NFL Free Agency: Browns Mock

Dec 21, 2014; Charlotte, NC, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer (6) throws the ball during the second quarter against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

The Browns have a number of players that will become free agents off their 2014 roster. Some of those players were starters, some contributors and others were low on the roster. We will focus on the contributors.

These are the ones that we will not have the Browns re-signing in our Mock NFL Free Agency:

Ahtyba Rubin – Rubin has started for the Browns for a few years. He has been loved by Browns fans for his all go, high motor style of play. His play however has fallen off and the Browns were the worst at stopping the run last season. In the 3-4 defense the nose tackle, in this case Rubin, is the most important position to stopping the run. He needs to be replaced and could struggle to get a decent contract this year.

Brian Hoyer – The Cleveland Browns starting QB in 2014 will not be back with the team next year. Hoyer is a hometown boy and did a fine job at the start of the season but fell off as the Browns season started to unravel. He was replaced by Johnny Manziel near the end of the season that started out with high hopes. Where once he was the jewel of Cleveland’s eye, following the Bengals game, he was seen as THE problem before being pulled for Manziel. With Manziel’s terrible performances it is clear that Hoyer was not the only problem. Unfortunately the Browns and Hoyer both will have trepidation about re-entering the relationship, leading to the separation.

Buster Skrine – Skrine did a good job as the Browns #2 corner over the past few seasons. He fits the “Play Like a Brown” mindset that is so important to the team. However cornerbacks get overpaid in free agency and Skrine is likely to be one of those corners. If the bidding doesn’t get too high then it will be far more likely that the Browns retain him. If not the team will feel comfortable with Joe Haden, Justin Gilbert, K’Waun Williams, Pierre Desir and Robert Nelson as their depth chart. Skrine’s free agency was planned for in last year’s draft, and in undrafted free agency, so his return would be seen as a bonus.

Next: Browns Free Agents: The Returners