Torrey Smith: Browns Free Agency Profile
By Paul Noel
The Cleveland Browns season is over. We will spend a good amount of time reviewing the season but we will spend even more time preparing for the off-season. Browns free agency seems destined to be an interesting one. The Browns spent a little bit of money last year with anticipating of building through the draft for long term success. The 2014 was expected to be another down year with high expectations towards the future.
Instead the 2014 started off strong and ended with a thud. Now the Browns are full of salary cap space, even though they have a few free agents of their own they might like to sign, as well as 10 picks in the NFL Draft, including two 1st rounders. It is likely that GM Ray Farmer and Head Coach Mike Pettine see a greater need for more veteran talent on a very young roster and we expect them to be aggressive in seeking to bring in that talent during Browns free agency.
In preparation for such we will be taking a look at certain players that we think the Browns could target. Keep in mind we are not saying that these are players they are targeting, although some rumors may start to leak of the Browns having interest in them, instead these are players that we think the Browns could or should have interest in. Our profile will try to include as much information as possible to prepare you for free agency.
Name
Postion
WR
Height/Weight
6’0″ 205 lbs
2014 Team
Baltimore Ravens
Stats
16 Games; 92 Targets, 49 Receptions, 767 yards, 11 Touchdowns
2014 Free Agent Signing Comparison Contract
Steve Smith Sr. – Ravens – 3 years, $10.5 million, $3.5 million Signing Bonus
DeSean Jackson – Redskins – 4 years, $24 million, $5 million Signing Bonus
Torrey Smith should get a contract that falls somewhere in between the top two WRs from last off-season.
Fit with the Browns
Miles Austin is one of the four leading receivers on the Browns roster from this past season and is the only one who stands above 5’10”. The Browns’ clearly sound like they have moved on from the Josh Gordon experiment and the aging 30-year old veteran is not getting any younger. At 6-foot, Smith could be that guy to step-in and stretch the field for the Browns’ offense. Last season the Browns’ missed the deep ball and had to rely heavily on the slot receivers to stretch the defense. Smith’s number this past season are down but the off-season signing of Steve Smith Sr. from Carolina took away a large chunk of Torrey’s targets due to Steve Smith’s ability to also be a deep threat WR.
Browns Player Signing Could Impact
N/A
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How Signing Could Impact the NFL Draft
The Browns’ have been grilled all year for not upgrading the wide receiver position in the draft last season, but with a splash in free agency the Browns’ would have the ability to look for WR help in the 3rd round or later. This would give them the flexibility to use there first round picks on key needs along the Offensive and Defensive line.
Priority
Medium – The Browns can’t continue to thrust QBs into the starting role without building a great supporting cast. Success in the NFL comes from having the pieces in place to make life easier on the QB position. If the Browns’ want the QB position to flourish then they need to address the supporting cast starting with getting a starting WR.
What do you think about targeting Torrey Smith in Browns Free Agency?
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