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2017 Free Agent Thread

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Pick6

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Since this season sucks I wanted to start a thread looking at potential FA targets. The numbers obviously aren't set in stone, but the Browns are projected to have 64 million in cap room for 2017 (with 25 million in dead money falling off from 2016 I might add). That is supposed to be the 2nd highest in the league only behind the Bucs. Assuming Jimmy controls himself and doesn't clean house after this season, the coaches and FO should be looking to make a pretty decent jump next season since the fat has been trimmed and they will have 2 drafts under their belts. Last year, the regime seemed to target cheap options as stop gaps or boom or bust types like RGIII. I would imagine they will be looking for some low risk signings again, but I also think they will spend some money to fill some holes on talented players on the right side of 30. Cap numbers and FA's are linked below. #1 priorities need to be TP and Collins. Keep the talent you have. I wouldn't mind keeping Taylor as well as he doesn't seem to be total balls and should be cheap.

Some players that seems intriguing or may be of interest:

Offense:

QB - Kirk Cousins. The QB FA market is bad this year, but is it ever good?
RB - Not much there. I expect Bell to be back with Pitt and there is also Murray who I don't think is an upgrade. The RB situation seems fine for the time being.
WR - With the investment in last year's draft, I don't see significant money being spent here outside of hopefully re-signing TP.
OL - Big need with no replacement for Schwartz or Mack found this year. Zeitler, Warmack, Lang, and Leary are all names I like. None of which should be cheap.

Defense:
DL - Kawann Short. Maybe the #1 FA. Due for probably top 5 DT money. Plays the 3 technique and would fill a pretty big hole, IMO. Big upgrade over Meder/Cooper. Probably all discussion of him is a waste of time however as I'm guessing he is Carolina's #1 priority since they let Norman walk last year. Can't say I am too intrigued or knowledgeable of a lot of the others.
LB - Fan of Ingram, Jones, and Hightower. Hightower is going back to the Pats for sure. My guess is the Chargers try to keep Ingram and let Te'o go as Jatavis Brown has came in and impressed. Te'o might be an upgrade over Davis and won't be very expensive, but his injury is a concern. Kevin Minter is another name that sticks out to me as well.
DBs- Eric Berry, Mo Claiborne, AJ Bouye would be good fits IMO and I'm not sure any of their current teams will be able to retain them. I didn't include Trumaine Johnson or Stephon Gilmore as both will command a lot and the Browns already have a lot invested in Haden. I think the defensive backfield void will try to be filled via draft as there seems to be a ton of talent/depth there this year.

The unfortunate part about being the joke of the league is that the Browns are going to have to overpay on just about anyone except maybe TP as he's stated he actually wants to be here as long as Hue is. I can see the Harvard boys being stingy, and rightfully so as FA in the NFL seems like fools gold more often than not, but some proven commodities need mixed in with the young talent if they want to start winning some games and keep their jobs.

List of FA's: http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/free-agents/
Projected Cap Space: http://overthecap.com/salary-cap-space/
 
Tony Jefferson is number one on my list. It will be interesting to see what AZ does with him after paying Mathieu and with Chandler Jones and Minter hitting the market as well. I would be really aggressive with him and put the pressure on AZ. He can be a game changer.

A.J. Bouye is 1A with Jefferson. HOU might try and retain him but they're in the bottom of the league in cap space.
 
Tony Jefferson is number one on my list. It will be interesting to see what AZ does with him after paying Mathieu and with Chandler Jones and Minter hitting the market as well. I would be really aggressive with him and put the pressure on AZ. He can be a game changer.

A.J. Bouye is 1A with Jefferson. HOU might try and retain him but they're in the bottom of the league in cap space.

Make Eric Berry the highest paid DB in the league (he's actually worth it) and draft Jamal Adams with the Eagles pick. Instantly form the nastiest safety combo in the league. Can you imagine adding Berry, Adams, and Garrett to the D in one off-season? Holy crap.

Wouldn't be shocked to see them make a massive to an RT. They have so much money to spend it's ridiculous.

I bet they'll make a big offer to Tyrod Taylor if he hits free agency.
 
I can fathom the idea of the Chefs letting Berry walk...
 
I can fathom the idea of the Chefs letting Berry walk...

Dontari Poe is a free agent as well. As things stand today, the Chiefs are currently $3 million over the cap for next year. They'll likely cut Foles or Smith as well as Jamaal Charles to clear space, but that only gets them enough room to sign Berry OR Poe.

Talks on a long-term deal stalled with Berry this past year and it was reported the two sides were way off on numbers. Franchise tags for Berry or Poe would be over $13 million.

The Chiefs also have a ton of money already committed for 2018 and 2019. As this article points out, most NFL contracts are structured with larger cap hits in the 2nd and 3rd year. This means the Chiefs are going to have to make some hard decisions in the coming years just to be able to sign one of these guys.

It'll be interesting to see what happens, but there's a very real possibility that Berry hits the open market.
 
Do the Browns exist in the open market?

I'd argue they're a pariah of that market, and talking about netting a free agent of his caliber seems somewhat fruitless.
 
I wouldn't expect a lot of movement in free agency at all. Not with another 11+ draft picks being added to the mix. Similar to last year, maybe 2-3 players on cheap deals to soak up snaps.

If they resign Pryor and Collins to long term contracts, that'd be a big win.
 
Tyrod is more than capable. If Buffalo allows him to hit the open market again, we better be on the horn with his agent immediately. With Hue coaching him Tyrod makes Pro Bowls. I have no doubt about that.

If he does become a FA we will be competing with a combination of SF, CHI, NYJ, and potentially DEN for him though.
 
Tyrod Taylor is not very good.

Hue Jackson makes him better, IMO. But he'll never be better than just another guy. I'll take that if he's on the open market, certainly over RGIII at this point.

But it's price dependent, certainly not going to give him much more than two years worth of guarantees.
 
Tyrod Taylor is not very good.

Hue Jackson makes him better, IMO. But he'll never be better than just another guy. I'll take that if he's on the open market, certainly over RGIII at this point.

But it's price dependent, certainly not going to give him much more than two years worth of guarantees.

I am under the impression that we are trying to figure out what we have with Kessler, specifically by the end of next year. We'll get more insight on draft day, but I don't see how Taylor is aligned with our strategy.
 
I am under the impression that we are trying to figure out what we have with Kessler, specifically by the end of next year. We'll get more insight on draft day, but I don't see how Taylor is aligned with our strategy.

If we do have hopes of Kessler becoming the long term starter, then Tyrod does not fit into our plans.

I am operating with the belief that Kessler can be a nice career backup. Not an indictment on him, I just don't think he'll advance enough physically to be much more. Maybe I am writing him off as a potential starter too quickly, but that is why I have interest in Tyrod.

If Hue and the FO feel next year will be dedicated to seeing what we have in Kessler, then sure I agree with you.
 
My wants:

1.Jonathan Hankins. If we draft Garrett and switch to a 4-3 (plz?) we could run a line of Ogbah, Hankins, Shelton, Garrett with Bryant and Nassib rotating in.



2. Eric Berry - obviously

3. Any RT that is worth a damn
 
I am under the impression that we are trying to figure out what we have with Kessler, specifically by the end of next year. We'll get more insight on draft day, but I don't see how Taylor is aligned with our strategy.
Kessler is not the long term starter on a playoff or championship caliber team. You can probably get away with him as the stater next year and go 4-12 or 5-11 which are realistic expectations if we have a very good draft weekend. Concern is his inability to push the ball downfield which could hinder the growth of the young wrs and perhaps SD and any other young tight end we might add in the draft. Also you need to have a much better o line for him to last 10 games or more. I think long term backup is best case for Kessler.
 
I will say this, this year's free agency will likely be our first real indicator if Jimbo is already losing patience with the current plan.

If the front office decides to throw dollars around unexpectedly, it could be a sign that Sashi and Paul are feeling concerned about losing their jobs if they experience another difficult season in 2017.
 
I will say this, this year's free agency will likely be our first real indicator if Jimbo is already losing patience with the current plan.

If the front office decides to throw dollars around unexpectedly, it could be a sign that Sashi and Paul are feeling concerned about losing their jobs if they experience another difficult season in 2017.

Disagree. The worst thing they can do is not use the cap space or use the cap space on average players past their prime. The Browns need to upgrade at every position. If they can get a stud, they absolutely should. Signing Pryor, Collins, and hoping to draft 3-4 contributors is a good foundation, but you can turn things around quickly in the NFL. I want proven players who know how to win and am okay with overpaying. By not signing free agents, they are just going to be creating more holes to be filled in the draft, and it will be a never-ending cycle.
 

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