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Free Agency Vs. The Draft

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  • I don't like free agent QB's but I like it for every other position.

    Browns should seriously consider to fill some of the holes they have in FA.

    WR

    G

    CB

    FS

    LB

    DE

    FB

    aren't all gonna be filled in the draft. We don't have to rush it and try to contend next season but I'm not waiting 2-3 years to see a team that I can bare watching.

    It's got to be a mix of drafting and FA

  • I don't like free agent QB's but I like it for every other position.

    Browns should seriously consider to fill some of the holes they have in FA.

    WR

    G

    CB

    FS

    LB

    DE

    FB

    aren't all gonna be filled in the draft. We don't have to rush it and try to contend next season but I'm not waiting 2-3 years to see a team that I can bare watching.

    It's got to be a mix of drafting and FA

    @dab7291993 said:

    I don't like free agent QB's but I like it for every other position.

    Browns should seriously consider to fill some of the holes they have in FA.

    WR

    G

    CB

    FS

    LB

    DE

    FB

    aren't all gonna be filled in the draft. We don't have to rush it and try to contend next season but I'm not waiting 2-3 years to see a team that I can bare watching.

    It's got to be a mix of drafting and FA

    We quietly sign a FA or two every year, they just arent the big name players who get overpaid and a lot of the time end up disappointing (example Ray Edwards the former Falcon). Frostee Rucker and J. Parker have been solid for us this year, not long term solutions but are doing a decent job for their price. Usama Young was another FA starter (although I realize he probably shouldnt be a starter). John Greco has been helpful with the depth at the Oline. Ben Watson is another guy who has been a significant FA signing by Heckert to fill a starting role. One of the problems with free agency is that after a player's rookie contract many of them are 26 years old, and the majority of prolific players in their rookie contracts are extended by their teams and dont really hit free agency until they are in their late 20's. And lets face it, in the NFL if you are in your late 20s you may very well have past your peak.

    I like what Heckert has been doing, use free agency to fill positions of need without taking a huge financial risk and maintaining cap flexibility to extend young players that have proven (or at least hinted) that they can be successful in our system. I agree that we should try to go out and sign 3 FA starters this offseason and upgrade a few postitions, but anyone who thinks being a consistent big spender in free agency in the NFL is just ignorant of how the league works.

  • Adding a FA agent or two to fill a need or upgrade a position, no problem. Look at Philly prior to the 2011 season when they went on their FA binge...the so called "Deam Team" debacle.

  • I'd feel a little shaky about trading for Belichiks backup quarterback as Tom Brady isn't getting any younger.

    I want to puke thinking about another 5 years of rebuilding after the new regime comes in and cans everybody.

    Hopefully somebody will think a touch of consistency might be a good thing, ya think?

    But we already have two competent backup quarterbacks. Why trade for another?

    WSS

  • Its not bad to dip into FA time to time to fill holes with capable starters. You simply cannot count on the draft alone to build your team. If we fill a couple holes with a player of Frostee Ruckers caliber (G, FB, FS come to mind) it wont be expensive and anytime you upgrade the worst positions on your team with capable players you get better. The key is getting your stars through the draft.

  • FA can be a good way to fill positions as a stop gap. But most of the good players are getting overpaid. We need a corner, this FA has plenty of good ones. A sleeper guy like Derrick Cox would be awesome. If we could steal Mike Wallace from Pittsburgh who likely won't give him the money he wants, that would be swell too.

  • Weeden will be fine, but since everyone on this board wants a new QB every year, here yoiu go this yrs FA coming your way...

    Luke McCown – ATL

    Joe Flacco – BAL

    Tarvaris Jackson – BUF

    Tyler Thigpen – BUF

    Derek Anderson – CAR

    Jason Campbell – CHI

    Josh McCown – CHI

    Bruce Gradkowski – CIN

    Drew Stanton – IND

    Brady Quinn – KC

    Pat Devlin – MIA – (Ex)

    Matt Moore – MIA

    Chase Daniel – NO

    David Carr – NYG

    Matt Leinart – OAK

    Charlie Batch – PIT

    Byron Leftwich – PIT

    Kellen Clemens – STL

    Rex Grossman – WAS

  • Here is the Top 50 FA coming your way....

    Player

    Team

    Pos

    Age

    1. Ryan Clady

    Broncos

    OT

    26

    2. Jairus Byrd

    Bills

    S

    26

    3. Victor Cruz (Restricted)

    Giants

    WR

    26

    4. Andre Smith

    Bengals

    OT

    26

    5. Dwayne Bowe

    Chiefs

    WR

    28

    6. Henry Melton

    Bears

    DT

    26

    7. Greg Jennings

    Packers

    WR

    29

    8. Wes Welker

    Patriots

    WR

    32

    9. Andy Levitre

    Bills

    G

    27

    10. Joe Flacco

    Ravens

    QB

    28

    11. Sebastian Vollmer

    Patriots

    OT

    28

    12. Michael Bennett

    Buccaneers

    DE

    27

    13. Anthony Spencer

    Cowboys

    OLB

    29

    14. Steven Jackson

    Rams

    RB

    30

    15. Branden Albert

    Chiefs

    OT

    28

    16. Jake Long

    Dolphins

    OT

    28

    17. Brent Grimes

    Falcons

    CB

    30

    18. Mike Wallace

    Steelers

    WR

    26

    19. Dashon Goldson

    49ers

    S

    28

    20. Randy Starks

    Dolphins

    DT

    29

    21. Martellus Bennett

    Giants

    TE

    26

    22. Will Beatty

    Giants

    OT

    28

    23. Richard Seymour

    Raiders

    DT

    33

    24. Phil Loadholt

    Vikings

    OT

    27

    25. Aqib Talib

    Patriots

    CB

    27

    26. Jermon Bushrod

    Saints

    OT

    29

    27. Danny Amendola

    Rams

    WR

    27

    28. William Moore

    Falcons

    S

    28

    29. Kenny Phillips

    Giants

    S

    26

    30. Heath Miller

    Steelers

    TE

    30

    31. Tony Gonzalez

    Falcons

    TE

    37

    32. Philip Wheeler

    Raiders

    OLB

    28

    33. Ed Reed

    Ravens

    S

    34

    34. Chris Houston

    Lions

    CB

    28

    35. Gosder Cherilus

    Lions

    OT

    29

    36. Cliff Avril

    Lions

    DE

    26

    37. Alan Branch

    Seahawks

    DT

    28

    38. Ryan Lilja

    Chiefs

    G

    31

    39. Michael Johnson

    Bengals

    DE

    26

    40. Jason Jones

    Seahawks

    DT

    27

    41. Daryl Smith

    Jaguars

    OLB

    31

    42. Desmond Bryant

    Raiders

    DT

    27

    43. Brian Hartline

    Dolphins

    WR

    26

    44. Leodis McKelvin

    Bills

    CB

    27

    45. Danario Alexander (Restricted)

    Chargers

    WR

    25

    46. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie

    Eagles

    CB

    27

    47. Reggie Bush

    Dolphins

    RB

    28

    48. Osi Umenyiora

    Giants

    DE

    31

    49. Dwight Freeney

    Colts

    DE

    33

    50. Brian De La Puente (Restricted)

    Saints

    C

    28

  • Weeden will be fine, but since everyone on this board wants a new QB every year, here yoiu go this yrs FA coming your way...

    Luke McCown – ATL

    Joe Flacco – BAL

    Tarvaris Jackson – BUF

    Tyler Thigpen – BUF

    Derek Anderson – CAR

    Jason Campbell – CHI

    Josh McCown – CHI

    Bruce Gradkowski – CIN

    Drew Stanton – IND

    Brady Quinn – KC

    Pat Devlin – MIA – (Ex)

    Matt Moore – MIA

    Chase Daniel – NO

    David Carr – NYG

    Matt Leinart – OAK

    Charlie Batch – PIT

    Byron Leftwich – PIT

    Kellen Clemens – STL

    Rex Grossman – WAS

    @tampadawgs said:

    Weeden will be fine, but since everyone on this board wants a new QB every year, here yoiu go this yrs FA coming your way...

    Luke McCown – ATL

    Joe Flacco – BAL

    Tarvaris Jackson – BUF

    Tyler Thigpen – BUF

    Derek Anderson – CAR

    Jason Campbell – CHI

    Josh McCown – CHI

    Bruce Gradkowski – CIN

    Drew Stanton – IND

    Brady Quinn – KC

    Pat Devlin – MIA – (Ex)

    Matt Moore – MIA

    Chase Daniel – NO

    David Carr – NYG

    Matt Leinart – OAK

    Charlie Batch – PIT

    Byron Leftwich – PIT

    Kellen Clemens – STL

    Rex Grossman – WAS

    Ugly...obviously the best on there is Flacco, and he probably won't be leaving Baltimore. Given this list, I will stick with Weeden and McCoy. (and somebody that knows how to coach them)

  • Did you see there are 5 former Browns on that list

  • @tampadawgs said:

    Weeden will be fine, but since everyone on this board wants a new QB every year, here yoiu go this yrs FA coming your way...

    Luke McCown – ATL

    Joe Flacco – BAL

    Tarvaris Jackson – BUF

    Tyler Thigpen – BUF

    Derek Anderson – CAR

    Jason Campbell – CHI

    Josh McCown – CHI

    Bruce Gradkowski – CIN

    Drew Stanton – IND

    Brady Quinn – KC

    Pat Devlin – MIA – (Ex)

    Matt Moore – MIA

    Chase Daniel – NO

    David Carr – NYG

    Matt Leinart – OAK

    Charlie Batch – PIT

    Byron Leftwich – PIT

    Kellen Clemens – STL

    Rex Grossman – WAS

    Ugly...obviously the best on there is Flacco, and he probably won't be leaving Baltimore. Given this list, I will stick with Weeden and McCoy. (and somebody that knows how to coach them)

    @the-gipper said:

    Ugly...obviously the best on there is Flacco, and he probably won't be leaving Baltimore. Given this list, I will stick with Weeden and McCoy. (and somebody that knows how to coach them)

    for sure. Lots of crap out there.

  • To me free agency isn't the place to find your skill players....who let's those go all that often??

    It's a good place to find decent plug in linemen and sometimes workman like backers and kickers.

    By all means we should explore FA, but as a rule you win through the draft.

  • Here is the Top 50 FA coming your way....

    Player

    Team

    Pos

    Age

    1. Ryan Clady

    Broncos

    OT

    26

    2. Jairus Byrd

    Bills

    S

    26

    3. Victor Cruz (Restricted)

    Giants

    WR

    26

    4. Andre Smith

    Bengals

    OT

    26

    5. Dwayne Bowe

    Chiefs

    WR

    28

    6. Henry Melton

    Bears

    DT

    26

    7. Greg Jennings

    Packers

    WR

    29

    8. Wes Welker

    Patriots

    WR

    32

    9. Andy Levitre

    Bills

    G

    27

    10. Joe Flacco

    Ravens

    QB

    28

    11. Sebastian Vollmer

    Patriots

    OT

    28

    12. Michael Bennett

    Buccaneers

    DE

    27

    13. Anthony Spencer

    Cowboys

    OLB

    29

    14. Steven Jackson

    Rams

    RB

    30

    15. Branden Albert

    Chiefs

    OT

    28

    16. Jake Long

    Dolphins

    OT

    28

    17. Brent Grimes

    Falcons

    CB

    30

    18. Mike Wallace

    Steelers

    WR

    26

    19. Dashon Goldson

    49ers

    S

    28

    20. Randy Starks

    Dolphins

    DT

    29

    21. Martellus Bennett

    Giants

    TE

    26

    22. Will Beatty

    Giants

    OT

    28

    23. Richard Seymour

    Raiders

    DT

    33

    24. Phil Loadholt

    Vikings

    OT

    27

    25. Aqib Talib

    Patriots

    CB

    27

    26. Jermon Bushrod

    Saints

    OT

    29

    27. Danny Amendola

    Rams

    WR

    27

    28. William Moore

    Falcons

    S

    28

    29. Kenny Phillips

    Giants

    S

    26

    30. Heath Miller

    Steelers

    TE

    30

    31. Tony Gonzalez

    Falcons

    TE

    37

    32. Philip Wheeler

    Raiders

    OLB

    28

    33. Ed Reed

    Ravens

    S

    34

    34. Chris Houston

    Lions

    CB

    28

    35. Gosder Cherilus

    Lions

    OT

    29

    36. Cliff Avril

    Lions

    DE

    26

    37. Alan Branch

    Seahawks

    DT

    28

    38. Ryan Lilja

    Chiefs

    G

    31

    39. Michael Johnson

    Bengals

    DE

    26

    40. Jason Jones

    Seahawks

    DT

    27

    41. Daryl Smith

    Jaguars

    OLB

    31

    42. Desmond Bryant

    Raiders

    DT

    27

    43. Brian Hartline

    Dolphins

    WR

    26

    44. Leodis McKelvin

    Bills

    CB

    27

    45. Danario Alexander (Restricted)

    Chargers

    WR

    25

    46. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie

    Eagles

    CB

    27

    47. Reggie Bush

    Dolphins

    RB

    28

    48. Osi Umenyiora

    Giants

    DE

    31

    49. Dwight Freeney

    Colts

    DE

    33

    50. Brian De La Puente (Restricted)

    Saints

    C

    28

    @tampadawgs said:

    Here is the Top 50 FA coming your way....

    uh, can you not post a 12 page scroll down list?

    fuck Free agency. heckert has done good by us and the holy dollar bill bottom line.

    linebacker, linebacker, linebacker. draft.

    then corner and safety.

    our D is 2 steps away from being the best in the league.

    no receivers. gordon and little will be lighting it up next year once our old rookie QB settles down a piece and plays like the coaches think he can play.

    guarantee= next year without any major changes we go 'at least' 9-7.

  • I think you can include Alex Smith on that list, he will be cut because they won't be paying his signing bonus. That is of course if Kaepernick doesn't bomb the rest of the way.

    That list we could fill some needs from *if some become FAs*. Sean Smith, Derrick Cox, DRC, Michael Johnson (Bengals almost never pay their FA), Daryl Smith. The list of FAs is solid this year, you can't fix everything in the draft.