Browns Free Agency: Making Sense of Day One

Feb 18, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh who has ash on his forehead for Ash Wednesday speaks to the media during the 2015 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

They want supplemental picks and don’t want to win!

The second part is ridiculous. Farmer and Pettine realize that their time in Cleveland could be even shorter than in other cities. The Browns have defined Not For Long of the NFL. Winning is the only priority. The real question is how to win. One of the worst things that happened for the Browns was their 10 – 6 record under Derek Anderson. That team had an easy schedule but since they won they felt like they needed to keep Anderson and tried to win with a roster not prepared to win.

Last year the Browns were a respectable 7 – 9 but still have a flawed team. Besides not having a quarterback, number one by a lot, they don’t have a defensive line that can stop the run and need a ton of depth across the board. The roster is very talented but thin. The Browns want to build a team that can win for years to come, with a foundation of their own players.

The supplemental picks, a Grossi theory, is an interesting one. Smart teams, like the Ravens, have been conscious of those picks for years. They draft replacements for players a year or two before they hit free agency then reap the reward of another pick when their aged player signs a big contract elsewhere. Grossi is saying the Browns are not signing players because of this.

In fact, it may be quite the opposite. The Browns are trying to build a team where they CAN let players leave via free agency by building a roster that replenishes itself. Teams like the Ravens do that through drafting players and being smart in planning ahead. If splitting hairs is required, getting another draft pick will be factored in but that is just smart business.

Next: Browns Are Dysfunctional