The Cleveland Browns are coming into the 2015 season with a ton of cap space and after the disaster at the end of last season, the team could spend its way out and names like Ndamukong Suh, Randall Cobb, Jeremy Maclin, Julius Thomas, Torrey Smith, CJ Spiller, Mark Ingram and Larry Fitzgerald could be potential targets for the team if they are on the market in March.
The Browns ended the season on a down note while losing five straight games and with the recent news on Josh Gordon and Johnny Manziel, owner Jimmy Haslam and general manager Ray Farmer have plenty to deal with in the offseason. According to Over the Cap, the Browns are projected to have over $50 million in salary cap space this offseason and that means they have the potential to spend big in 2015 with a deep free agent class.
There are a number of top name players on the market this year on both sides of the ball and the Browns could use to add on offense and defense after the way they ended this season. Ndamukong Suh is one of the top players on the market and reports have him looking to be one of the highest paid defensive players in the league, meaning the Browns could be in the mix to sign him with the cap space they have. Josh Gordon was suspended again and that could lead Cleveland to look at signing Jeremy Maclin, Randall Cobb, Torrey Smith or Cecil Shorts in free agency.
Gordon was suspended for 10 games last season to start the year and he only played in five games before getting suspended by the team for Week 17. Gordon is now facing another suspension and he will be out for the 2015 season for Cleveland. Maclin is a strong option on the market, as he could leave Philadelphia after having a bounce back season after missing 2013 with an injury. Maclin set career highs last year with 85 receptions and 1318 yards and 10 touchdowns for the Eagles and he could be a potential target, as the Newark Star-Ledger reports the two sides have "hit a wall" in contract talks.
Randall Cobb is hitting the market for the Packers and while NFL.com reports that Cobb "prefers" to stay in Green Bay, there is a chance that he could price out if he looks for a big contract. Jeremy Fowler at ESPN.com writes that Cobb could be a main target with Dez Bryant and Demaryius Thomas expected to stay with their original teams. Cobb had 91 catches for 1287 yards and 12 touchdowns last season while playing with Aaron Rodgers.
Julius Thomas is another potential target, as Jordan Cameron is expected to leave Cleveland and he is the top tight end on the market. Thomas has had 24 touchdown receptions over the last two seasons, including 12 last year, and he could price out of Denver, as the team also has to sign Demaryius Thomas. Pro Football Talk reports that Cameron is "not interested" in coming back to Cleveland next year and that could open things up for Thomas or Jermaine Gresham on the market.
The Browns started the 2014 season with potential and promise, as Brian Hoyer led the team to a 7-4 record and they were right in the playoff race before faltering down the stretch. The team ended the season on a five game losing streak and quarterback Johnny Manziel recently entered rehab treatment.