1: I want Mike Lupati (link from Dawg Pound Daily) bad. Despite his gargantuan size, he can fit into a zone-blocking scheme. This is a top five guard...possibly the best guard in the NFL.
Bitonio/Mack/Lupati? As Jared Mueller says, that's the best interior offensive line in the freaking NFL. And Lupati is only 27.
If you think he wouldn't consider the Browns, you're probably wrong, partly for that reason. Lupati will look at Joe Thomas, Mack, and Bitonio and find the idea of playing next to those guys appealing.
He'll look further at the Browns' running backs and blocking scheme, and KNOW that with him on board, this offense would have a good shot at leading the league in rushing.
That gives any quarterback a chance to manage an offense up and down the field all day, and any team a good chance to win.
He'll be looking for a ton of cash, and Ray Farmer has the ammunition.
2: Brian Hartline. Jared is luke-warm on this guy, but I'm not. He correctly calls him a younger, healthier version of Miles Austin, and yawns, even calling him a third option.
He's really an excellent number two. Jared points out that his great production was partly due to the number of times he was a target (he caught about two thirds of these). But Jared didn't mention any drops, because this guy doesn't drop anything.
And why do you think every quarterback he's ever had looks for him so often?
I like Miles Austin (and his salary), but Hartline is a longer-term producer in his prime. While Ray would still need to land a coverage-dictating number one reciever, Hartline is not only younger than Austin--he's better.
Jared rightly mentions the three smurfs, giving them the respect they've earned. But all three are far more effective on the inside, where they can't be jammed or leveraged effectively.
There's a pretty decent chance of getting Hartline, because he's a home-boy and most people think like Jared. He won't be getting any rediculous offers (like Lupati will).
3: Say no to Gramps Johnson. Andre Johnson will be 36 years old shortly. While he is still a really good player, he can't be expected to continue that way.
The Browns DO have some good wide recievers. There are the three smurfs, then (I hope) Hartline--that's four. (I apologize to any practice-squad guys I haven't studied yet and might be dissing unfairly).
Can Johnson even still be a number one? Well, he can't be as fast as he has been, but he's so big that double-coverage still might not matter. However, he IS 36 years old, and Ray is trying to build a team.
Renting (and no doubt overpaying) Johnson for one season accomplishes one thing: To make sure some young guy gets cut. Then in 2016 they're both gone.
3: Jeremy Maclin. I don't care that he's only about 6 feet tall, he's a hell of a player. As Mueller said, he'd be the default number one here, but doesn't quite fit that profile.
I doubt this signing, because somebody will probably pay him more than Ray is willing to cough up--especially considering the quality and depth at wide reciever in this draft class.
Ray Farmer had an undrafted free agent wide reciever in camp last season--also named Johnson. He signed Miles Austin, kept all three smurfs, and put this guy on the practice squad, where he was immediately claimed by the Vikings.
He is now Teddy Bridgewater's favorite target.
Ray, don't do that again.
4: Cecil Shorts NOOOOOOOOO!!! Are you out of your damn minds? Are you telling me this guy is better than any of the smurfs? Is he going to teach them how to drop passes? Can you count?
5: Buster Skrine. Already talked about this: I sure hope Ray can keep him. Desir is promising, and Gilbert should be much better in his second season, but Skrine is not only a proven stud, but proved it on the outside opposite Joe Haden.
It's going to be tough, because Skrine knows that they're trying to move him inside over the slot. Other teams are perfectly willing to use him where he's at now.
Slot corners don't get paid as much as outside corners, but I have no doubt that Ray is at least willing to pay him more than any other slot guy in the league.
Much depends on Skrine himself. It's no shame to be a slot corner, because you get to cover the likes of Wes Welker. You're on the field almost as much these days. It's a unique skill set: Gilbert or Desir don't belong there--Skrine is better than they will ever be there.
I just don't know if Buster sees it that way. I sure hope they can keep him.
6: Steven Paea. This guy is a stud. I'm trying not to repeat myself, but in summary:
Could be the strongest man in the NFL. Great leverage, disruptive, can stand up to double-teams. Durable. Works hard. Student of the game.
Sign this guy, and stop worrying about the defensive line.
Lupati, Paea, and Hartline are the three guys I would really like to see here. Especially Lupati.
Jimmy Haslam said that the Browns won't be big players in free agency this season, but that makes no sense. They've got 50 million in cap space and they HAVE TO spend most of it.
Might as well make it count.
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