Cleveland Browns: 10 options if Mitchell Schwartz leaves

If the Browns decide that using a high draft pick on a right tackle is not the way to go, they could turn to free agency.

Of course, signing another team’s player has its own dangers, as you never know someone else as well as you know your own players.

Joe Barksdale, San Diego Chargers

Joe Barksdale made 16 starts for the Chargers after signing a one-year deal with the team. He was originally a third round pick in 2011 by the Oakland Raiders before joining the St. Louis Rams off waivers in 2012. He has made 45 starts over the past three seasons, including starting all 16 games in both 2014 and 2015.

According to Pro Football Focus:

"Barksdale hits the free agent market for a second-straight offseason after failing to garner much interest last year and having to settle for a one-year deal with the Chargers. Much like Schwartz, Barksdale allowed a significant amount of pressure last season, but was also near the top in total pass snaps. In a flip from the previous year, he was slightly above-average as a pass-blocker while slightly below-average as a run-blocker. In each of the last three years, he has put together good stretches of play, but hasn’t been able to sustain it for an entire season."

Andre Smith, Cincinnati Bengals

Andre Smith has made 73 starts for Cincinnati since being drafted in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He has had some injury problems the past two seasons, but the lure of taking away a player from a division rival always has its appeal.

According to Pro Football Focus:

"Smith had the worst season of his career in 2015 with an overall player grade of 39.6. In his defense, the Bengal has dealt with multiple injuries and concussions over the last two years, both of which could be significant contributors to his worst two seasons out of his five years as a starter. In 2012, he was our highest-graded right tackle in the league, with one of the better run-blocking grades that season. Similar to Russell Okung, it’s possible that he can regain that form, but the uncertainty might be the difference between a short- and long-term contract."

Bobby Massie, Arizona Cardinals

Bobby Massie has started 46 games during his four years with Arizona, including 30 during the past two seasons. He missed the first two games of the 2015 season while serving a suspension for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy, so it is hard to know how he would fit into the Browns’ culture change.

According to Pro Football Focus:

"It’s tough to know what to expect from Bobby Massie. He was one of the worst pass-blocking tackles back in 2012, but he improved quite a bit after being given another chance in 2014. However, he couldn’t sustain the improvement last season. He regressed in pass protection, with particularly poor outings against the Seahawks’ and Rams’ good defensive lines. As for the run game, Massie has been a decent run-blocker in his three seasons as a starter. You won’t be sure which player you are getting by signing Massie, but at the least he could be a viable sixth offensive lineman."

Will Beatty, New York Giants

The New York Giants released 30-year-0ld Will Beatty after he missed the entire 2015 season with a torn pectoral muscle. Beatty tried to comeback during the season, but suffered a rotator cuff injury that required surgery. When healthy, Beatty started 47 games for the Giants from 2012 through 2014, and was a member of the 2011 Super Bowl-winning team.

If the Browns end up drafting a right tackle, and knowing that the transition to the pro game could be difficult, they could consider signing Beatty on a one-year deal to give their draft pick time to develop.

Byron Bell, Tennessee Titans

Byron Bell spent the 2015 season with the Tennessee Titans, where he was part of a right tackle group that allowed 12 sacks. He joined the Titans after spending his first four seasons with the Carolina Panthers. During his first three seasons with the Panthers, Bell played right tackle at what was described as a “serviceable” level before switching to left tackle for a year, where, according to head coach Ron Rivera, Bell did “the best he could.”

Next: The best option