The Cleveland Browns have a new coach in Kevin Stefanski, who could look to some free agents from his old team as he installs his system
There’s (once again) a new coach in Berea as the Cleveland Browns hired Kevin Stefanski following the dismissal of Freddie Kitchens. After the disastrous one-year run from their former interim offensive coordinator, Cleveland will turn things over to the long-time Minnesota Vikings assistant.
In his final season, Stefanski served as the offensive coordinator for Minnesota, which came after he was the interim coordinator himself to close out 2018. He was also a finalist for the Browns job the season prior but general manager John Dorsey preferred Kitchens.
With Dorsey gone, chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta (who was the one trying to convince the team to go with Stefanski) was able to get his way.
Now looking to make good on his first chance at being the head coach, Stefanski might look for some familiar players who could help him install his offense. If so, here are five names from the Vikings to keep an eye on in free agency.
5. Sean Mannion, QB
One thing that could really help Kevin Stefanski while installing his offense is adding players who already know it. That could lead to him going after a quarterback who understands his playbook, such as Sean Mannion.
Last year, Mannion served as the backup quarterback to Kirk Cousins. He played in just one game, a Week 17 start with their playoff spot wrapped up. He finished just 12-of-21 for 126 yards and two interceptions. Clearly, this wasn’t an ideal performance for him but he could still be a good camp body that could help the other quarterbacks get up to speed quickly.
4. Dakota Dozier or Rashod Hill, OL
The next one is a two-for-one as the Browns could look to add some offensive line depth and the Minnesota Vikings will have a few players hitting the open market. Two of those players that could be of interest are Dakota Dozier and Rashod Hill.
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What makes each player intriguing for the Browns is that each of them can play tackle and guard. Hill was undrafted out of Southern Miss in 2016 and has turned into a decent swing tackle.
He started 16 games in his career and has been able to hold his own. He’s also versatile enough to move inside if needed, but he would likely have a better shot at making an impact at tackle given the Browns lack of depth there.
As for Dozier, he was selected by the New York Jets in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL Draft out of Furman. Primarily a guard, he did play some tackle for the Jets before joining the Minnesota Vikings in 2019. He spent just one season with the Vikings and started four games for them.
For Cleveland, either player would be there for competition purposes. Neither would be a long-term answer but given the problems they have had in protection, it would be smart to at least bring in some players who understand what Stefanski will be teaching. Any advantage will help as they can use a lot of changes to that line.
3. David Morgan, TE
This isn’t exactly a household name, but it wouldn’t be a terrible move at all. The Minnesota Vikings are currently set at the tight end position with Kyle Rudolph, Irv Smith, Jr., and Tyler Conklin. All three can play, which leaves David Morgan on the outside looking in. And after spending all of 2019 on the PUP list, it’s highly unlikely he returns this season.
Once he does look for a new home, it would make sense for him to see if Kevin Stefanski is in need of a blocking tight end — which is his specialty. Listed at 6-foot-4 and 265-pounds, the UTSA product has appeared in 38 games (with 12 starts) in three seasons. In that time, he has caught 16 of 19 targets for 135 yards and a touchdown.
In Cleveland, he could find a role especially considering the issues they were having at the position in 2019. Former first-round pick David Njoku fell out of favor and they also decided to cut Darren Fells in favor of Demetrius Harris — a player who had a history with John Dorsey.
There was also Ricky Seals-Jones, Stephen Carlson, and Pharoah Brown on the roster. None of them are guaranteed a spot and while Njoku should regain his starting status with Dorsey and Freddie Kitchens gone, Morgan could potentially push any of the others for snaps.
2. Laquon Treadwell, WR
They did it once, might as well see if they can do it again. The Cleveland Browns were able to revitalize the career of a former first-round pick in 2018 when they gave Breshad Perriman a second chance. The former Baltimore Ravens receiver was released that season and landed in Cleveland.
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Once there, he played in 10 games and ended up recording 340 yards and two touchdowns. What was most impressive was his ability to get deep as he had 21.3 yards per catch. Cleveland wanted him back but after trading for Odell Beckham, Jr., the wide receiver forced his way out of a contract.
That led to him going to Tampa Bay where he had 36 receptions for 645 yards and six touchdowns — all career highs.
That brings us to Laquon Treadwell, who was supposed to be a sure thing in the 2016 NFL Draft coming out of Ole Miss. He then slid to No. 23 in the draft, which is where the Vikings took him. However, what looked like a steal proved to be a bust.
Treadwell had just one catch as a rookie and before this season, he was released. He ended up finding his way back to Minnesota and showed some signs of life, averaging 20-yards per grab on nine receptions.
Looking for a new home, he could actually do well to join Stefanski considering the Browns lack of depth behind OBJ and Jarvis Landry. At just 24-years of age, he could still turn his career around, just like Perriman did.
1. C.J. Ham, FB
Kevin Stefanski took over the Browns subreddit recently and was answering some fan questions. One really interesting thing he spoke on during that session was his respect for the fullback position.
While most teams seem to forget about the bigger backs, Stefanski says he has a “healthy-respect” for it.
"“I have a healthy respect for the full back position. I think it gives you some versatility – because the defense has a hard time knowing whether we’ll be in a one-back, two-back or empty set. In addition, and maybe most importantly, the full back brings a physical aspect to our football team, which is very important to me” — Stefanski via ClevelandBrowns.com"
Making that comment even more interesting is the fact that his fullback from Minnesota is about to come available. Coming out of Augustana, a small school in South Dakota which was also known as the Vikings, Ham was undrafted and landed on Minnesota’s practice squad.
He made the team in 2017 and was the primary fullback but he was hardly seen until 2019 when Stefanski was the offensive coordinator full-time. That season, Ham caught 17 passes for 149 yards and scored his first receiving touchdown. He averaged nearly nine yards per catch and went for a career-long 36-yarder during the season.
None of this is to say he will be a featured player in any offense but there is something to his versatility. Not only can he push the pile in short-yardage situations but he’s good enough in open space to turn a dump-off pass into a first down — something he did on six of his 17 receptions.
Out of all the available players from Minnesota, this one seems to make the most sense.