Spackle

gftChris

Zombo said:

Ya, that's not a lot for a kicker. It was smart to keep a veteran kicker on the roster, I think he'll get challanged in camp by Bogatay or another young leg, may or may not keep the job.

Zombo

He kicked well enough last year. Not a position to worry about, really. If you're picking up a new Phil the Foot in the later rounds then great, otherwise no problems going with Cundiff.

Mr. Make-Believe

QB:
RB: Ben Tate
FB?: (if they even choose to fill)
WR#2:
OG:
MLB1. Karlos Dansby
MLB2:
S: Donte Whitner
CB:
P:
K: Billy Cundiff

Other:

Dray, Truffant, Hawkins (perhaps)

I think we can safely say that we can plan to get that #2 WR at the draft. Any other FA potentials out there in the meantime?

The Gipper

@the-gipper said:

OK, here is the official Spackle Board.....i.e. these are the names of the Putty with which the Browns have filled their holes. When a definitive move is made, it can be listed here:

QB:

RB: Ben Tate

FB?: (if they even choose to fill)

WR#2:

(inserted here) Slot Receiver: Andrew Hawkins

OG:

MLB1: Karlos Dansby

MLB2:

S: Donte Whitner

CB:

P: Spencer Lanning

K: Billy Cundiff

Any other

I am still seeing 5 holes to fill. I don't know if there is much left out there to fill the #2 CB, #2 OLB, OG, #2 WR and QB spots.

The Gipper

Here are some of the candidates still out there that could possibly fill those holes:

#2WR: Santonio Holmes, Mile Austin, Donario Alexander, Darius Heyward-Bey, Sidney Rice

#2CB: Dmitri Patterson, Carlos Rogers, Mike Jenkins, Antonio Cromartie

OG: Ebon Britton, John Jerry, Zach Allen, Richie Incognito

FB: John Kuhn, Vonta Leach, LaRon McClain, Lex Hilliard

QB: Shaun Hill, Michael Vick, Matt Flynn, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Josh Freeman, Kevin Kolb, Rex Grossman

Any interest in anyone on these lists?...or anyone else that you may know to be out there as a FA at these slots?

My views:

QB: Grossman possible for veteran backup.....but QB likely a draft pickup

FB: Kuhn would be good....or one of the other proven veteran FBs would be OK

But it looks like CB, WR, OG are spots slated to be filled by draftees (unless the staff is OK with Skrine/McFadden at CB)

thenew23

This is a deep draft, and we need to find guys at those 4 starting spots: RG, ILB, CB2, WR2.

Right now, our options are Pinkston, Robertson, Skrine, and Little... not going to find much better left in FA, so it's important we fill those needs with our many picks. The problem is there is no OG or ILB worthy of a pick at #4, and it's hard to justify spending that early of a pick on a WR2... Still a long way to go until the picture starts to become clear, but it is nice to have so few holes to fill...

Almost forgot, the only way QB isn't a need is if Hoyer is our guy. With 5 picks in the top 3 rounds, it's possible to get a QB and fill those needs.

Flyin J

I think Browns' fans are over-valuing Gipson. Getting a difference maker there would be bigger for the D than any other position.

The Gipper

XxDaBuckeyexX said:
I think Browns' fans are over-valuing Gipson. Getting a difference maker there would be bigger for the D than any other position.

I disagree. Getting another ILB is bigger...as that was one of the Browns weakest positions, and Dansby alone isn't enough.

And most graded Gipson performance as well ahead of Skrine's, so that #2 CB is also more critical. Gipson handled that job pretty darn well last year. Are you still stuck on the fact that he was a UFA? That he doesn't have a big enough name? That should be irrelevent. This report by Will Burge notes that the safeties last year did about as well as any Browns unit:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1905276-grading-every-cleveland-browns-starters-2013-regular-season

bbedward

XxDaBuckeyexX said:
I think Browns' fans are over-valuing Gipson. Getting a difference maker there would be bigger for the D than any other position.

I don't think so.

He's no pro bowler, but he's solid starter. It could use an upgrade but nowhere near as big a need as CB#2, OL, CB#2, ILB.

When I look at a difference maker like jarius byrd I see a guy who got overpaid.

And a guy like Pryor will be drafted at the same point where we could get an equal talent at a different position. Although I do like Pryor.

Flyin J

Gipson, at best, is average. I think he should be a backup to both safety spots. And if you think Jarius Byrd was overpaid, youre out of your mind. Its him and Thomas, then everyone else as far as safety is concerned. And if you wanna get after the QB, having a ball hawk FS is huge. CB is a huge need also. ILB can be filled later in the draft. Id take the best DB left at 26 be it Gilbert, Dennard, Clinton-Dix, or Pryor.

The Gipper

XxDaBuckeyexX said:
Gipson, at best, is average. I think he should be a backup to both safety spots. And if you think Jarius Byrd was overpaid, youre out of your mind. Its him and Thomas, then everyone else as far as safety is concerned. And if you wanna get after the QB, having a ball hawk FS is huge. CB is a huge need also. ILB can be filled later in the draft. Id take the best DB left at 26 be it Gilbert, Dennard, Clinton-Dix, or Pryor.

Again. I think you are wrong. I think Gipson has Pro Bowl potential. At worst he has proven very solid. Well above average.

That position is NOT a priority for this team.

A QB, an OG, an ILB, a WR are by far higher needs.

Tour2ma

@the-gipper said:
Others have been doing a fine job. I didn't feel the need to be redundant.

How 'bout the need to update your OP?

gftChris

Another one for the wall:

http://espn.go.com/blog/seattle-seahawks/post/_/id/5118/paul-mcquistan-to-join-cleveland-browns

Seattle Seahawks free-agent offensive lineman Paul McQuistan has reached a one-year deal with the Cleveland Browns, a source revealed to ESPN’s John Clayton on Monday.

If he helps us run the ball as well as they did, then great.

The Gipper

@tour2ma said:
How 'bout the need to update your OP?

See what I can do.