With Day One spent---both in free agency and on draft day, too---and with the shock of the Shaun Rogers' acquisition and resultant celebrations subsided, it becomes time to wonder what will next occur for the Cleveland Browns in the area of talent acquisition.
WR Donte Stallworth and DE/OLB Travis LaBoy have left town without signing, likely meaning they won't be coming aboard. Some WR surely will, eventually, especially given the many obtuse references toward the team's third receiver, as if his identity is yet to be determined.
Maybe that guy comes in a trade involving the disappointing Travis Wilson, whereby someone parts with vet experience for raw potential. An exchange of mutual accomodation for another WR in need of a fresh start and scenery change is very possible. Tampa's Michael Clayton and Jax's Matt Jones are two who come to mind.
Someone able to compete immediately at the LOLB spot is also anticipated. Formerly alluded to as "an edge-rusher able to complement Kamerion Wimbley," the more accurate description is of "someone able to become a three-down strongside outside backer."
This guy would stuff the run, deny the edge, battle the TE, cover some and occassionally blitz. Antwan Peek arrived last year in Free Agency to perform the last duty, but is not so adept at the others. Perhaps LaBoy recognized his own limitations as regards the role and will look for a weakside 4-3 DE job, which he occupied on passing downs for Tennessee last year, aided by the attention paid to Albert Haynesworth and Kyle Vandenbosch.
Though there are questions about his health, Rosevelt Colvin remains in play for that job. Detroit's Boss Bailey is another candidate. Holdover OLBs don't defend the run at all well.
These two holes---a deep-threat third wideout and a 3-down LOLB---certainly will be addressed, but ILB persists as arguably the club's foremost liability. Alternatives are particularly slim inside.
With the sport evolving so acutely at the collegiate level, as well as in the NFL, the prototype sledgehammer ILB is among the rarest of commodities. Too much is expected in the area of coverage to entrust just anyone inside. Consequently, the game exposes its dinosaurs relatively quickly, and the Earl Holmes-types disappear, seldom to be seen again.
Maybe Philadelphia will set free Takeo Spikes. Maybe San Diego can be talked out of Lorain native Matt Wilhelm, especially now that Derek Smith has signed on following his extended tenure in SF. Bengals' Landon Johnson is ranked by many as the best available among vet free agents, but everyone knows of Cinn's struggles to defend much of anything; so how good could Johnson be? He's more chaser than stuffer, anyway.
The Niners have an intriguing talent in Brandon Moore, who has put together some outstanding games in recent seasons as a part-timer for that West Coast non-contender. But he returned to the pines when SF responded to a perceived urgency for Mississippi's Patrick Willis, who subsequently was designated NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. Moore was inexplicably relegated to the depths of Head Coach Mike Nolan's bench, despite much 2007 losing and injuries at positions he could've played. At 6-2 255, the tackling-machine would seem to fit the profile and might be available straight-up for the soon-to-be-deposed Andra Davis.
Holmes' former Pittsburgh running mate Kendrell Bell, who foolishly left the Steelers for KC green, only to discover too late he was a fish out of water on the outside in a 4-3. He played exceptionally well as AFC Def ROY in 2002, but also struggled to cover anyone. He's a downhill player who attacks the line of scrimmage and was a terror blitzing either the run or pass.
Now that he's been put onto the street, perhaps the Browns will show interest in him heretofore restrained. There is no contract to absorb and the job-description may merely require a two-down Sam LB---the strongside inside guy.
Let Bell and Moore compete for the job, even should it be that neither wins it. It is very likely they'd still manage to enhance the roster overall, even if only employed situationally or as wave pieces. The costs would be minimal and the potential upside considerable.
Maybe Moore becomes the LOLB, with Johnson and Bell in a job-share inside next to D'Qwell Jackson, with Leon Williams also competing.
This is the type of action I think will come next. This writing is just for entertainment and speculative purposes, anyhow.
An additional piece will emerge from some source to groom behind the retiring (after 2008) Joe Jurevicius. A quicker-than-fast slot piece with RAC skills, savvy, courage and dependability---a Wes Welker/Bobby Ingram type---is what I'd like for the third WR role.
Kevin Kasper, Syndric Steptoe and Efram Hill will go to camp as contestants for that slot, but none is proven at the NFL level.
With Bodden departing in the Rogers' exchange, CB joins the needs list. DEV's AJ Davis (NC State) may be someone for whom new DC Mel Tucker, formerly the secondary coach, has high hopes. Somehow this feels like the least of the club's worries. It is the one void even a fourth-round draftee---the highest remaining selection available to the Browns---could fill. After all, Brandon McDonald arrived in Round Five last year and figures to challenge Devin Holly for Bodden's job.
What is remarkable is that the team's weakest personnel area has been adequately addressed after just one day of off-season activity. Depth upfront is also somewhat good, given four able-bodied vets to rotate between the three starting slots. But another experienced 3-4 DE should be expected, as should be the eventual return of UFA NT Ethan Kelley. Former Ravens Marques Douglass and Anthony Weaver could factor.
There is also the possibility young RB Jerome Harrison might be dealt, with his position fortified behind Jamal Lewis.
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