Browns Free Agency 2015

[ajz20]

Is there any way the team could be removed from Haslam as the result of the Flying J situation?

That's the only chance this team has to experience success while he owns it.

It will never happen unless he were to get arrested or have a Donald Sterling moment.
If he hired good football people and got out of their way the team would have a legit chance of success. Until they get a QB it will be groundhog day every Sunday. The jury is still out on Farmer, but he set the franchise back minimum 2-3 years maybe 3-5 with the first round last year. You could have had Teddy and the kid from LSU at WR. I shake my head every time I think about it.

 

[Soda]

Don't want to grave-dig for the appropriate thread, but Kevin O'Connell is officially a Browns coach.
I read somewhere that people around the league were upset with his positioning at the Whitfield camp prior to the draft, that it's some kind of unfair.

I personally think that's a Lombardi issue because I'm positive nobody is shaking in their boots thinking about the Browns' future at QB, let alone QB coach.

 

[Randolphkeys]

Since this thread has been focused so heavily on defense and QB, let's talk about the offensive weapons. Gordon likely won't play another snap as a Brown and I think Cam has made it known he is ready to leave.

Who would you prefer the team to overpay: Julius Thomas or Randall Cobb?

 

[Phills14]

I think they are going to throw a reasonable deal at Cecil Shorts to be a #2 and draft a top WR like White/Cooper/Parker to be the #1.

If they can find a serviceable run stuffer in free agency they will go that route. If not, I bet they go after the DT from Texas. (Since Shelton will be gone in the top 10 anyway)

 

[Surge]

Got to get some DL help and WR.

 

[Otsego Mar]

Since this thread has been focused so heavily on defense and QB, let's talk about the offensive weapons. Gordon likely won't play another snap as a Brown and I think Cam has made it known he is ready to leave.

Who would you prefer the team to overpay: Julius Thomas or Randall Cobb?

Cobb

Draft a TE and/or look for a cheaper alternative.

 

[SixPACK]

1 billion % Cobb. The things he can do/routes he can run is just better than Thomas. Draft a big body TE and draft a top WR. Top 2 picks has to go DL/WR. If it goes OLB I wouldn't be mad.

I kind of like Phills idea of paying a #2 WR (but not Shorts....) and then drafting one of the better WR's (please White)

Granted it was for the Jaguars, but Shorts was getting an insane amount of targets and doing absolutely nothing with them. I believe he had a lot of drops too? Or is at least known for them.

Maybe he will do better if he can be our #3 WR, but not sure about our wideout #2.

And maybe if he is feeling like being a home-body (born in Kent) maybe he will come back for a "friendly" deal. Coming off of a not so great year.

 

[Jstock12]

I really like this "fan-art" design by some designer.

 

[Soda]

I really like this "fan-art" design by some designer.

It's been addressed in the Game Day Experience Changes thread.. Right below this one.

http://realcavsfans.com/community/index.php?threads/browns-adding-to-game-day-experience.42550/

 

[SixPACK]

Damn Soda, just crushing dreams.

 

[MoFlo]

Three things we learned at the NFL combine: Browns
February, 20, 2015
Feb 20
6:00
PM ET
By Jeremy Fowler | ESPN.com


INDIANAPOLIS -- Observed and heard at the NFL combine on Friday:

1. Browns have begun interviews with in-house free agents: Many teams aren't talking hard numbers yet because free agency doesn't launch until March 10, but the Browns have been sitting down with reps for cornerback Buster Skrine, linebacker Jabaal Sheard and more. The buzz is still that Jordan Cameron won't be back. Sheard and defensive tackle Ahtyba Rubin are unlikely to return, barring an unforeseen late swing. The Browns will want Skrine back, but Skrine will have a nice market for himself. He had a good season, and the Browns might not be interested in a bidding war. The biggest ball to drop is with Brian Hoyer, whose agent talked with the Browns in January, but it's uncertain when negotiations will relaunch.

2. Did Desmond Bryant play his way out of a pay cut or restructure?: Bryant's five-year, $34-million deal pays about $6 million in 2015. If Bryant underwhelmed in 2014, he could have faced issues around this time. But I'm told Bryant feels confident that's not an issue after a productive season. Bryant's five sacks and 49 tackles aren't outlandish numbers, but Paul Kruger told me during the year that Bryant was downright dominant at times up front. The Browns are not saddled with bloated deals. Defensive tackle Phil Taylor is due $5.5 million in the final year of his rookie deal. After missing 11 games to knee problems last year, the Browns could approach Taylor about his contract or outright release him.

3. DeVante Parker could be intriguing option for Browns: The team had an informal meeting with the smooth wide receiver from Louisville. The 6-foot-3 Parker is considered a first-round prospect and a good route-runner, which is what the Browns need in a post-Josh Gordon era.

http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/162188/three-things-we-learned-at-the-nfl-combine-browns

 

[Ohdang]

I was a big Rubin fan for quite a few years but he really didn't play that well last season. I was confident we were going to have a very stout defensive line before the season started with Rubin/Taylor/Bryant plus good depth in Hughes and Billy Winn. Phil Taylor was hurt most of the year and Rubin didn't do squat to stop the run; the only real bright spot was Bryant. I'd be fine letting Rubin go because of his contract; what we're paying him is absurd for his ineffectiveness. I still like our depth, I think our problem was not having a healthy Taylor and Rubin sucking ass.

Sheard has been solid but not good. He might want to go somewhere where he'll get more playing time or more money. Kruger is a good player and Mingo should be taking the bulk of the snaps on the other side so he can hopefully develop into the player we envisioned when we drafted him, and I would like it if we drafted someone more impactful than Sheard to give us more pass rushing weapons, but I would like to keep him around as depth. Not likely to happen though I don't think.

Jordan Cameron would be very helpful to whatever QB we trot out there next year, but with his desire to get as far away from our dumpster fire of a franchise I can't see him coming back, and even if he did want to come back he's a concussion or 2 from needing to seriously consider retiring so he can still function later in life. We're gonna need a new receiving TE. We have 2 capable TE's in Barnidge and Dray who can block and catch dump off passes, but neither are real receiving threats who can beat their man.

I like Skrine. He gets a bit handsy and aggressive, but he's developing into a nice player. I'd hate to see him go right before he puts it together, but if some team breaks the bank for him we have to let him go considering who we have on the roster. Haden is a top tier player, K. Williams is a nice young Nickel corner, and we just drafted a #2 this year with our first pick. Hopefully he gets his head out of his ass and makes potentially losing Skrine easier to swallow.

Its a shame we're going to be losing so much talent to free agency. None of these guys are superstars, but they are all solid players who at the least make for good depth/spot starters. You need depth in the NFL, so hopefully Farmer keeps hitting on late round and undrafted guys to replace them.

 

[Sly]

I'd like to bring back Rubin at the right price. He clearly played through injury. He may come back much improved next year, and he may also just be a big guy with mounting injuries. I don't think you can pay him anywhere near what he had been making. Same with Skrine, Kitchen and Robertson. I could really take or leave any of those guys, but at least they're young with upside.

I'd definitely go after Sheard if we aren't going to replace him with another FA. I think he played better than most other people thought last year.

Cameron.. eh, you can't take a chance on him with the concussion issues for a lot of money. Especially if he doesn't want to be here.

Gipson is RFA, I can't imagine he'll be placed at a low enough tender that someone would actually try to sign him away. Makes a lot of sense to start working on a deal with him now, and hope to sign him by training camp. Would be pretty stupid to let him walk.


Clearly I'd like to sign DeMarco Murray, Julius Thomas, Bryan Bulaga, Mike Iupati, Devin McCourty, Brandon Flowers, Donkey Kong, and like 5 receivers and DE's. I have a feeling that Christmas isn't coming this year though.

 

[The Oi]

Every year around this time, I am blown away that ANY free agents are willing to come back to the Browns. It doesn't make any sense.

How do you go BACK to the worst franchise in sports?

 

[ajz20]

Every year around this time, I am blown away that ANY free agents are willing to come back to the Browns. It doesn't make any sense.

How do you go BACK to the worst franchise in sports?

It is all about money and playing time. Players can live in Aruba by Jan 1st if they want when it gets really cold.