The Cleveland Browns are coming into 2015 with some uncertainty after a bad finish to the 2014 season and while Johnny Manziel will be back, he may not be starting and that could lead Ray Farmer to target a draft trade for Jameis Winston or Marcus Mariota, while quarterback Brian Hoyer remains an option on the free agent market this winter.
The Browns finished the season on a down note, losing their last five games of the season and to add insult to injury, star receiver Josh Gordon was suspended for Week 17. According to ESPN.com and reporter Jeremy Fowler, there are numerous options on the table for the Browns in 2015, including bringing back Hoyer as a free agent, looking at a quarterback in the draft and also considering free agents on the market. Frank Gore could be a potential target along with Jeremy Maclin, especially if Josh Gordon ends up on another team.
Jeremy Fowler at ESPN.com writes that Jameis Winston could be a potential target for the Browns if they feel he can take over as the starter, but that a trade is unlikely. If the Browns want to do it, they have the firepower, as they have two first round picks for 2014 and overall they have the most draft picks of anyone in the league for this coming draft. If the Bucs take Marcus Mariota number one overall, expect the Browns and other teams to at least call into the Titans to see what the second overall pick could be had for.
The suspension for Gordon marked the end to a very disappointing year for the receiver, as he was previously suspended 10 games at the start of the season. According to ESPN.com, Gordon was suspended for missing a team walk-through ahead of Week 17 and that docked him a game check for the final week for the season. The Browns making that move means that his free agent status is up in the air, as he was set to be an unrestricted free agent, but now he may be a restricted free agent, as this season was not an "accrued" one in hi status because he received only five game checks and not six.
The move by the Browns to suspend Gordon could lead to a battle over his free agent status and ultimately his departure from Cleveland. Gordon is as talented as anyone in the league, as he showed when he led the NFL in receiving yards, but the Browns may not be willing to commit long term with his off the field issues. Gordon led the league with 1646 yards and had a career best 87 catches and nine TDs in 2013, but in 2014 he played in only five games, finishing with 24 catches and zero touchdowns.
ESPN Cleveland's Tony Grossi wrote after the season that he had a "definite feeling" based on Farmer's end of season press conference that Gordon would not be back in 2015. If Gordon is out, expect the team to at least check in on Demaryius Thomas and Jeremy Maclin, while Larry Fitzgerald could also be a target if he is released by the Cardinals. The Browns finished the season out of the playoffs yet again despite starting the year 7-4.
