Browns Facing Off-Season Challenges: Free Agency

Breaking news, right? When are the Browns NOT facing off-season challenges? When are they not in a continual search for a quarterback?

On March 10, the NFL off-season kicks off with free agency. Last year, the Browns brought in some really good free agents. I think Ray Farmer is great in free agency and horrible in the draft. I texted that to him one game. Last season, we picked up Karlos Dansby, Donte Whitner, Ben Tate, Billy Cundiff, Paul McQuistan, Andrew Hawkins, Jim Dray, and Miles Austin. There were some others who we picked up but who didn't do much like Trufant, Pressley, and Burleson. The most important part of free agency is re-signing your best players and we did that in Alex Mack.

This year, the Browns once again have a list of free agents hitting the market. Here are the restricted free agents:

Johnson Bademosi, S
Shaun Draughn, RB
Tashaun Gipson, S
Ishmaa'ily Kitchen, DT
Craig Robertson, LB

Restricted free agents are able to pursue contracts elsewhere, but the Browns have the ability to match it and keep them. Here is the list of unrestricted free agents who can just go wherever they want:

Miles Austin, WR
Jordan Cameron, TE
Sione Fua, DL
Brian Hoyer, QB
Jim Leonard, S (going to retire)
Marlon Moore, WR
Ahtyba Rubin, DL
Jabaal Sheard, OLB
Buster Skrine, CB
Ryan Taylor, TE
Tyler Thigpen, QB

Of these lists, I think there are three players they absolutely need to re-sign, no question: Tashaun Gipson, Jordan Cameron, and Ahtyba Rubin in that order. I would also like to re-sign Kitchen, Robertson, Austin, Sheard, and Skrine. I wouldn't mind keeping Fua as well. If we can keep those players, especially those first three, the Browns will be in good shape to sign others.

So which positions should the Browns sign? I think they're all up for grabs if only to solidify things with the exceptions of LT and safety. We have a pro bowl center, but once he went down, our line really struggled. Tight end and running back probably won't be big focuses, but don't be surprised if the Browns grab someone either in free agency or the draft.

While the Browns have never been an exotic location for free agents to land, they have a shot at landing some of the better free agents this year. Last season, the Browns were in talks of landing four of the top 25 free agents (Mack, Bird, Ward, and Whitner). They only landed two, but it's nice to have a fighting chance for the best. Let's see who they might be able to nab this year.

Randall Cobb, WR Green Bay... Elliott Harrison of CBS Sports identified the Browns as one of the landing spots that makes sense for Cobb. I personally don't believe we land any free agent wide receivers with our QB situation.

Jerry Hughes, DE Buffalo... This one is Pettine's call. If we don't re-sign some of the D-linemen on our own team heading into free agency, Hughes may be a nice pickup. Pettine coached him in Buffalo, so if Hughes really liked Pettine, the Browns have a great defense he could definitely contribute to.

Julius Thomas, TE Denver... This is one of those situations where, if the Browns can't re-sign Jordan Cameron, they could throw a lot of money towards Thomas' way. But again...going from Peyton Manning to whoever the Browns start? That will be a huge consideration.

These are some of the top free agents heading into this upcoming season that the Browns have a chance in landing. The only one I really think they'll have a real shot in landing is Hughes, but Buffalo will not be letting him go easily. I do have confidence in Farmer getting the most out of free agency this year. The draft is another matter altogether though.

The biggest needs the Browns can address in free agency (or the draft for that matter) this year are quarterback, O-line depth, wide receiver, defensive line depth, outside linebacker, and cornerback. The Browns desperately need a QB. Not just any QB; we're all tired of the seemingly-eternal search for our franchise guy. I don't see any game-changers in free agency, and that includes Brian Hoyer. I'd like to keep him as our #2 guy, but I don't think he'd be too happy with that as he sees himself as a starter. Josh McCown is an older, less productive version of Hoyer. Sanchez? I'll admit he's better than what he showed under Rex Ryan, but he's not our franchise QB. I don't even know if there are anyone franchise guys in this years draft. I don't know what to do this coming year at the QB spot. Our guy isn't on our roster and he isn't somewhere in free agency.

After quarterback, our #1 need is probably O-line depth, then wide receiver, then cornerback, then outside linebacker, and then D-line depth. I don't think we'll get as many players in free agency, at least not ones who will get major playing time. Some special teams along with second, third, and fourth stringers. With ten draft picks (possibly nine from the textgate sanctions), the Browns will probably find a lot of their new players from the college ranks.