There are some things we know about the new regime of the Browns that offer clues about how it’ll handle free agency, which unofficially begins when agents are permitted to enter negotiations with teams at 4 p.m. Monday and officially kicks off when contracts are allowed to be executed at 4 p.m. Wednesday.
1. The Browns are in serious danger of losing four key impending unrestricted free agents — three-time Pro Bowl center Alex Mack, 30, right tackle Mitchell Schwartz, 26, wide receiver Travis Benjamin, 26, and former Pro Bowl free safety Tashaun Gipson, 25. They’re cornerstones of the team, but the franchise doesn’t want to overpay for them.
“I don’t think we want to be players in that type of situation because at the same time that’s going to give somebody else another opportunity to come in and play for us,” coach Hue Jackson said Thursday at the Cleveland Auto Show. “I don’t want to lose any of our free agents. I will say that again — I really don’t. But if we do, then that’s a scenario that we have to be ready for.”
2. Although the Browns want the NFL Draft to be their bread and butter for building, they would like to sign two or three starters in free agency.
“That would be one of the goals,” Jackson said Thursday.
3. A new coaching staff likes to acquire free agents who have previously played for it. Jackson said Feb. 24 at the NFL Scouting Combine he values free agents who have played in his system, provided they’re the right fit.
4. With the Browns committed to analytics, one criterion for being the right fit is age.
“We do want to make sure that as we’re adding players, we’re adding young players,” head of football operations Sashi Brown said Tuesday on the team’s radio show.
So don’t expect them to sign players in their 30s, unless it’s a cheap, short-term deal. Mack might be among the few possible exceptions.
5. The Browns could use help at virtually every position.
“There’s a lot of holes,” Jackson conceded Thursday.
Keeping those factors in mind, below is a breakdown of the Browns’ primary needs with free agency around the corner.
All players listed are younger than 30 and set to become unrestricted free agents. Ties to the Browns’ coaching staff are noted in parenthesis. Keep an eye on those players in particular.
Quarterback
Best available
Brock Osweiler, 25, Denver; Chase Daniel, 29, Kansas City; Case Keenum, 28, Los Angeles.
Prediction: The Browns will draft a quarterback — North Dakota State’s Carson Wentz or California’s Jared Goff — second overall on April 28. They have been linked to Osweiler, but the Broncos will retain him.
Linebacker
Best available
Outside: Bruce Irvin, 28, Seattle; Aldon Smith, 26, Oakland; Nick Perry, 25, Green Bay; Mike Neal, 28, Green Bay; O’Brien Schofield, 28, Atlanta (played for defensive coordinator Ray Horton when he held same role in Arizona).
Inside: Danny Trevathan, 25, Denver; Rolando McClain, 26 (drafted by Oakland when Jackson was offensive coordinator); Jerrell Freeman, 29, Indianapolis (associate head coach-offense Pep Hamilton on staff); Demario Davis, 27, New York Jets (outside linebackers coach Ryan Slowik on staff); Vincent Rey, 28, Cincinnati (Jackson on staff); Zach Brown, 26, Tennessee (Horton on staff).
Other familiar faces: outside linebackers Sam Acho, 27, Bears (drafted by Arizona when Horton was defensive coordinator); Emmanuel Lamur, 26, Cincinnati (Horton on staff); and Steven Johnson, 27, Tennessee (Horton on staff).
Prediction: The Browns add an inside linebacker in free agency, with part-time starter Craig Robertson headed for the open market, and draft an edge rusher.
Offensive line
Best available
Center: Stefen Wisniewski, 26, Jacksonville (drafted by Oakland when Jackson was head coach); Ben Jones, 26, Houston; Tim Barnes, 27, Los Angeles; J.D. Walton, 28, San Diego.
Right tackle: Ryan Schraeder, 27, Atlanta; Andre Smith, 29, Cincinnati (Jackson on staff); Joe Barksdale, 28, San Diego (drafted by Oakland when Jackson was head coach).
Prediction: The Browns retain Mack or Schwartz and replace the other in free agency. Jackson drafted Wisniewski and Barksdale in the second and third rounds, respectively.
Wide receiver
Best available
Marvin Jones, 25, Cincinnati (Jackson on staff); Rueben Randle, 24, New York Giants; Mohamed Sanu, 26, Cincinnati (Jackson on staff); Rishard Matthews, 26, Miami; Jermaine Kearse, 26, Seattle.
Another familiar face: Darrius Heyward-Bey, 29, Pittsburgh (starter for Oakland when Jackson was head coach).
Prediction: The Browns will let Benjamin slip away and sign one of the Bengals. They’ll also draft a receiver, even if Josh Gordon lessens the need by being reinstated.
Defensive back
Best available
Safety: George Iloka, 25, Cincinnati (Jackson on staff); Walter Thurmond, 28, Philadelphia; Rodney McLeod, 25, Los Angeles; Isa Abdul-Quddus, 26, Detroit; Tyvon Branch, 29, Kansas City (starter for Oakland when Jackson was head coach).
Cornerback: Janoris Jenkins, 27, Los Angeles; Casey Hayward, 26, Green Bay; Sean Smith, 28, Kansas City; Prince Amukamara, 26, New York Giants; Patrick Robinson, 28, San Diego; Nolan Carroll, 29, Philadelphia; Jerraud Powers, 28, Arizona;
Other familiar faces: cornerbacks Coty Sensabaugh, 27, Tennessee (Horton on staff) and Jamell Fleming, 26, Kansas City (drafted by Arizona when Horton was defensive coordinator).
Prediction: Gipson leaves, and the Browns sign his successor. There’s much more depth at cornerback than free safety in this year’s draft class.
Tight end
Best available
Ladarius Green, 25, San Diego (drafted by San Diego when offensive line coach Hal Hunter was offensive coordinator); Dwayne Allen, 26, Indianapolis (Hamilton on staff); Coby Fleener, 27, Indianapolis (Hamilton on staff); Jermaine Gresham, 27, Arizona (starter for Cincinnati with Jackson on staff).
Prediction: The Browns sign a No. 2 tight end to pair with Pro Bowler Gary Barnidge.
Other positions they could target in free agency: Defensive line, running back, kicker.
Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Browns blog at www.ohio.com/browns. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/NateUlrichABJ and on Facebook www.facebook.com/abj.sports.