DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Free Agency discussion continued....

Dray has great hands. That isn't the problem. The drop off between Dray and Jordon is that Dray can't pressure the seam. He isn't fast enough. Any LB can run with him, so unless we catch the D in a zone, Dray isn't a receiving threat unless it is a quick hitter, or he goes out on a late release.

Someone we should make a move for or too old and expensive?

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000...n-to-seek-trade

Also looks like Suh will hit the market as well.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000475734/article/detroit-lions-do-not-franchise-ndamukong-suh

Suh is a dirty, mean, SOB with attitude...


When can we sign him?

If we needed one final piece for a playoff run? Sure. Obviously, we are not in that position and I'm guessing he'll command good money. I'd suggest no.

This is simply not accurate.

https://twitter.com/MaryKayCabot

I'd really like this move....shouldn't cost too much, either.

I like the idea of getting Gresham from Cinci... has speed.. good hands... can block.. still young.

If you're going to sign him, sign him before FA starts. (comp pick balance?)

Oh yeah, I forgot about Dray

Song pun intended? Ha ha ha.

haha

+1

I would absolutely love to sign Hartline. He has some size at 6'2 and has shown he can be productive with two 1,000 seasons over the last three years. He can step right in and instantly be a #2 receiver and is younger than Miles Austin.

Hope next week we can get Cecil Shorts as well.

Our WR depth would instantly look MUCH better.

I've been wanting this move since the news got out that the Dolphins were not going to resign him. Now if we land Hartline and Shorts, I will get all I want out of this FA.

Lets pay Skrine as well! You got to pay your own if you want to retain your talent.

If we end up losing Skrine I could see us going after Kyle Wilson from the New York Jets as he's a former Pettine player.

I also saw yesterday that Buffalo is letting Jerry Hughes hit the market, I wonder if we'll have any legit interest in going after him as he played in Pettine's defense in Buffalo. Him & Kruger together sounds pretty darn good to me...

Haven't been in this thread all that much. I feel like I've seen quite a few Cecil Shorts fans.

Where are the Randall Cobb fans?

I don't really feel the talent level is different between them and one is much cheaper. One just had a future HOFer at QB.

I would not mind in the least if Dray started at TE. Hell I wouldnt mind going 2 TE sets and starting Dray and Barnidge. Both are fantastic blockers Hoyer wouldnt know his own name last year if it wasnt for some of their career saving blocks. West still had the best one though lol.

i like Cameron but cant depend upon him. He was soft before the concussion issue and now its just a matter of time until he retires.

I would be in favor of drafting Williams at 19 and fortifying the position however.

Is this true about the comp picks? I'm very interested. We have some 5 FA's projected to be worth comp picks. If we bring back Skrine and sign one or two major FAs we could actually get a comp pick or two!

Randall Cobb fans in general or Randall Cobb @ $13M/year fans?

I really think we'd be doing ourselves a disservice if we let Skrine walk. Yes, he'll probably get a little more than we'd like to give him, but the guy is one in a very small group of browns picks who have panned out. We have a system that values having a lot of good CBs. We've got the money, and if we're not going to make a splash in FA, then keep our guys that deserve to be kept. The guy is going with an established upward trend in his game.

That said, Cary Williams was released from Philly. Would he be someone going after as a replacement?

Regarding Cameron,

I get that we need to have a legit receiving threat at the position, but I don't believe that should at such a detriment to blocking like it does with Jordan when we're operating a run heavy system. If Norv was still here calling his plays, I'd feel differently.

It was reported Cobb was looking for $9M/year. He'd be a great signing and is only 24. I don't see him coming here though. Won't be surprised to see he and GB work out a deal.

Hi Guys and Gals! Just saw a report that Andre Johnson of the Texans has been given permission to seek a trade. We could surely use him. I also heard that Cleveland has 161 million in Salary Cap one of the Highest behind only Tampa Bay. We have money to spend so why not go after Andre Johnson

Gosh I hope not. The Jets have tons of cap room, are desperate for corners and are letting him walk. What does that tell you?

I don't the compensatory system applies to released players.

another FA that comes to cleveland to drive the price up on teams he will really play for. pfft.

I know that it doesn't for your own outgoing players, I wasn't sure if it applied to incoming.

I've read that Cobb wants $12 million a year.

That's a little too much for my taste.

I would rather sign Cecil Shorts III and Brian Hartline. Between those two, Taylor Gabriel and Andrew Hawkins I feel like our core group of receivers would be just fine, plus it's safe to assume we'll probably draft one somewhere as well.

If we're going to pay someone $12 million a year I would rather it be a pass rusher, run stuffer or elite offensive tackle...

Hey, I too would be pretty satisfied with that. To be quite honest and to throw in a minor twist - I'd really like to reacquire Miles Austin too. Even if we signed CS III and Hartline - I'd still would want Austin back. He could continue to be a killer third down option and not be asked to due too much and he'd keep fresh when called upon.

JMO

Andre Johnson is nearing the end of his career...I watched them when Fitz threw for like 600 yards...he's still strong and able, just has lost his big play flair...Johnson still want alot of money, and I think wants to find a winner to play for...I can see him playing for Seattle for some reason

Randall Cobb at 12 mi is only a little better than Mike Wallace at 11.

Theres more production, because he does more as a WR..

But i think you can get around the same production by drafting a WR, or signing someone else for cheaper..

The most important FA for us to sign is Sun. Bar none is is the best elite talent out there and would be worth whatever we have to pay him to become a Brown. He would radically improve our defense vs the run and dramatically improve our pass rush pressure from the entire defense.

How well does Suh translate to a 3-4 though? Not saying hes a waste by any means...but he surely excels in a 4-3...Thats my biggest question mark with Suh...And he would probably be a DE here; I think so?

Brian Hartline visiting the Cleveland Browns today

Unrestricted free agent wide receiver Brian Hartline (left), from Canton GlenOak High School and Ohio State, could end up in a Browns uniform. (Associated Press)
Print Mary Kay Cabot, Northeast Ohio Media Group By Mary Kay Cabot, Northeast Ohio Media Group

on March 03, 2015 at 8:52 AM, updated March 03, 2015 at 3:15 PM


Brian Hartline visiting the Cleveland Browns today


CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Browns will try to provide new quarterback Josh McCown with a solid weapon in Canton native and Ohio State alum Brian Hartline.

The former Dolphins receiver, 28, will pay a free-agent visit to the Browns today, a league source confirmed. Profootballtalk.com first reported the visit.

He's one of two local free-agent receivers and former Buckeyes that the Browns have expressed interest in. They also called the agent for Glenville product Ted Ginn Jr. last week.

Hartline, a fourth-round pick of the Dolphins in 2009, was let go to clear salary cap room, but the Dolphins hope to re-sign him. In fact, team owner Steve Ross called him after his release.

He was due $5.95 million in 2015, but the Dolphins hoped to pay him about half of that per year. They won't get that chance if things go as planned in Cleveland today.

The Browns are in the market to upgrade the skill positions and to replace Josh Gordon, who's suspended for at least all of 2015 for violating the league's substance-abuse policy.

In his six seasons with the Dolphins, Hartline (6-2, 200) caught 298 passes for 4,243 yards and 13 touchdowns. In 2012 and 2013, he became just the fifth receiver in Dolphins history to record back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. He also caught 28 passes of 20 yards or more in those two years.

Last season, Hartline's production dipped when he was phased out of the new spread offense. He caught only 39 passes for 474 yards and two TDs. But as a starter in the two previous seasons, he averaged 75 receptions and more than 1,000 yards.

Despite the 150 catches in 2012 and 2013, only five went for touchdowns. In fact, the most TD catches he's had in a season is four in 2013, and he's averaged just over two.

But the Browns are looking for a potential starter to replace Gordon, and Hartline would fit the bill. They'll also be in the market for a tight end to replace Jordan Cameron, who will likely be lost in free agency next week.


http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ss..._social_feature

Its odd, I know players are free to sign before FA as they are cut...However I dont remember the Browns being this active prior to FA...I wonder if its a precursor of some sort that we may have problems obtaining free sgents once free agency starts? Or perhaps we have so many visits planned that we want to make room for these guys now, as we will be so busy in the next couple weeks? Any guesses?

Ohio...$161 mill in cap room? Pretty sure if thats true, we can sign EVERY free agent this year lol

I thought the Browns were interested in Cecil shorts and he was interested in the Browns? I would take him over Hartline for sure

I'd take both.

Why?