Cleveland Browns' Ultimate Free Agency To-Do List
The Cleveland Browns showed improvement in 2014, winning six of their first nine games and remaining in the playoff hunt until late in the season.
However, the Browns also lost six of their last seven contests. This shows that the team still has some major holes in roster talent and depth. With the start of free agency right around the corner on March 10, Cleveland will have a prime opportunity to fill some of these holes.
Don't expect to see a big-time spending spree, however. “I think you’ll see us playing less in free agency,” team owner Jimmy Haslam said earlier this offseason, via Pat McManamon of ESPN.com.
General manager Ray Farmer recently said the following, via Kevin Jones of the team's official website:
"It’s really more focused on being smart with who you add, when you add, and how you add. We’re really focused on building through the draft,” Farmer said. “You can’t keep going and buying and putting guys in front of guys. Because if you go out and spend a lot of money on a guy, you expect to see him playing. To go out and draft a guy that’s not going to play doesn’t make a lot of sense.
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Farmer's statement makes it sound as if the Browns will pursue more supplementary pieces in free agency than they will chase superstars. With this strategy in mind, let's take a look at what Cleveland does need to accomplish in free agency.
Re-Sign Safety Tashaun Gipson
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Safety Tashaun Gipson took a major leap forward in 2014, easily becoming one of the team's best defenders. Despite missing five games due to injury, Gipson still finished the season with six interceptions and a Pro Bowl nomination.
He was rated 10th overall among safeties for the season by Pro Football Focus.
Though Gipson is scheduled to become a restricted free agent, teams are going to be interested in the young playmaker. Anything short of a first-round tender will probably cause someone to sign him to an offer sheet.
The 2015 draft isn't considered particularly deep at the safety position, and a so-so free-agent class is headlined by the likes of Chris Conte, Louis Delmas and Antrel Rolle.
"By the way, there's one elite safety (Collins) in this draft. However, I'm pretty certain the Alabama prospect is a SS, not a FS.
— Omar Kelly (@OmarKelly) February 25, 2015"
At just 24 years old, Gipson has the type of youth and upside that NFL teams covet.
In 2014, a first-round tender paid a player $3.113 million, and we can expect to see a sizable increase for 2015. This isn't exactly a lot to pay one of the league's better young defenders, of course, but inking Gipson to a long-term deal should be the way to go for Cleveland.
This would ensure that no other team can make a play for the Browns safety and keeps one more key player off the unrestricted free-agent market a year from now.
Sign a Veteran Quarterback
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The Browns appear to be holding out hope that 2014 first-round pick Johnny Manziel can still be Cleveland's quarterback of the future.
However, Manziel did nothing to instill confidence last season. He also recently entered a treatment facility, further clouding the former Texas A&M star's future.
This is why the Browns absolutely must bring in a veteran quarterback. The team needs someone with experience to take the reins if needed, or, at the very least, to mentor Manziel or another young quarterback (drafting a signal-caller remains a possibility).
Bringing back 2014 starter Brian Hoyer would make the most sense from a logistical standpoint. He has two years of experience with the organization and a desire to lead on and off the field. However, Hoyer seems hesitant to return to a quarterback competition, or to a team that could be facing league discipline for a sideline text messaging scandal.
According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com, any negotiations will be on hold until Hoyer has an opportunity to meet with general manager Ray Farmer to discuss the text messages and the future of the team.
The Browns, presumably, will only want Hoyer back at the right price, even if the quarterback is open to returning. If not Hoyer, the team will be forced to consider free agents like Mark Sanchez, Jake Locker, Shaun Hill and Josh McCown.
The team met with McCown on Tuesday and Wednesday, per Mary Kay Cabot of the Northeast Ohio Media Group.
Sign a Veteran Receiver
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No. 1 receiver Josh Gordon has officially been suspended for the 2015 season, which leaves the Browns with an incredibly undersized receiving corps.
The three contributing wideouts from last season who are set to return all measure less than 6'0". Andrew Hawkins, who led the team with 824 yards receiving, comes in at just 5'7". Travis Benjamin is 5'10", and promising second-year wideout Taylor Gabriel is just 5'8".
I fully expect the Browns to address the receiver position early in the draft, but it is important that the team pursues size and veteran experience on the open market.
There are a number of big-name receivers scheduled to enter free agency, including Jeremy Maclin, Demaryius Thomas, Michael Crabtree and Randall Cobb. However, the Browns won't be chasing any of the top guys if the plan is indeed to look for value and depth instead of big-money signings.
Instead, I would expect the team to look at guys like Leonard Hankerson (a 6'2" guy), Nate Washington (a 10-year veteran) and Cecil Shorts (a Cleveland native).
According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com, Shorts is interested in returning to Cleveland to play for his hometown Browns. A willingness to come to Cleveland may make Shorts target No. 1 on the Browns' radar.
It would also make sense to re-sign veteran Miles Austin, a 6'2" possession guy who hauled in 47 passes in just 12 games with the Browns a season ago.
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Look for Help in the Return Game
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The Browns kick return game was an absolute disaster in 2014.
Coming off of ACL surgery, return man Travis Benjamin lacked the same burst and confidence that made him a budding star earlier in his career. No other player truly stepped up into the role, though receiver Marlon Moore (a pending free agent) did show a few glimpses of promise.
Overall, the unit was a disappointment, and the Browns averaged a paltry 6.7 yards per punt return and just 21.6 yards per kickoff return. The special teams unit was ranked 25th overall for the season by Pro Football Focus.
Ideally, Cleveland would find a young and productive return specialist late in the draft in order to solidify the position for the long-term. However, it only makes sense to seek out a returner in free agency as insurance against whiffing on a prospect.
Topping the list would be veteran return specialists Jacoby Jones and Ted Ginn. Jones was released by the Baltimore Ravens on Wednesday, per ESPN.com's Jamison Hensley, and would bring AFC North experience to the position.
Ginn, an Ohio State product, was released earlier in the week by the Arizona Cardinals. According to Mary Kay Cabot, a league source claims the Browns have already called Ginn's agent and expressed interest.
Bolster the Defensive Line
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The Browns ranked dead last in rushing defense a season ago, allowing 141.6 yards per game on the ground. For a team that is hoping to win with defense, this is simply unacceptable.
The Browns absolutely must address the defensive line in free agency, especially since veterans Ahtyba Rubin and Jabaal Sheard are set to hit the unrestricted free-agent market. Promising defensive tackle Ishmaa'ily Kitchen is also scheduled to become a restricted free agent.
I expect Cleveland to address the defensive line early and often in this draft, but a rookie influx likely won't be enough to turn the fortunes of this unit around on its own.
There are several pending free-agent defensive linemen who could help the Browns run defense, though big names like Ndamukong Suh and B.J. Raji are probably off the table.
Run-stuffer Dan Williams may be on the team's radar, though he too may prove too pricey. Defensive tackles like Jared Odrick and Kevin Williams are probably more realistic targets.
A solid 3-4 defensive end like Cory Redding could also help the run defense. According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com, the Browns have shown interest in defensive end Adrian Clayborn. Clayborn, however, is primarily a 4-3 end and may take some time to settle into head coach Mike Pettine's defensive system.
Sign a Tight End
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For the past few seasons, Browns tight end Jordan Cameron has been one of the league's most promising, if oft injured, young tight ends. Cameron, however, is set to become a free agent.
According to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports, Cameron is not interested in returning to Cleveland. Franchising Cameron would cost just below $9 million for the season.
Finding a capable tight end in free agency should be a goal, even if the team plans to address the position at some point in the draft.
Targets that make sense include Jacob Tamme, Charles Clay and Lance Kendricks. Jermaine Gresham is considered one of the top free-agent tight ends, though I believe he is vastly overrated and wouldn't provide value to the Browns.
Gresham was ranked 37th overall by Pro Football Focus for 2014. This was one spot above Kendricks, who should command far less money on the open market.
According to ESPN's Adam Caplan, the Browns will meet with recently released Philadelphia Eagle James Casey. Casey is more of a blocking/role-playing tight end who probably couldn't replace Cameron outright.
However, owner Jimmy Haslam has indicated that the team is still talking with Cameron, so there is still a slim chance of bringing him back, according to Mary Kay Cabot of the Northeast Ohio Media Group.
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