One NFL Free Agent At Each Position Group for the Browns
Nov 2, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns head coach Mike Pettine, owner Jimmy Haslam and general manager Ray Farmer before a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Schwane-USA TODAY Sports
The Cleveland Browns have money to burn in NFL Free Agency. They also have some needs throughout their roster, although we believe the team is pretty talented. As we prepare for Free Agency, we will continue to do our Free Agent Profiles, we want to take a look at one NFL Free Agent at each position, or unit, that the Browns could pursue. Some will be the best at their positions, others will be ones that fit what the Browns need.
As the Browns should do we will start at the Quarterback position.
Nov 16, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Houston Texans quarterback Ryan Mallett (15) at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
QB Ryan Mallett
Many would put Brian Hoyer here, and that makes a ton of sense, but we know Hoyer’s limitations and he may not want to return to Cleveland. Instead we go with Ryan Mallett here. Mallett is a big quarterback with very little mobility. His arm is very good and in his limited time last year, particularly against the Browns, he showed he can start in this league.
Mallett is likely to return to Houston but the Texans could decide to go in another direction to answer their QB issues, including possibly signing Hoyer. Mallett has the most unknown upside among the QB free agents. He sat behind Tom Brady for years and got injured after getting only a few games in Houston to show what he can do.
The Browns would likely have to overpay for Mallett, who is coming off his rookie deal. With the Browns amount of salary cap and dire need for a QB, only Connor Shaw is on the roster right now that could play, with Johnny Manziel in rehab. No one is calling any of the free agent QBs long term starters but Mallett may be the only one who could end up filling that role.
The Browns might want to take that risk. A 3 year deal with upfront money, instead of guaranteed money on the back end could fit for both the Browns and Mallett. He gets money quickly and a chance to prove he is a starter on a team with a good run game and soon to be great defense. The Browns get a young QB with upside to help off-set the need for Manziel to play at all.
Other options: Brian Hoyer, Jake Locker, Shaun Hill
Next: Running Back