Examining the Cleveland Browns Free Agency and Offseason

By: Josh Fyffe

At the end of the 2013 season, there was a hint of optimism amongst the Cleveland Browns. The defense performed as a top ten unit, ranking eighth in the league in yards per game allowed. Safety TJ Ward received second team all-pro honors, Joe Haden was coming off another hyped season, and the front seven had performed solid all season long. Sure, the offense was tragic outside of standout wide receiver Josh Gordon and some solid offensive line players, but they had free agency and a top five pick in the draft to fill needs at running back and QB. If they were able to retain the defense and get a Manziel or a Bridgewater at number four, there would be a lot of hope in Cleveland coming into the 2014 season. Let’s look at how they have fared in the offseason thus far, as I believe they have made some questionable management decisions.

The Bad: They attempted to resign TJ Ward before letting him walk to Denver for a relatively cheap 4 year $23 million deal and replaced him with the older Donte Whitner (from the 49ers) on a 4 year $28 million contract. Ward apparently asked for $8 million a year from the Browns, and that was thought of as too much for them, despite giving Whitner an average of $7 million a year. Ward is going into his fifth season and really was an under the radar contributor for the Browns until the end of the season when he received his second team all-pro honors. Whitner on the other hand is going into his ninth season and is on the decline of his career. He is still a modest starter, but for a young team like the Browns trying to build for a future, it was questionable why they would take someone with an additional four years on the NFL on their resume over a system grown player; and pay the older guy five million dollars more. This isn’t just a slight down grade in immediate talent for the Browns, but a long term downgrade at the strong safety position.

              They also allowed their underrated ex-linebacker D’Qwell Jackson to waltz to the Colts on a 4 year $22 million deal, which is relatively cheap for a player who has led the AFC in tackles twice in his career since being drafted back in 2006. Right after Jackson’s depart they quickly signed Karlos Dansby (age 32 and has played four more seasons than Jackson) to a 4 year $24 million contract. Again the Browns took a player on the back half of his career and gave him more than the younger player that left them in free agency. I understand football is not always a game of youth, but the two players that left them offer more potential to a defense than the players the Browns signed in free agency as replacements. I actually believe Karlos Dansby is a great player and has had a very respectable career with the Dolphins and the Cardinals, however he benefited from a strong supporting cast in Arizona the last three seasons. Dansby could have a lot more in the tank than an average 32 year old, but to me it would have been smarter to give Jackson the cheaper deal that he wound up getting and save some spending money while also keeping a quality player.

               

The Neutral: I am very interested to see how Ben Tate works into the Cleveland offense. He received a 2 year $7 million deal, and that is the only reason why I am putting the signing into the neutral category instead categorizing as a bad signing, because in the NFL that is a relatively low amount of money. If Ben Tate can produce at his optimal level and not be battered down with the injuries that have plagued a majority of his pro career than it will come off looking like a good signing. The potential in Tate is there, but he is a risky sign to depend their running game on. I still suspect they will take a running back within rounds 2-4 to help balance the load and have a second option. However I feel that if Cleveland just were to address the RB spot solely in the draft it would have sufficed.

The Good: The brief Brandon Weeden era has finally come to an end and Cleveland fans can rejoice as the Oklahoma St. alum has joined the Cowboys. Within 30 minutes of Weeden’s release, Jason Campbell was also shown the door. Although these are not additions to the team, they are good roster moves, as Brian Hoyer showed more promise than both of these two QBs before tearing his ACL. I don’t expect Hoyer to be “the guy” next season, so hopefully they can address that postion in the first round of the draft, although they haven’t been interviewing a lot of the top projected QBs. An addition I really liked for the Browns was signing wide receiver Andrew Hawkins away from the Bengals on a 4 year $16 million offer. Although Hawkins has battled with minor injuries in his short career, he still is a reliable short yardage target and can work efficiently in the screen game (which is any QBs best friend). This may be a good addition to the team, but again I think they overpaid for a player that shows potential but hasn’t really proven himself at the pro level. In contrast Julian Edelman, who plays a similarly game to Hawkins, was top 5 in receptions last season and led the Patriots in receiving yards with over 1000, drew a 4 year $19 million and was open to testing other teams before resigning with New England. If the Browns were going to drop $16 million on Hawkins, why not pay a little more for a better quality player. Regardless of the comparisons, if Hawkins can stay healthy he is a good compliment or 3^rd receiver to Josh Gordon and Jordan Cameron.

The Uncertain: Browns’ Center and two time Pro Bowler Alex Mack has yet to be resigned coming off his rookie contract. He has been a constant bright spot for the Browns since being the 21^st pick in the 2009 draft. Mack ranked 3^rd in the offseason’s top 100 free agents according to Bleacher Report and is the only player in the top 10 to not have been handed a new contract. He will be receiving a big payday from somebody, but I believe Cleveland needs to keep him if they don’t want to regress further as an organization.

Overall Thoughts: Cleveland went from a team that had a lot of youth and talent on the defensive side of the ball and swapped them for older overpaid players while also signing injury prone offensive players. The pieces are possible to come together, but everyone needs to stay healthy and they need a stellar draft to fill other holes (QB, RB, DL, DT, FS, CB2). If they end up losing out on Mack, this may look like a very bad offseason for Cleveland. I believe they took a team that was built for the future and made it a team that is built for now (since they accelerated the overall age of the team).

Overall Grade: C-

Mock Draft

 Mock Draft 1.0
By: Jack Machulski

1. Houston Texans- Jadeveon Clowney, DE South Carolina
Jadeveon Clowney looked like the consensus number one pick basically the entire year and it still hasn’t changed.  The Texans really need a Quarterback but I don’t think Bortles, Manziel, or Teddy Bridgewater are really good enough to warrant a number one pick and Clowney is just too good of a prospect to pass up.  He has great size and is also the fastest of all defensive lineman in the draft.  His 10 yard split in the 40 was a staggering 1.56 seconds, meaning he will be able to explode off the snap. A huge deal was made of Clowney only putting up 21 reps on the bench press but that shouldn’t matter whatsoever.  Firstly, his game is based entirely on speed and explosiveness to get to the quarterback and strength won’t be an issue for that.  Secondly, bench press doesn’t really test a person’s strength overall, it’s more of just the strength of Pectoral muscles.  Think his lack of strength will impact how hard he hits?  Tell that to this guy.  The biggest concern is Clowney’s character and lack of motor which are definitely legitimate.  However, I think his overally potential and skills outweigh his concerns about his motor.  If he starts to play with a high motor then the NFL better watch out, this guys is going to be a monster.

2. St. Louis Rams Via Washington Redskins- Greg Robinson, OT Auburn
I’m doing this mock draft without trades to make things simpler, but if I had to guess, the Rams don’t end up picking second.  However, if they are picking second, I think they take Greg Robinson to shore up their offensive line.  If the Rams believe in Sam Bradford as their QB for the future then Offensive Line is their only need and Greg Robinson is the best available.  He is a behemoth at 6’5 324 pounds but he can move really well too as shown by his insane 4.88 40 time.  He reminds me a bit of the Eagles Lane Johnson in terms of his raw ability and athleticism.  Johnson has turned out to be fantastic and is looking like a great pick, I think Greg Robinson would be a good pick as well at #2.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars- Teddy Bridgewater, QB Louisville
With the third pick in the draft, the Jaguars will end their quest to find a legitimate Quarterback and break away from the Blaine Gabbert era.  Teddy Bridgewater looks like the best and most pro ready Quarterback in the draft.  He has excellent footwork in the pocket and his ability to avoid pass rush is makes him one of the best QB’s at handling blitzes.  His accuracy on short to medium throws is also the best among all of the top Quarterbacks in this draft.  His main concerns are deep ball accuracy and his durability at the next level.  His deep ball passing does leave a bit to be desired but I think the durability claims are a bit outrageous.  Total games Bridgewater missed with injury during his time with Louisville: 0. The Jags are about to get their QB of the future.

4. Cleveland Browns- Johnny Manziel, QB Texas A&M
Here comes Cleveland’s savior, Johnny Football, the man who will take Cleveland from the laughing stock of the league to a legitimate contender.  I love Johnny Football, and I want him to succeed in the NFL, and that’s why I think Cleveland is the perfect place for him to go.  The Browns have a very solid defense, a very good offensive line, and one of the best WR in the NFL in Josh Gordon.  Going to the Browns gives Manziel the best situation to succeed and will make the Browns a legit football team again.  The city of Cleveland will have its first relevant superstar since Lebron.  Everything about this pick is perfect.

5. Oakland Raiders- Sammy Watkins, WR Clemson
At number 5 the Raiders get, in my opinion, the second best player in the draft in Sammy Watkins.  Watkins is a freak athlete with great hands and amazing ability after the catch.  As we all know, the Oakland Raiders absolutely love speed, sometimes to a fault.  With Manziel and Bridgewater gone here I think they go with the by far best player available and pick Watkins.

6. Atlanta Falcons- Jake Matthews, OT Texas A&M
There has been a lot of speculation whether Atlanta would keep this pick or try to trade up, but I’m not doing trades so I think the Falcons will take Jake Matthews.  The Falcons had a very disappointing season after making it all the way to the NFC championship the year before they slipped all the way to the number 6 pick.  They desperately need help along both the offensive and defensive line and since Khalil Mack wouldn’t really fit their 4-3 style of defense, they won’t take him here.  If Houston doesn’t pick Clowney, I would almost guarantee the Falcons trade up to grab him, but if they stay put they should work on the offensive line.  Jake Matthews is widely considered the best or second best tackle prospect in the draft behind Greg Robinson and would greatly bolster their shaky line and keep Ryan upright.

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Khalil Mack, OLB Buffalo
This is every Bucs fan after Mack falls to them at 7.  Mack is probably the third best prospect in the draft in my opinion and the Bucs are getting him all the way at 7th.  Mack is a physical specimen at 6’3 251 and apparently ran a 4.54 at his pro day.  Unreal.  He has crazy first step quickness and the power to push the tackle back and speed to run around him, Mack also has very developed pass rush moves to get to the ball carrier.  He lives in the other teams backfield, Mack set the record for most tackles for a loss in a career while at Buffalo.  Worried about how he played against inferior MAC competition?  Check out the game he had against Ohio State, he was dominant.

8. Minnesota Vikings- Blake Bortles, QB UCF
Vikings finally get the Quarterback they have been looking for at 8 by selecting Bortles Kombat.  Blake Bortles may have the highest ceiling of any QB in the draft, he is big, strong armed, extremely athletic, and has good natural ability as a quarterback.  He also does very well with pressure in his face.  He struggles with the finer things at the Quarterback position like footwork and making reads but they could develop with coaching and time.  I think Minnesota has basically wasted AP’s prime by not giving him a good Quarterback, they should add Bortles here to try to salvage the rest of his career and hopefully add a franchise Quarterback.

9. Buffalo Bills- Eric Ebron, TE UNC
At number 9 I love Ebron for the Bills.  Ebron is probably my second favorite prospect in the draft next to Watkins, and I have been high on him ever since his huge game against Miami early in the season.  The Bills already have a very solid defense and their biggest need is to provide offensive weapons for new QB EJ Manuel.  Ebron has potential to be a Jimmy Graham like TE for the Bills as a dangerous downfield threat and a good chain mover.  The other move here would be to draft Mike Evans, but why take him when the WR position is so deep in this draft.  If they need a receiver they can take one in the second round but they should definitely go with Ebron here.

10. Detroit Lions- Mike Evans, WR Texas A&M
Mike Evans rounds out the top 10 as the third A&M player selected already.  With this pick they get another person to pair with Megatron and take away the double and triple teams that he routinely sees.  Evans is your typical big wide receiver at 6’5 who will make a living by making plays in traffic at the next level.  At 6’5 with a 37 inch vertical he will be able to get higher than pretty much any cornerback or safety to make the catch.  His biggest criticism is that he lacks speed and ability to separate, but a 4.53 40 at 6’5 is pretty solid.  I think Evans will take the Lions offense to a whole new level.

11. Tennessee Titans- Anthony Barr, OLB UCLA
This pick will be made regardless of what the Titans need, Barr is absolutely the best player available.  Barr is definitely raw and has tons of room to improve as he has only been playing Linebacker for 2 years at UCLA, but the talent is undeniable.  The former running back has exceptional speed and ability to get around the tackle as well as the ability to convert speed to power.  His main weaknesses are instincts and use of his hands when rushing, but these can be fixed by playing more than two years at the position.  He has the potential to be a double digit sack guy year in and year out.

12. New York Giants- Justin Gilbert, CB Oklahoma State
The Giants have needs everywhere: O-Line, D-Line, Running Back, and Cornerback.  I think they go with Justin Gilbert here and shore up the Cornerback position because there isn’t really another O-line or D-line prospect that is worth the number 12 pick.  Gilbert is the most athletic corner in the class and ran a 4.35 40 at the combine.  Gilbert will also make an impact in the return game, he set a record with 5 kick returns for touchdowns while at Oklahoma State.

13. St. Louis Rams- Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S Alabama
The Rams use the thirteenth pick to grab the best name in all of the NFL: Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, who immediately takes the crown from Alterraun Verner.  Clinton-Dix is the best safety prospect in the league and it shores up an immediate need as the Rams safety position has been mediocre at best.  With all of the top weapons in the passing game taken already, they can upgrade in the secondary.

14. Chicago Bears- Aaron Donald, DT Pitt
The Bears have a pretty big hole on the defensive line and need talent at both the tackle and end positions.  Enter Aaron Donald.  Donald is one of the most versatile prospects in the draft with great speed off the snap and ability to play DT, NT, and a 3-4 DE.  Donald will fit whatever role the Bears need him to fill and will help shore up the D-Line.

15. Pittsburgh Steelers- Taylor Lewan, OT Michigan
Big Ben was sacked 42 times last year and that is definitely an issue.  Pittsburgh could use another stud tackle and they will definitely get that with Lewan.  Lewan started all 4 years while at Michigan where he constantly faced top competition in the Big 10, and showed great consistency.  Taylor may not have great upside but he is one of the most consistent prospects in the entire draft.

16. Dallas Cowboys- Timmy Jernigan, DT Florida State
First player from the reigning national championship team to go in the draft and he will help a pretty terrible Dallas Cowboys line.  Jernigan has the ability to be one of the best run stoppers in the game as he has awesome strength and is extremely hard to engage at the line.  Jernigan’s main criticism is that he will get tired because he isn’t in the best physical shape, I think this is overblown a bit but I still can’t wait for him to play against my Philadelphia Eagles and see how he holds up.

17. Baltimore Ravens- Marquise Lee, WR USC
Torrey Smith has proven to be a good deep threat for Joe Flacco to use but the Ravens need to get a more consistent receiver.  Marquise Lee was projected to be a top 5 pick at the beginning of the year but his stock took a tumble after a Junior year plagued with injuries and coaching changes.  Lee is a freak athlete with great after the catch ability.  His main weakness is his ability to secure the ball in traffic and his durability.  If he can become a more consistent pass catcher and stay healthy, the Ravens will have an absolute steal with him at #17.

18. New York Jets- Odell Beckham Jr., WR LSU
New York really needs a new playmaker on offense.  When your top receivers are a beyond washed up Santonio Holmes and Jeremy Kerley, your gonna want to spend some picks on a receiver.  The Jets played well enough down the stretch to take themselves out of contention for the top 3 receivers and for Eric Ebron.  I think Beckham Jr is a bit of reach here but definitely worth it since the Jets have so little offensive playmaking talent.  Beckham’s biggest strength is that he catches absolutely everything that comes his way.  Everything.  He doesn’t seem to be able to get a ton of separation and isn’t very big, but he still ends up catching everything.  I think he would be a good fit in New York.

19. Miami Dolphins- Antonio Richardson, OT Tennessee
An offensive tackle is a no brainer right here for the Dolphins.  After the scandal with Incognito and Martin took both of those players off the team they were left with a huge hole at that position.  Ryan Tannehill was the most sacked QB in the league last year and they need to get someone to protect him.  Antonio Richardson is pretty raw but he has extreme amounts of potential.  At 6’6 336 pounds he is very difficult to move and can just use his brute strength to bulldoze defenders.  Most of his weaknesses are mental: he rises out of his stance too quickly and has poor technique.  He won’t be perfect right away but the Dolphins should take him because of the potential.

20. Arizona Cardinals- Darqueeze Dennard, CB Michigan St.
Arizona is one of the most complete teams in the NFL, all they really need is a good QB and they will be contenders.  The Cardinals for some reason still think Carson Palmer is still the answer at the position so I don’t see them going QB.  I think instead they will pick Dennard and create the best young CB tandem in the league.  Dennard is seen as the best shutdown corner in the draft and playing alongside Patrick Peterson their pass defense should be insanely good.  I’m terrified of the Cardinals after this pick.

21. Green Bay Packers- CJ Mosley, MLB Alabama
Packers go with BPA here, picking CJ Mosley from Alabama and pairing him with AJ Hawk in the middle.  Mosley is considered one of the 10 best prospects in the draft but slips down to 21 because MLB’s are generally easy to find in later rounds.  The talent Mosley has is pretty incredible and he basically seems like a surefire good player at the next level.

22. Philadelphia Eagles- Calvin Pryor, S Louisville
With this pick the Eagles grab not only the best player available but also fix a huge need.  After watching Patrick Chung blow coverage after coverage and basically suck for the entirety of last year, I am ecstatic to have a new safety on my favorite team.  Earl Wolff showed flashes of potential last year but he was unable to stay healthy with nagging knee injuries, Nate Allen was consistent but nothing better than average.  Pryor’s best and worst trait is his aggressive nature.  He is incredibly active in the run game and is a lights out hitter, he also plays the ball extremely well and can make great plays in coverage. However his aggressive nature can cause him to take bad angles on tackles and in coverage.  However, Eagles fans just want to see someone other than Chung and Pryor would be perfect.

23. Kansas City Chiefs- Kelvin Benjamin, WR Florida State
Dwayne Bowe is past his prime and has failed to put up production worthy of a number one receiver.  Adding Kelvin Benjamin would give them someone who has the potential to be a #1 receiver and make the offense much better.  Benjamin is massive at 6’5 240 pounds and has the ability to climb the ladder to make the catch.  His biggest criticism is that he has a pretty big problem with drops, but the potential outweighs the risk of the drops.

24. Cincinnati Bengals- Jason Verrett, CB TCU
I think Verrett would be a great pick at number 24 for the Bengals.  He has shown on his tape to be a very good cover corner and he also performed well at the combine.  He is only 5’9 but plays much bigger and with a 40 inch vertical and a 4.39 40 time he has the speed to keep up with anyone and ups to contest jump balls with bigger corners.

25. San Diego Chargers- Bradley Roby, CB Ohio State
San Diego had their guy, Jason Verrett, taken right in front of them so they chose the next best corner in Bradley Roby.  Roby is extremely quick and has the athleticism to make huge plays at the next level.  His main concern is that his play, while often spectacular, is equally erratic.  If he becomes consistent then he will be a great pick.

26. Cleveland Browns- Ryan Shazier, LB Ohio State
Cleveland picks up the most athletic linebacker and maybe even player in the draft in Ryan Shazier.  The Big 12’s reigning tackler had a 42 inch vertical at the combine and ran an unofficial 4.36 40 at his pro day.  That time may be unofficial but that’s incredibly fast, especially for a linebacker.  Shazier will definitely improve the Cleveland pass rush next year.

27. New Orleans Saints- Dee Ford, DE Auburn
Dee Ford wasn’t really on the radar as a first round pick after the college season ended, but after dominating the senior bowl his draft stock has rocketed.  Ford will be good in the passing game as he has the speed and bend to get around the edge but he is undersized and will struggle against the run.  He reminds me a lot of Trent Cole, and if he can do what Trent Cole has done for the Eagles he will be worthy of the 27th pick.

28. Carolina Panthers- Brandin Cooks, WR Oregon State
Cam Newton needs some new toys to play with and since they are trying to trade Steve Smith, they are going to need to pick a wide receiver.  Cooks led the nation in receiving yards and touchdowns and was second in receptions and was the recipient of the Biletnikoff award for the nation’s top receiver.  He had the top 40 time out of all the receivers in the draft and has the combination of that blazing speed and the hands to be an all-around great receiver.

29. New England Patriots- Louis Nix III, NT Notre Dame
Patriots simply go with the best player available here.  Louis Nix is one of the best prospects in the draft but slides all the way to 29 for the Pats to scoop up.  With Vince Wilfork recovering from a torn Achilles it may be time to replace the big fella with another big fella in Louis Nix.

30. San Francisco 49ers- Kyle Fuller, CB Virginia Tech
With Carlos Rogers looking like he may be a cap casualty, the Niners are going to have to pick up a corner to replace him.  Fuller is great in man coverage with the bounce and hands to go up and make interceptions.  His ability in man coverage is questionable but he should be able to contribute right away on defense.

31. Denver Broncos- Zach Martin, OT Notre Dame
Denver gets by far the best player available in Zach Martin all the way at 31.  He is a very good offensive tackle and will help protect Manning.

32. Seattle Seahawks- Austin Sefarian-Jenkins, TE Washington
The Hawks stay right in Seattle for their first pick and grab the big Tight End from Washington.  Jenkins is a massive target at 6’6 and 262 pounds and will help both in the vertical passing game and in the red zone.