The NFL free agent period has started and with rumors coming that the Cleveland Browns could trade quarterback Brandon Weeden, the team has a big decision to make on Jason Campbell and if they decide to cut him, players like Tim Tebow, Johnny Manziel, Josh Freeman and Michael Vick could be potential targets, as the franchise has money to spend in free agency.
The team has already begun adding players, signing Karlos Dansby and Donte Whitner while also bringing in Andrew Hawkins on a restricted deal and now they could turn to the quarterback position. The Browns were one of the teams calling about a Darrelle Revis deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but that appears to have fallen through and now the team could look to spend in other areas. Weeden did not do much last season and Pro Football Talk reports that he hopes to be out of Cleveland for next season.
The Jaguars traded away former top 10 pick Blaine Gabbert for a sixth round pick, so Weeden likely would not net the team too much, but it could be better than what he was giving them last season. Tebow is a fun name to throw out there, but we all know that is very unlikely, while names like Josh Freeman, Michael Vick or David Carr could come in to be a backup for the team. Johnny Manziel and Blake Bortles remain draft options for the Browns, but it's still unclear what they will do with their top five pick, as names like Jadeveon Clowney and Sammy Watkins could be available at number four.
The team has started to spend in free agency in the hopes of turning things around and they lost one elite safety in TJ Ward and replaced him with another in Whitner, while they did the same with Dansby coming in for D'Qwell Jackson at linebacker. According to ESPN.com, the Browns will make their decision on Campbell this week, as he is set to have a $250,000 roster bonus on Thursday and so far the backup has no idea what will happen. Campbell said that he did not know yet what the Browns would be doing and this comes after he started half the games for the team and he had 11 touchdowns and eight interceptions while competing less than 60 percent of his passes and the team only won one of those games that he was the starter for.
New head coach Mike Pettine may want to put his own stamp on the quarterback position at the starter and backup and Campbell could have a place in either role if he remains with the team. The Browns have a dynamic receiver in Josh Gordon and adding a name like Hawkins to a group that has Greg Little as well could be a solid core for the offense. The Brosna re coming off of another tough season and they could also be in the market for a running back after Trent Richardson was traded during the season and names like Ben Tate and Knowshon Moreno could be solid targets.
