Browns Offseason: Filling Cleveland's Needs in Free Agency
The 2011 NFL Draft is weeks away, and everyone is anxiously awaiting to see who their team selects. The Cleveland Browns are no exception, as they are an organization that needs to be rebuilt through the draft for the next few seasons
The Browns have so many needs on both sides of the football that all of their solutions are unlikely to come via the draft. Thankfully, with labor situations being the way they at the moment, teams are unsure of whether they should cut or keep some of their rosters.
Because of this uncertainty, many teams are hesitant to resign key players, and as a result, there will be some playmakers to be found in free agency. The Browns really need to be a key player in this year's free agent market.
The following breaks down the needs of the team, and gives a few players at the position that are free agents that could be signed and brought in to fill some of these needs.
Wide Receiver
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While I am one of the few that is optimistic about the Browns receiving corps, there are many that would like to see the Browns bring in a dynamic player as a weapon for Colt McCoy. While there is recevier talent to be had in the NFL Draft, I think the best option would be to go after a veteran receiver, as this would cut down on the amount of time it would take to adjust to the west coast offense.
Top Option: Sidney Rice, Minnesota Vikings (2009 stats, 83-1312-8)
Hot off the press, the Vikings used their franchise tag on... Chad Greenway? That's right, and with money problems in Minnesota, they are more than likely going to have to let Rice go. This means that the Browns may be able to get their franchise receiver in free agency rather than the draft. It's possible Rice returns to the Vikings, but I doubt it, and I don't think Heckert should waste any time trying to beat around the bush with Rice. Give him a contract worth lots of money, he's worth it. He'd single-handedly spread opposing defenses, and would give young Colt McCoy a weapon. Thank you, Minnesota.
Other Options:
- Malcolm Floyd, San Diego (37-717-6)
- Steve Breaston, Arizona Cardinals (47-718-1)
- James Jones, Green Bay Packers (50-679-5)
- Steve Smith, New York Giants (48-529-3)
Defensive End
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The DE position is going to be critical for the Browns this season. New defensive coordinator Dick Jauron is going to have to work with the guys the Browns have for now, and hopefully get some young talent in the draft. The Browns could address part of the problem by picking up a defensive end or two in free agency and perhaps resign Jayme Mitchell.
Top Option: Marcus Stroud, Buffalo Bills (49 tackles, 3 sacks)
Stroud is a straight up beast. He managed to get 49 tackles and three sacks in an unremarkable Buffalo defense. Stroud has the ability to be disruptive in the passing game, but is solid against the run as well. The only real knock on the guy is that he's old (he'll be turning 33 next season) however, I think he's far from out of gas.
Still, his age and drop-off in production from his Jacksonville days, has made him a cheap option that could fall to the Browns in free agency. Stroud would add a temporary spark to the line and for the right price, he could be a nice pickup.
Other Options:
- Mathias Kiwanuka, New York Giants (3 games played, 11 tackles, 4 sacks)
- Kamerion Wimbley, Oakland Raiders (58 tackles, 9 sacks)
- Ray Edwards, Minnesota Vikings (37 tackles, 8 sacks)
Safety
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While safety isn't the most important need of the Browns, getting a good safety would greatly help the development of T.J. Ward into a NFL safety. The Browns secondary is a work in progress, and though it took a big leap forward last season it still has some work that could be done.
Top Option: Eric Weddle, San Diego (96 tackles, 2 INT, 1 sack)
How I didn't know this guy was going to be on the market this year beats me, however I'm a fan. Ask any fantasy football player that's in a IDP league, and he'll tell you how much he likes Weddle. He may not be the most productive guy in the league, but he is consistent year-in and year-out. Weddle has had over 50 tackles and one interception every year for his entire career. He is young, at only 26, and could potentially be a force in the secondary that has a lot of things going right.
Other Options:
- Bernard Pollard, Houston Texans (112 tackles, 3 sacks)
- Quintin Mikell, Philadelphia Eagles (88 tackles, 3 INT)
- Roman Harper, New Orleans Saints (98 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 INT)
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Defensive Tackle
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With the release of Shaun Rogers, the Browns are going to require another defensive tackle aside Ahtyba Rubin. While the Browns could draft a DT, getting one in free agency may fill that need without the use of a draft pick. However they plan to address the position, one is gong to have to be acquired before the Browns defense can do anything.
Top Option: Barry Cofield, New York Giants (54 tackle, 4 sacks)
Cofield is a solid, young option in free agency that the Browns ought to take a good hard look at, if he isn't signed by the Giants. Cofield will only be 27 by next season, he also has proven to be disruptive, recording 54 tackles and four sacks this past season. He would give us stability at the defensive tackle position without the Browns having to rely on someone like Marcell Dareus, who may have issues with his work ethic.
Other Options:
- Pat Williams, Minnesota Vikings (30 tackles)
- Shaun Ellis, New York Jets (36 tackles, 4.5 sacks)
- Marcus Spears, Dallas Cowboys (19 tackles)
Linebacker
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The defensive front seven is going to have to be addressed as a whole over the offseason one way or another. The linebacker spot is going to be a tricky one to fill, but with Scott Fujita and D'Qwell Jackson it gives the Browns something to work with. Adding another good free agent might solidify the linebacking corps, if only for the next couple years.
Top Option: Barrett Ruud, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (120 tackles, 1 INT, 3 Sacks)
Rudd is the real deal. He is good in coverage in the "Tampa 2" defense that Dick Jauron sometimes likes to experiment with and he is a tackle machine, tallying over 100 in the last four seasons. Ruud is exactly the sort of playmaker the Cleveland Browns could use, and his veteran experience is an added bonus.
The Browns wouldn't have to rely on an unproven rookie to play a pivotal role of being the middle linebacker, at least not initially. Ruud will be 28 next season, which isn't necessarily young, but nobody would say it's old either. It's no secret that Ruud wanted a long-term contract in Tampa, but it appears that him and the Bucs may part ways. Cleveland could be the team that could provide him with a long term home.
Other Options:
- Rocky McIntosh, Washington Redskins (110 tackles, 2 sacks)
- Paul Posluszny, Buffalo Bills (151 tackles, 2 sacks)
- Stephen Tulloch, Tennessee Titans (160 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT)
Conclusion
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In the end, it's all going to come down to who's available. One of the glorious things about the NFL is the amount of "worst to first" events that happen. Sometimes a team really is one player away from a Super Bowl. I'm not saying that the Browns are in that situation, but it disproves the notion that players will only accept offers from winning organizations.
Maybe we don't get any of the guys I mentioned here, that would be fine, as long as Holmgren, Heckert and Shurmur are drafting, hiring and playing to win.
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