Cleveland Browns: 5 Moves Mike Holmgren Could Still Make, and Should

The Cleveland Browns have been in training camp for a little more than a week now, and most of the prime free agent options have already been taken by other teams.

The lockout-shortened offseason did not make things any easier for the Browns, who start 2011 with a new head coach and a quarterback who will be playing his first full season as a starter. There are also several other questions about the roster that were not addressed because of the lockout. 

But there are some moves that team president Mike Holmgren and company can still make to help the Browns. Here are five of them:

Sign Jerricho Cotchery

The Browns would be wise to pursue eight-year veteran Jerricho Cotchery in order to bring a proven receiver to help their young, inexperienced receiving corps.

Third-year receiver Mohamed Massaquoi is currently the team's number one receiver. Although Massaquoi is talented, he cannot be expected to carry things for the Browns receivers.

Cotchery, who has 358 career receptions and 18 touchdowns, would take pressure off of the other young receivers. His presence on the depth chart would also give the Browns time to develop rookie receiver Greg Little, rather than rush him into the lineup before he is ready.

Sign T.J. Houshmandzadeh

Eleven-year veteran T.J. Houshmandzadeh is nearing the end of his career, but he is still a productive receiver who could be a valuable weapon for quarterback Colt McCoy.

This season will be McCoy's first full year as the team's starter, but his list of receiving options does not offer him much help. In addition to being inexperienced, the receivers are likely to undergo some growing pains as they adapt to head coach Pat Shurmur's new west coast offense.

Houshmandzadeh is not a long-term option for the Browns, but he is a big target who can take pressure off of McCoy and the other receivers.

Sign Max Starks

The right side of the Browns offensive line is significantly weaker than their left side. Signing former Pittsburgh Steelers tackle Max Starks would address that disparity along the offensive line.

The Browns waited until the fifth round of the NFL draft to select an offensive lineman, going with tackle Jason Pinkston from Pitt. Tony Pashos is the team's projected starter at right tackle.

Starks would be the favorite to start at right tackle if he were to sign with the Browns. And although he isn't an elite offensive tackle, he is still better than what the Browns have right now.

Sign Nick Kaczur

Former New England Patriots offensive lineman Nick Kaczur is another option the Browns could seek for their starting right tackle spot.

Kaczur started 62 games in New England before missing the 2010 season with a back injury.

Given Kaczur's recent injury problems, the Browns should sign him for less than the $4 million per season he was making with the Patriots. That may be hard to do considering that he was released because he was not willing to take a pay cut.

But working in the Browns favor is the fact that they are about $30 million under the new salary cap. And if Kaczur can come back from his injury, he would be worth the money.

Sign Brian Waters

Staying with the right side of the Browns offensive line, former Kansas City Chiefs guard Brian Waters would be a major addition for the team, even at age 34.

Waters has been to five Pro Bowls and was recently named one of the NFL's Top 100 players of 2011. He would be an immediate starter at right guard and would join left tackle Joe Thomas and center Alex Mack as the third Pro Bowler on the Browns offensive line.

The Browns would have to sign him to a short-term contract, but he would give the team another year and another draft to find a long-term option at right guard.