The Cleveland Browns may lose right tackle Mitchell Schwartz to free agency. If that happens, what are their options to replace him?
The Cleveland Browns may not have much going for them, but one unquestioned area of strength on the team is the offensive line.
Of course, as luck would have it, the start of free agency on March 9 may change all of that.
The Browns are facing the possibility of seeing both starting center Alex Mack and starting right tackle Mitchell Schwartz hit free agency. While executive vice president of football operations Sashi Brown said that the Browns have “identified the guys that can really help us and fit within the schemes we’ll be running,” you never what will happen when a player has the opportunity to speak with another team.
Ideally, the Browns would already have Schwartz inked to a new deal as he has developed into one of the best right tackles in the league and, according to Pro Football Focus, would be the top right tackle on the free agent market:
"Schwartz has been criticized by some for allowing so many pressures this season (43, to be exact), but rarely does it get mentioned that his 705 snaps in pass protection were tied for the most in the league. On a per-snap basis, Schwartz’s 95.3 pass-blocking efficiency ranked 27th out of 75 qualifying tackles. He has earned positive pass-blocking grades each of his four years in the league, and three of four years as a run blocker. Schwartz has also not missed a single one of the Browns’ 4,427 offensive snaps since he was drafted."
While the Browns may believe that they have a contingency plan if Mack leaves in second-year player Cameron Erving (although the person lining up behind Erving may not agree), no such option is currently on the roster, which puts Schwartz in an enviable negotiating position.
Knowing that, if the Browns do lose Schwartz they will need to turn to either the draft or free agency to fill the vacancy at right tackle, paths that are certainly no guarantee of success.
If it comes to it, here are 10 players – five in the draft and five in free agency – that the Browns could look at as the team’s next right tackle.
Next: Draft options at right tackle
The Browns hold the No. 2 and No. 32 overall selections in the 2016 NFL Draft, so if they decide to fix the right tackle hole through the draft, they should have some options.
Of course, drafting an offensive lineman and expecting him to step right into the starting lineup is becoming increasingly difficult as more college teams adopt a spread offense.
“You’re drafting a guy right now coming out of some colleges that hasn’t been in a three-point stance since high school, and you’re going to pay him a ton of money,” Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians told cleveland.com. “You have to teach him to get in a three-point stance and run block.
“It’s fundamentals that we’re going back now and having to teach. The athletes are much, much better, but the fundamentals are worse than they have ever been.”
Here are five players the Browns could look at if they decide the draft is the way to go – although it should be noted that not all of these players may still be available at No. 32, so it would take some maneuvering on the part of the Browns to get into a position to draft them.
Ronnie Stanley, Notre Dame
While he played left tackle for the Fighting Irish the past two seasons, Ronnie Stanley made 13 starts at right tackle in 2013. According to his draft profile at NFL.com, Stanley is a:
"Three-year starter with the outstanding foot quickness and pass protection talent expected from an early round left tackle prospect. Stanley showed great maturity in acknowledging his weaknesses and returning to school to work on them and improve his game. While Stanley’s core power is still a concern, he showed improved strength and run blocking prowess this year and should be ready to come in and start right away for a team looking to protect a high-end quarterback."
Taylor Decker, Ohio State
Taylor Decker made 14 starts at right tackle in 2013 for the Buckeyes before switching to left tackle for his final two years. According to his draft profile at NFL.com, Decker is:
"(A player whose) intangibles will likely help make up for some of his physical deficiencies, but he likely lacks the arm length and consistency against edge rushers to play on the left side as a pro. Decker has the run-blocking prowess and mindset to be a long-time starter at right tackle, but may always be a little leakier in pass protection than offensive line coaches and quarterbacks might like."
Germain Ifedi, Texas A&M
A three-year starter for the Aggies, Germain Ifedi started as a guard before moving to right tackle for his final two seasons with the Aggies. According to his draft profile at NFL.com:
"NFL scouts see Ifedi as a guard, but a team may decide to try him at tackle before moving him inside. Ifedi has the tools and traits to become a good NFL offensive linemen if he can avoid the leaning and lunging that plagues him. A move inside combined with NFL coaching could unlock Ifedi’s high ceiling."
Jerald Hawkins, LSU
Jerald Hawkins was a two-year starter at right tackle for LSU before moving to the left side for the 2015 season. According to his draft profile at NFL.com:
"Hawkins is a tough evaluation because the length and footwork in pass protection are promising, but issues with bend and body control may be difficult to correct. Hawkins has talent, but his ceiling might be tied directly to whether a team allows him to sit while an offensive line coach works to correct the technical flaws that limit his effectiveness. Hawkins best spot may be right tackle."
John Theus, Georgia
John Theus is a versatile lineman who has played both right tackle and left tackle while starting 48 games for the Bulldogs. According to his draft profile at NFL.com, Theus is a:
"Consistent starting tackle from the SEC who has battled against upper-echelon college talent. While Theus has experience at both tackle spots, he may have issues in the NFL because he lacks the foot quickness of a left tackle and the power of a right tackle. He has the technique and talent to be drafted and fight for a swing tackle spot within his first two seasons, but he must add strength and mass."
Next: Free agency options at right tackle
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
If the Browns are serious about making the latest rebuild be the one that finally works, Mitchell Schwartz needs to be a part of the plan.
Schwartz has started every game for the Browns since being selected in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft, and is one of those players whose true value may only be appreciated once he is no longer with the Browns.
During his time in Cleveland Schwartz has developed into one of the best right tackles in the game and is a key member of the offensive line, which is the lone strength on the Browns. With the possibility that the team may see Mack leave in free agency, the idea of having to replace a second high-quality starter on the offensive line should fill the Browns (and their quarterbacks) with dread.
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“It’s a matchup league and if you’ve got a great left tackle and a poor right tackle, why would I waste my best pass rusher on your left tackle?” NFL Network’s Mike Mayock said on a recent conference call. “It’s just common sense. I think more and more defensive coordinators are looking to take advantage of any weak link.
“Your right tackle, in the old days, was kind of like he’d better be a solid run blocker. But today, if he can’t block Von Miller, if he can’t block any of the premier edge rushers in the NFL, you’ve got a problem. So I don’t think there’s any doubt that more and more teams are looking for more athletic right tackles.”
The Browns have reportedly been negotiating with Schwartz’ agent, Deryk Gilmore, and have reportedly made an offer, but the two sides are not close on a new contract. If the Browns have any fear that Schwartz may walk they should not hesitate to place the exclusive franchise tag and its estimated $13.6 million cost on him.
Because, as we’ve shown, the options to replace Schwartz all come with their own issues.