DawgTalkers.net Forums The Archives 2015 NFL Season The NFL Draft 2015 Time to discuss 2015 free agency and the NFL draft.

It's that time again.

Normally this topic get's a heavy workload by mid October, man was it nice this team being competitive all the way til mid December this year! Currently sitting at 7-7 we have about a 1% chance at making it into the playoffs, so lets go ahead and just assume we're done and out of the playoff hunt. Time to discuss the Browns free agency period and the NFL draft, and who we like/dislike, ect. The Browns are around $25 million under the cap (don't know the exact figure) and have 10 draft picks (six in the top four rounds).

Other than the obvious, which is Manziel panning out, the biggest thing I've noticed about this team in 2014 is that our offensive and defensive lines get absolutely worked against physical fronts. If you want to win on the scoreboard you have to win in the trenches. It's that simple. Our offensive line since we've lost Alex Mack has been average at the very best, while being just down right bad against Jacksonville, Houston, Buffalo and Cincinnati (this past weekend). The physical fronts absolutely kill us. Same with the defensive line and the run defense.

We need to upgrade in the trenches! Period!

Here are the free agents I'm personally interested in...

Buster Skrine (Re-sign)
Tashaun Gipson (Re-sign)
Jordan Cameron (Re-sign at a modest/short "prove it" deal)
Craig Robertson (Re-sign)
Spencer Lanning (Re-sign)

I'm 50/50 on Jabaal Sheard, Miles Austin and Athbya Rubin (spelling). If they'll all re-sign at discounted rates I'm all for bringing them back, but none of them warrant a big deal to stay in my opinion.

2015 NFL Free agency (Players I hope we look at).

Doug Free RT/Dallas - Dallas has to spend big money to re-sign Dez Bryant, Free might hit free agency.
Orlando Franklin OG/Denver - Same scenario, Julius Thomas and Demarryus Thomas (spelling?) need new deals.
Cecil Shorts WR/Jacksonville - Underrated player, we need a #2 WR
Mason Foster MLB/Tampa Bay - Dansby is getting up there in age, adding another guy to the rotation would be good.
Terrance Cody DT/Baltimore - Him & John Hughes on the same line would make it VERY HARD for teams to run against us.
Corey Peters DT/Atlanta - Depth signing, very solid DT.
Kyle Wilson CB/New York - If we lose Skrine we need another versatile DB.

I would also ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT if we could make a big run at another big named pass rusher to pair up with Kruger. Both Justin Houston (OLB/Chiefs) and Brian Orakpo (OLB/Redskins) are set to become free agents. Odds are they won't make it, but if one of them does, I think it would be HUGE to try and land one of them. Improving our pass rush would really put our defense over the top, we've already got an elite secondary.

It's not realistic to expect the team to sign EVERYONE I just named, but if we could grab three, maybe four solid free agents that would be great. If I had to pick four guys I would say Orlando Franklin, Cecil Shorts, Terrance Cody and Brian Orakpo (as I think Justin Houston probably gets franchise tagged).

Here is my 2015 NFL mock draft...I've already done three or four by myself, and I've also read up on some scout sites about some of the top juniors and seniors set to come out this year.

1st Round - Brandon Scherff OT/Iowa
1st Round - Eddie Goldman DT/Florida State
2nd Round - Sammie Coates WR/Auburn
3rd Round - Deven Funchess TE/Michigan (If he drops) OR Danny Shelton NT/Washington
4th Round - Stefon Diggs Return Specialist/Maryland
4th Round - Derron Smith Safety/Fresno State (Much needed depth pick)
5th Round - Jalston Fowler FB/Alabama
6th Round - Jared Roberts K/Colorado State
7th Round - Michael Dyer RB/Louisville (Character/health issues with tons of talent/upside, no risk in the 7th round)


This team HAS to upgrade in the trenches.

I would love to see a free agency period/draft similar to this.

What does everyone think?

great work on the writeup.

I will have to come back and say my thoughts when I have more time

Really nice post - I don't know enough right now to make too much of an opinion... But I agree 100% with you that the lines need the most focus...

well done.

I would resign those you mentioned and Rubin ( at a reduced rate).

I would NOT resign Sheard, so tired of him crashing down the line and losing the edge.

IF... IF we could get Free, OR Cody OR Shorts I would substitute the corresponding draft pick (OT, DT WR ) with the best edge rusher on the board at that time.

Even if we had signed one in FA. a FA and Kruger wont last forever

The best way to turn an area of weakness into a strength is to sign a free agent AND draft a player at said position. To me, doubling up and creating competition is a GOOD thing. Injuries have KILLED this year all season long at certain positions...

Nice work.

I don't have much of an opinion regarding the draft, as I don't watch much college football. I can't really give anything approaching an educated opinion on WHO we should draft.

Regarding our FAs, I'm on board with most of what you're saying. I would switch either Jabal Sheard or Rubin with Cameron, though. If it were injuries OR a scheme mismatch, I'd make more of an effort to sign him... but both together makes me want to just avoid the effort and let him get signed by someone else (just save everyone a bunch of time). I don't like Cameron's fit in this offense. We need to have our #1 TE be at least a competent blocker. I'm not discounting his receiving skills and the mismatch he creates with opposing defenses, but this offense revolves around the run game. Let him get reunited with Norvy in Minnesota, and everyone wins.

Sheard has talent. We've seen that over the time he's been here. I'd offer him a low'ish contract, and won't be at all surprised when a 4-3 team gives him a big offer to take him away. I'd love to have his talent on this team, but our scheme seems to not cater to his strengths. It's unfortunate.

I'd make re-signing our secondary guys (Gipson and Skrine) a high priority. Make sure both stay here, but maybe Skrine's contract can be over a shorter period of time.

Specifically regarding the Dline... if we do let anyone walk, I would hope we replace that veteran with a veteran (like what they did this year with safety and ILB spots. Draft a guy or two for the dline to develop. We have a lot of talent along the dline, but I'm not so sure all of it really fits with our defensive scheme. I wouldn't be shocked if a trade or two happened here (Taylor shipped out for pick(s)?).

When thinking about FA and the draft, I'm not 100% sure what we're going to do. Thinking about our roster, I don't see any of the huge, glaring holes that we normally see (other than QB). I think there's some improvement to be made on both lines, but nothing huge. We do need some depth behind the Oline. As I mentioned above, we can probably swap out some guys along the Dline.

One area that I'm happier about now than I was a couple weeks ago is ILB. Robertson is playing some great football. Whether it's the scheme or him developing, he needs to get signed and stay here for the next couple years. We should draft another inside 'backer, but it doesn't have to be a high pick like I was thinking earlier in the year.

I wouldn't mind drafting a WR high. I think it would be smart to get another blue-chip guy to start across from Gordon, and in Gordon's spot when he gets busted again. It would be good to draft a TE high. This guy would replace Cameron, and he would have good blocking ability, while hopefully not dropping off too much in regards to passcatching.

I really hope we draft a passrusher high, as many are saying. I'm not a fan of signing these guys in FA, as they are super expensive, and the really good ones won't hit the market. If we want to have a true stud pass-rusher, we will need to draft him.

I'd look to re-sign Skrine and Gipson and none of the others.

I wouldn't seek a single one of the free agents you listed, but I would look to sign Mike Iupati from San Fran.

In the draft, I think I'd concentrate on the OL, DL, LBs and STs.

I'm on board with that...

I think as this team progresses under this regime, the FA signings should become less and less. We made big signings the last few years with Dansby and Kruger and Hawk, but I think less of that is better. Eventually it will come up to bite you when your homegrown guys are coming up on FA...

And with draft, I want more pieces on our front 7. I think we are somewhat deep on the DL, but we're just not that great overall. I don't think teams worry about anyone on that DL, other than maybe Phil Taylor stuffing the occasional run. They need a difference maker. It was really annoying this year to see DL's zero out our rush game (and thus, our offense) and we couldn't answer. Usually if you can do the same to them, it allows you more time to break through with the run..

I'm all for drafting another QB as well. Hoyer will more than likely be gone, and depending on what you see with JM the final 2 games, you may have to go higher than you want. Would be nice for Manziel to show you something, and that allow you to take a late round guy. I don't want some vet sitting on the bench collecting a check a la Campbell anyone else.

I know that we have two first rounders and I would target specific players. If those players weren't available where I was willing to draft them then I would have a trade already worked out to move down from the spot.

Right now, I don't know for sure that there is anyone that I would take in the first round.

If I could trade down, accumulate more selections for 2015 and 2016, then I would do it. We need more opportunities for talent on the Browns, not fewer opportunities for possibilities.

Im hoping to get the All-American TE from FSU Nick O'Leary with one of the two picks in the 2nd or3rd round. I believe Jordan Cameron will go closer to his home state, back to the West Coast,and sign with Seattle. A team that have already shown interest in him and a very likely scenerio. Drey and Barnridge have decent hands but are not playmakers. I still like them as backups.

They also need depth at LB. I like Perryman out of Miami.

If they can re-sign Gipson and Skrine then the Browns will have a sweet secondary next year.

If we don't sign a veteran free agent inside linebacker than I am all for drafting Denzel Perryman the ILB from Miami. I've seen him play, and I've actually seen a fan made highlight video on the kid, he isn't a sideline to sideline guy but he can absolutely hit and has good ball skills.

I do like Nick O'Leary as well, I was thinking about him when I made the mock draft. If we re-sign Jordan Cameron we won't need a tight end, but if we lose him to free agency I think O'Leary in the 2nd round makes a lot of sense. Seems like a blue-collar hard working style tightend, almost reminds you of Steve Heiden or Aaron Shea.

We don't necessarily have to go free agent crazy but I think adding a veteran to some of our weaker areas makes the most sense, especially if we're going to lose some of our own guys to free agency.

Swap Atybha Rubin (spelling?) for Terrance Cody
Swap Jabaal Sheard for Brian Orakpo
Swap Miles Austin for Cecil Shorts

(Doesn't have to be those exact guys, just those positions)

Sign a veteran guard or tackle if not to start, than for depth.

Either way. Run defense, pass rush, and offensive line need to be the very top priorities.

If we get into a situation where we're drafting say #15 and #20 I wouldn't be opposed to trading one of the picks for more picks this year and a high pick next year (example, 2nd, 4th and 6th round pick this year, 2nd & 4th round pick next year) I would do it as we need to continue to build towards the future of the franchise.

I'm crossing my fingers that our front office and Mike Pettine see the same things we do, that this team needs upgrades and depth in the trenches.

We're good at receiver (though we could use a real #2).
We're GREAT at defensive back (though we could use a good backup safety to replace Leohnard, whose retiring).
We're above average at linebacker (need another pass rusher, backup inside linebacker, and some depth/projects)

Need to add a starter/competition/quality depth at DT, RG, RT and DE immediately.

The FO went into This SEASON with little to no OL depth (obvious in Pre season ) as well as Zip/zilch for a return game .. Can't let areas like that slide again .. I am not sold on our DL or front seven like many are .. Shoot no sense stopping now , not sold on the OL either ..

FA and Draft: concentrate on the trenches and the pass rush !!
Time has passed for Rubin , Taylor , Cameron , Sheard and so on ..

The fact that we've had guys come in and be able to play CENTER at a reasonable level means we probably have some of the best O Line Depth in the league...

I really don't know why you guys think other teams have six, seven, or eight GOOD Oline starters...

And Sheard is 25. Hardly passed his time.. The only reason we lose him is if he wants to go to a 4-3 team that better suits him...

I agree with you on OL though our centers have had a few really bad games since Mack was hurt. OL depth is pretty rare across the league. The fact that we have Michael Bowie stashed for next year as a potential Schwartz improvement means that we have better depth than most teams.

I don't think we'll re-sign Sheard. He is terrible at setting the edge and has horrible recognition skills too. Kruger isn't much better there but at least gets to the QB. I would like to keep Sheard for depth, but someone is going to offer him starter level OLB money and I don't want that to be our team.

I think someone is going to offer him starter 4-3 DE money, and he will leave.

I don't see how any team would try to lure him away to start in a 3-4.

Many teams have 6,7, or 8 good O-lineman. We need to have 8 good O-lineman since that is the most important position on the offense outside of the QB

Many teams don't even have 5 good linemen...

And many of the team that appear to have good backups do because they have upper level QBs who get the ball out immediately, that helps the OL tremendously. They can handle one piece going down.

I hate to pick on other Dawg's , BUT sorry Line play has been an institution around here for as long as I care to remember .. With the drafting of Bitonio we finally made a move in the right direction .. It was SO obvious during the Pre Season that we were in deep dodo with our backups .. I have made many a comment on the two areas were the FO shot us in the foot right out of the gate .. Depth on OL and the Return game ..

Schwartz had a pretty good year in this scheme but we must upgrade Greco. I like him but he is more of the 6th man type. Worth what he is receiving but I would like a stud RG, there are a few good ones in this draft you can find in the 2nd and 3rd. FSU has a couple good ones down there, i like tre jackson a lot.

We gotta find a #1 receiver. I am a big Gordon fan but you can trust him to not to smoke dope. I think the kid from Lousiville would be a great addition. Actually reminds me a lot of Julio. draft has some talented receivers.

Not a big fan of the defense in this draft but Dupree from ky would be a good fit in this scheme. Sheard will probably get a lot more in the open market than we are willing to give him, he is a decent OLB but he is better in a 4-3.

Michael Bennet could be a good one, I like his value in the 2nd but I think he could go high in this draft.

Winning in the trenches is the first step to winning on the score board.

Go watch the film, you can make a big argument that a big reason we've lost games since the bye week is due to not winning in the trenches.

Jacksonville, Houston, Buffalo, Cincinnati were all able to run the football on our defense, effectively. Our offensive line was unable to handle their defensive lines effectively either. Doesn't matter who the QB is or who our skill players are, we won't win if our offensive line doesn't do their job first.

I really like a lot of the talent this team has, but we absolutely have to be aggressive in upgrading in the trenches this coming Spring.

That's why I'm all for making a big run at some guys such as Orlando Franklin, Brian Orakpo and Terrance Cody.

Improve the run defense, pass rush and offensive line blocking and we'll be competing for the playoffs next year (assuming Manziel isn't a complete turd).

I really don't want anything to do with Cody, He gets out of shape far too much, and missed most of year to injury. I don't believe that he has even been active since he returned from DTR IR. He also gives nothing in the pass rush. If we want a run stopper in the middle, I would rather let Hughes grow into that role than bring in Cody. I think that Hughes can bring something in the pass rush.

Orakpo is an interesting guy. If he is healthy, he could be a really exciting guy rushing the passer across the line from Kruger. However,with Orakpo we have a guy with a pretty substantial injury history. He will have missed 28 games (If I add right) over the past 3 seasons once this season ends. That's a scary guy to pour a ton of money into.

I don't know much about Franklin, but I do worry about a guy who blocks for Peyton Manning. Manning makes every OL look better, and teams don't tend to stack the line against their run game.

I am sure that Farmer has a plan set out for the team, and has talked to Pettine regularly about the direction of the team. From all reports, the 2 men work really well together, and have been on the same page most of the time. That is encouraging to me.

hey Mourgrym help me out on the " No Depth on our OL " will ya

Skrine isn't worth the money he will demand in FA, so if we re-sign him it means that Gilbert is a bust because the coaches don't trust him to surplant Skrine. K.Williams played a pretty good nickel CB, so if you re-sign Skrine, you're paying big bucks for a player that won't play as 4th CB.

Skrine was gonzo the moment they picked Gilbert

Can't comment on the draft stuff yet. Have to watch more first, but so far don't like what I see out of the higher ranked players. Looks to be a much weaker class overall

Skrine's nice and all, has good speed..

But he'll always be 5'9.. And I just have no interest in 5'9 corners..

I have no problem with Skrine as a nickel CB. I do agree with DJ though that he'll demand too much on the open market and he'll likely be gone.

so you don't like Darrelle Revis, Brent Grimes, Joe Haden, Vontae Davis, Tramaine Brock, Alfonzo Dennard, or Alterraun Verner?

Literally none of them are 5'9..

Grimes is 5'9 and a quarter.

All the rest are 5'10 or above.

Measuring sticks are just that. If a guy can play, he can play.

Skrine can play.

He's gotten abused by some bigger WR's, but that's on the coaches, not Skrine.

I'd like to keep him simply because we have Joe, and we're still finding out about Justin Gilbert.

But really, I think Buster has been progressing every year. Slowly but surely. He started out so bad, but he really has gotten better. I think some of his early struggles where he took really really bad penalties seem to work against him, because it seems like the refs don't give him the benefit of the doubt like they do with Haden. I thought he made a great play on Hilton during Indy's GW drive. It was the key play of the drive because of all the yardage the DPI brought. Should have been a no-call if you ask me.

(Speakin of, if the refs are going to make this game unwatchable with these crap DPI calls, they should go the college football route and make them 15 yard penalties. Not spot fouls.)

Then the coach just tells his players to mug guys who break on deep routes.

Pick your poison, because OC's know right now that there is a good chance you're going to get a flag if you throw a ball for grabs. I'm tired of seeing it.

I also don't think it hurts the college game, which flows so much better than an NFL game.

As far as the draft. I'll throw QB Garrett Grayson out there. Pretty solid young man with good stats.

Assuming we resign Skine, Gipson and Cameron and we decide not to go after a new QB. Here are the top 5 needs I see:

1. A Pass Rusher. [We are 26th in the league in sacks. Given our above average DB play that put us 7th in passing yards per game we should be able to get to the QB better.(note: the low passing yards can also be attributed to item 2 below.)]

2. 1 or more run stoppers. We are last in stopping the run. I know all of our tackles have been hurt at one time or another this year but we need someone(s) that can really stop the run. [We also need to train our outside guys to set the edge.]

3. A Top Quality Big Wide Receiver. The receiving core has done alright and might be even better with Gordon back but we need a solid #2 who can step up to #1 if Gordon gets another suspension.

4. OL depth. This OL was doing well when healthy but the depth has struggled.

5. A kicker (of all the D1 teams there has to be at least 1 kicker better than what we have and better than all the other NFL rejects we keep trying out.)


I don't claim to be a NFL scout or GM so I don't know who the best draft picks or FA are that could fill these needs.

My List includes...

DL (run)
DE (rush)
TE
QB
WR

PR
KR
K
FB

Seriously, the special teams are anything but special. I hope Hartley is better, but the return players are not very good. Fullback has been a nightmare, and a different player is needed.

We need a rush OLB Badddddddddddddd !

That and another receiving threat should be our top 2 priorities this off-season.

Not knowing our final draft position or where guys will be projected so take this with a grain of salt, but right now my ideal top 3 picks would be:

And in no particular order because as stated above, I don't know which is likely to fall the furthest.

Shelton NT Washington - Big, strong, stout against the run yet still quick enough to get pressure on the Qb

Dupree OLB Kentucky - a fierce pass rusher from the SEC

Wr - This is what gives us some play with the order because there are several. I don't have a real good feel for where these guys will go but I would love to get one of Cooper Alabama, Parker Louisville, White WVU or Strong ASU. I actually wouldn't mind Coates Auburn either. Later in the season Coates seemed much more aggressive going after the ball.

I do realize that we will likely need to use our 2nd and 4th rounder to move back into the 1st to get all 3 of these but we are a young team. We don't need 10 rookies. I would much rather have top quality guys than quantity.

If I am dreaming, which I can certainly do at this stage of the game, I would then use our 3rd and 5th to move back into the 2nd and grab Matias the OG from FSU.

j/c

FYI, our schedule next year:

Home:
Pitt
Balt
Cincy
Den
Oak
San Fran
Arizona
Tenn (this is a guess on location but we will play them)

Away:
Pitt
Balt
Cincy
San Diego
KC
Seattle
St Louis
NYJ (this is a guess too for location but we will play them)

Not to Bad