably be parting ways with tight end Jordan Cameron after this season. His abundance of concussions and disappointing play in 2014 will make it difficult to shell out much money to keep him around.
The tight end market is very top-heavy and most of the bigger names will not be allowed to see the light of day in free agency. There are a few names, however, that could end up available and might be a nice fit for the Browns.
Charles Clay – Tight End
If the Browns want to get creative on offense, then adding Clay would be the perfect piece to make it happen. He is a running back in a tight end’s body and creates mismatches anywhere he lines up on the field. The 25-year-old has back-to-back seasons of at least 600 receiving yards, and if the Miami Dolphins let him walk there will definitely be a market.
Adam H. Beasley from the Miami Herald may have said it best when describing Clay before the Dolphins' final game.
"Now, he has one last chance — Sunday against the Jets — to persuade the Dolphins to lock him up with a long-term contract. Because if Miami doesn’t, someone else surely will.
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Kyle Shanahan could get extremely creative with Clay and move him all over formations. Clay is also a talented blocker for his speed and size (6'3", 255 lbs).
Tight End Cont.
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Lance Kendricks – Tight End
Go ahead and file this one under the “not sexy” category. He may not have the cache of some of the big-name tight ends, but he has some skill. Kendricks has been steadily productive in St. Louis for his four years in the league, and that includes 2012, when he had 519 receiving yards and four touchdowns.
At 26 years old he is still young and could certainly benefit from a fresh start, consistent playing time and a steady quarterback situation. The Browns can offer two of those three things and are hoping the third might be solved next year as well.
One way or the other the Browns need to bring in some bodies at tight end because Jim Dray and Gary Barnidge are long in the tooth, and neither is the type of player a defensive coordinator has to worry about. Kendricks could be had for a moderate price and might be a guy on the upswing of his career.
Linebacker
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The Browns have question marks at inside and outside linebacker this offseason. Craig Robertson had a career year and now is eligible to hit the free-agent market. If the Browns were smart they would bring him back. He is only 26 and is a nice insurance policy for Karlos Dansby, who is the oldest player on the team.
They also need to figure out if outside rusher Jabaal Sheard is worth re-signing. His rookie contract is up, and he did not have a great year in the 3-4 defense. If the Browns let him walk, then they are left with Barkevious Mingo, who has looked like a bust except for three or four games this season, and Paul Kruger, who is as solid as it gets.
Pernell McPhee – Linebacker
The Browns found their last big steal at outside linebacker in a guy who had limited playing time for the Baltimore Ravens, and maybe they can do it again. McPhee had a fantastic year and can line up at every position in the front seven. That kind of versatility is hard to find.
Fighting for limited playing time, McPhee still logged four sacks, 17 quarterback hits and 31 quarterback hurries according to Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun. Sharing pass-rushing duties with Elvis Dumervil and Terrell Suggs made Kruger a better player, and it seems to have done the same for McPhee.
If Baltimore lets him explore free agency the Browns should offer him more than the cash-strapped Ravens can afford. It would help their defense and hurt the Ravens at the same time. That is a win-win.
Linebacker Cont.
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Brian Orakpo – Linebacker
Years ago this would be an exciting name to see pop up in free agency, but these days Orakpo can be had for cheap. He is coming off his most disappointing season, registering just a half a sack in seven games.
He is, however, just a season removed from 10 sacks and is still very good against the run. The Browns defense is exactly the type of system he needs to sign with. He can rack up some decent numbers on a short-term deal with the Browns and hope to land one more decent contract before his career runs out.
For the Browns, he is worth the gamble because the talent is still there, and he will not come with a very hefty price tag. Most of his money will be incentive-laden, and that means he will have to earn his cash. It could work out for both sides.
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