First, I'll update everyone on what the Browns have done so far this offseason.
-Feb 21: Re-sign RB Jamal Lewis to a 3-year deal. This was a crucial move for the Browns, as Lewis could have been a Free Agent and if he left it would have left the Browns without a proven tailback.
-Feb 27: Terminate the contract of DE Orpehus Roye. Roye was a stalwart among the defensive front for the Browns for the past eight years, but he's 35 and his best days are behind him. This was an expected move to start the revamping of the Browns' front four.
-Feb 29: Re-sign QB Derek Anderson to a 3-year deal. This solidifies the QB position for the Browns for the first time in a long time, and it looks like Anderson has a bright future in Cleveland.
-Trade second round pick to Green Bay for DE Corey Williams. Williams is one of the best pass rushing defensive lineman in the league, and he'll play end in the Browns 3-4, taking over for previously released Orpheus Roye.
-Mar 1: Trade CB Leigh Bodden and a third round pick to Detroit to acquire DT Shaun Rogers. Rogers is another one of the most talented defensive linemen in the NFL, and he'll shore up the nose tackle position in the middle of the Browns' defense.
-Sign WR Donte' Stallworth to a 7-year deal to become the Browns' number two receiver behind Braylon Edwards. This gives the Browns three legitimate receiving options: Edwards, Stallworth, and tight end Kellen Winslow.
So it looks like the Browns are done. They came into the offseason with four major needs: re-sign Anderson (check), re-sign Lewis (check), get defensive line help (check times two), and find another receiving option that brought something new to the table (check). In shoring up their team, however, the Browns have left themselves two holes. First, they have no first day picks in the Draft (they traded their first rounder last year for the right to draft Brady Quinn). Also, in trading Bodden, they left their secondary a bit bare.
Both of those holes can still be filled, though. First, if they want to get back into the first day of the Draft to possibly draft a cornerback, they could always use Quinn - not Anderson - as trade bait. This year's draft is stacked at cornerback, and the Browns might be able to eek out a first rounder with Quinn (there are a few teams, like the Bears, that need a QB). The two cornerback spots could be turned over to two second year players, Eric Wright and Brandon McDonald. Both played well last year and both are prototypical corners. I'm not fully sold on handing both of them the reigns to the secondary, but they seem to be more than capable of at least doing a decent job. Also, you never know what is going to happen with Gary Baxter, who is still under contract by the Browns.
Here is a position-by-position breakdown of the current team:
Quarterback
Starter: Derek Anderson
Backups: Brady Quinn, Ken Dorsey
Anderson should be the starter going into next year after making the Pro Bowl in his first full season as a starter. There is water cooler talk that either Anderson or Quinn could be traded so that the Browns can make it back into the first day of the Draft, but GM Phil Savage has stayed firm, saying that he will go into next year with both Anderson and Quinn on the roster.
Anderson surprised many with his Pro Bowl performance in 2007, and he should be given a shot to show that he is the QB of the future for this team in 2008.
Running back
Starter: Jamal Lewis
Backups: Jason Wright, Jerome Harrison, Kory Chapman
Lewis is the definite starter here, as he revamped his career last year, going for over 1000 yards. He'll be 29 when the season starts, though, and the clock on his career is officially ticking. Wright and Harrison both did a nice job spelling Lewis last year, but neither really shined enough to stand out as a possible future starter.
Fullback
Starter: Lawrence Vickers
Backup: Charles Ali
Vickers is one of the best young FBs in the league, and he did a nice job lead blocking for Lewis last year, his first as a starter. He can also catch a few passes out of the backfield.
Wide receiver
Starters: Braylon Edwards, Donte' Stallworth
Backups: Tim Carter, Joe Jurevicius, Travis Wilson
Edwards is on the cusp of becoming an elite receiver, and the newly acquired Stallworth brings a much-needed possession receiver to the mix for third down, so that Anderson has an option other than Winslow when he needs a sure catch. The backups could be better.
Edwards will look to solidify himself among the NFL elite in 2008.
Tight end
Starter: Kellen Winslow
Backup: Steve Heiden
Winslow is a second-tier TE behind guys like Antonio Gates and Anthony Gonzalez, but he could move up to that first tier with a solid performance this year. Heiden is consistent, but will never be great.
Winslow is the Browns' surehanded option and will be a big piece of this team for the foreseeable future.
Tackle
Starters: Joe Thomas (LT), Kevin Shaffer (RT)
Backups: Ryan Tucker, Nat Dorsey
Thomas surprised many by making the Pro Bowl as a rookie, and he became the anchor of this much-improved offensive line. Tucker and Shaffer will compete for the second year in a row to become the starting RT.
Guard
Starters: Eric Steinbach (LG), Seth McKinney (RG)
Backups: Isaac Sowells, Lennie Friedman
Steinbach is solid on the left side, but McKinney is just average on the right. There is the possibility that either Tucker or Shaffer could move inside if the need arises. Sowells is a good young player that has the potential to eventually start.
Center
Starter: Hank Fraley
Backup: LeCharles Bentley
Fraley has been solid since the Browns acquired him from the Eagles, but there is always hope in Cleveland that former All-Pro LeCharles Bently can one day make it back on the field. That would make this the best offensive line in the league.
Defensive End
Starters: Corey Williams, Robaire Smith
Backups: Simon Fraser, Chase Pittman
Williams will have to adjust to 3-4 end from 4-3 tackle, but he's a solid pass rusher and should do just fine. Smith is average on the other side, and he is used mainly for run stuffing. Fraser could eventually crack the starting lineup if he continues to develop.
Nose Tackle
Starter: Shaun Rogers
Backups: Shaun Smith, Ethan Kelley
After being forced to sign 38-year-old Ted Washington last year to have a decent nose tackle, the Browns finally made a big splash at the position with the acquisition of Rogers. He won't have great stats, but he will eat up blockers in the middle of that 3-man line. Smith and Kelley are both solid players, and one could be moved (either to end or in a trade), just because of a lack of playing time.
The acquisition of Rogers will go a long way to shore up the Browns average defensive line from the past years.
Outside Linebacker
Starters: Kamerion Wimbley, Antwan Peek
Backups: Willie McGinnest, David McMillan, Chaun Thompson
Wimbley is a solid pass rusher on one side, but the other is wide open. Peek is the frontrunner to win that spot, but McGinnest, McMillan, and Leon Williams will all vie to take it away from him.
Wimbley took big strides as a pass rusher in 2007, and he looks capable of making the Pro Bowl in 2008.
Middle Linebacker
Starters: Andra Davis, D'Qwell Jackson
Backups: Leon Williams, Matt Stewart
Davis and Jackson are solidified tackling machines and are the starters, but Williams will get on the field along with Chaun Thompson in smaller roles. Stewart will be a special teams player.
Cornerback
Starters: Eric Wright, Brandon McDonald
Backups: Daven Holley, Mike Adams
This is a very young crop. Wright and McDonald look to be the starters right now - and they have a good shot to be solid - but there is hope that some more help could be found on the outside. Gary Baxter is always a possibility, but chances are that his career is done. The backups are below average.
McDonald came on strong at the end of last year as a rookie, but he'll need to show that he can be consistent if he is inserted into the starting lineup in 2008.
Safety
Starters: Sean Jones, Brodney Pool
Backups: Kenny Wright, Nick Sorensen
Jones and Pool are two of the best young safties in the NFL, and they are definitely the best young safety duo. The backups are questionable, and the team should look for what help they can get in the draft at this position.
Kicker/Punter
Starters: Phil Dawson (K), Dave Zastudil (P)
Dawson is always solid and will doink in a few long ones this year. Zastudil battled injuries last year, but it looks like he is finally healthy and should be back on the field at the start of the season.
Blog Schedule
Mon: Weekend Wrapup
Tue: Varies
Wed: Random MMA Thoughts
Thu: Varies
Fri: Draft Talk (Ultimate Fighter blog from yesterday)
Sat: Varies
Sun: Who is the Greatest? (debuts TOMORROW!)
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