Mike Holmgren was hired as President of the Browns back in December, but his job really starts now. Today is the first day of the NFL’s free agency period, and Holmgren and new GM Tom Heckert have been busy getting ready for this time. Now is the time these guys can make their first impact on this football team.
The Browns released offensive lineman Hank Fraley and put second round tender offers on their restricted free agents, including LB D’Qwell Jackson, S Abram Elam, and RB Jerome Harrison. The second round tender means the brown and orange will receive that pick if another team signs these players to offer sheets and the Browns do not match the offer.
In other words, Holmgren is saying he’d be happy to take a 2nd round pick in exchange for any of them.
Also, the team is reportedly trading defensive lineman Corey Williams to the Lions for a late round draft pick.
Holmgren and Heckert are clearing the roster of players they do not deem to have a significant future for this franchise, thus making room for players who can help the Browns immediately. Any extra second round picks received in return would help in making deals for veterans, perhaps a quarterback, on draft day.
Also, the front office is not getting hamstrung in regards to the salary cap by paying too much for average type players. This has been a weakness for this organization in the past. For example, the new regime regards Jackson as a good linebacker, not a difference maker. Therefore, they have decided he will be paid accordingly.
Soon, QB Derek Anderson will also be released so as to not pay him a roster bonus. Which brings into question, who will play quarterback for the 2010 Cleveland Browns? Most likely, The Big Show will trade for a veteran to start, have Brady Quinn in reserve, and draft a developmental guy late in this year’s draft. The accumulation of draft picks last year by Eric Mangini will facilitate that search.
In free agency, it looks like the first targets for the new management team are LB Scott Fujita and DT Justin Bannan. Fujita was with New Orleans for many years, and presumably would take Jackson’s place at inside linebacker. The Browns will be Fujita’s first visit. Bannan played for Baltimore last season and is said to be meeting with both the Browns and the Broncos.
Since this is the first off-season for Holmgren and Heckert with the Browns, it will be interesting to see how they operate in the off-season. The decisions made right now will most definitely impact how they approach the draft. The early returns say the new guys are not really enamored with the talent on the roster. Look for a major roster overhaul before training camp starts.
No problem with that. Remember that the Browns were 1-11 at one point last season.
JD
Cleveland Sports Perspective 