The Cleveland Browns are coming into the offseason with the salary cap space to spend big and after Josh Gordon was suspended for 2015, the team may look at Andre Johnson, Jeremy Maclin, Brian Hartline, Harry Douglas or Torrey Smith as potential targets and after signing Josh McCown, Ray Farmer could also look at players like Brett Hundley or Bryce Petty in the draft.
The Browns signed free agent quarterback Josh McCown last week and he likely will be the starter for 2015 over Johnny Manziel. The team had Brian Hoyer set to hit the free agent market and now he will likely be allowed to leave now that McCown has signed. According to Jeremy Fowler at ESPN.com, the Browns are planning to use their high amount of cap space and the offensive side of the ball could be a focus or Farmer.
Randall Cobb and Jeremy Maclin are two of the top wide receivers on the market and after Gordon was suspended for 2015, the Browns could look at spending on one of those players. According to Pro Football Talk, Hartline visited with the team this week and after previously playing at Ohio State he could look at a homecoming of sorts. Hartline was released by the Dolphins last week after having a down season and Douglas also will hit the market after being cut by the Falcons.
Maclin is coming off of a career season and so far negotiations have been slow with the Eagles, meaning he could hit the open market next week. The team did not use the franchise tag on him and while they traded LeSean McCoy and now have more cap space, they could let Maclin walk and give Jordan Matthews the chance to be a number one receiver. Cobb comes in after making 91 catches and scoring 12 touchdown and reports have him looking for up to $12 million per season on his next contract.
According to Rob Demovsky at ESPN, the Packers are looking at offering Cobb $9 million per season on a five year deal and that could mean he ends up elsewhere next season. Cobb is just 24 years old and Demovsky reports that he could price out of Green Bay if the Browns, Raiders or Jaguars make a big offer to him. Torrey Smith is also on the market and could be a target for the Browns. According to the Houston Chronicle, Andre Johnson could be released this offseason and he could be another potential target for the Browns.
McCown signed a three year deal and went just 1-10 last season with the Buccaneers, but the team was a mess on both sides of the ball and that likely affected his performance. McCown had a great season in limited action in 2013, throwing for 13 touchdowns and one interception in eight games with the Bears. That performance got him a contract with the Buccaneers, but he only lasted one season and dropped from 66 percent to 56 percent in completion percentage.
Fowler at ESPN.com writes that signing McCown doesn't mean the Browns won't go after a QB in the draft. Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston will be out of reach and while the team has Connor Shaw and Manziel, they could look at adding another prospect, as they have the most draft picks in the league. Brett Hundley could slip in the draft, while Fowler mentions Garrett Grayson or Bryce Petty as potential targets.
