NFL free agency is about to kick off, though teams are technically allowed to negotiate with available players today in the legal tampering period. It’s a bit of a strange policy, but it also gives teams trying to fill roster spots a chance to get an advanced start leading up to Wednesday, when contracts can officially be signed.
With holes seemingly across the board, the Cleveland Browns definitely need to take advantage of the next two days. Dealing with both a miserable reputation and yet another rebuild on the horizon, Cleveland will obviously have to put in a ton of effort if it intends to target some of the best available players.
Per a recent report, the Browns may already have a primary player in their cross-hairs. It seems new coach Hue Jackson intends to go after one of the top receivers from his former team.
Word is Jackson plans to pursue Cincinnati Bengals free agent Marvin Jones. The wideout is coming off quite a solid season, and Cleveland is in dire need of an upgrade at receiver. Obviously Jones would be a welcome addition to a weak receiving corps.
However, if the Browns truly want to acquire Jones, it may involve going against their game plan for the offseason. Jackson and crew essentially intimated they planned on building the team through the draft and not breaking the bank for free agents. If they want Jones, though, it’s going to require opening the checkbook.
Again, this signing definitely would definitely make sense for Cleveland. After the past regime seemed to believe there was no point in acquiring receivers above 5-foot-9, a wideout of Jones’ stature (6-foot-2) would be a welcome addition. As it stands, the Browns could even go as far as making him their No. 1 receiver, which could also help the cause.
That said, Jones is going to be a relatively hot commodity. He’s currently one of the best receivers available, and while he likes Jackson, the team can’t afford to assume said connection would allow them to make a low offer.
This isn’t to suggest Cleveland would attempt to lowball Jones. At the same time, the team has implied spending in free agency may not be high despite an enormous amount of available cap space. But, if the Browns seriously want to sign Jones, even offering him market value may not be enough.
Unfortunately, despite the positive vibes coming from hiring Jackson, Cleveland still isn’t exactly an ideal landing spot for any free agent. Because of this, the team may have to overpay guys like Jones. While this is completely understandable and is a move the team has made in the past, will the new front office be willing to do such a thing?
This will be the conundrum facing Cleveland with Jones and any other free agent it’s hoping to sign. The Browns are going to have to look at each potential target and determine whether or not the player merits going back on their plan to not throw out gigantic offers in free agency. They’ll have to decide if they think a specific player is worth a high bid, if they’ll be getting enough talent back to potentially shorten the oncoming rebuild.
You can’t say for sure Jones’ signing would be a game-changer for Cleveland, but you also wouldn’t fault the team for offering higher than market value. Quite frankly, they may have to due to the Browns’ current reputation.
Such is life for the new regime in Cleveland. The front office may claim it’s all about building through the draft instead of making splashes free agency. That said, if the Browns want to lure any legit free agents like Jones into town, it’s going to have to involve sizable offers.
