Cleveland Browns: A Team Built to Fail Again and Again

facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 6
Next

Apr 30, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; A general view of the stage before the 2015 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

Free Agency Misses

Then there’s free agency. Company guys, and hard working guys like Scott Fujita, Willie McGinest, Paul Kruger and now Dwayne Bowe have found themselves signed to lucrative contracts. However, almost none of these guys contributed in a way that revolutionized the defense or the offense.

The problem with every GM in Cleveland since 1999 is that they don’t, or possibly can’t draw young successful free agents to town. Sure, it’s not too often that talented receivers or big-play defensive players get away from their current teams, but it does happen.

More from Cleveland Browns

When it appeared the Ravens weren’t going to re-sign nose tackle Haloti Ngata, how were the Browns not interested? Even if they loved Danny Shelton, or loved Phil Taylor, the prospect of signing a talented player and steal talent from a division rival should have gained more traction. Then there’s WR Brandon Marshall being waived around in a trade, WR Anquan Boldin who’s older but remains productive, and even the thought to entertain a deal for RB Adrian Peterson.

Yet the Browns didn’t make any of those moves, and instead have an expensive $82 million payroll on a bottom ranked defense, along with a guy like Bowe, who signed a $9 million guaranteed contract for two years and has all of three catches to show for it in year one.

The Browns continue to make the wrong moves, not only in the draft but also in free agency.

Next: It's Time To Blow It Up