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Cleveland Browns: Guide for the next Front Office

By Rodney Stokes Jr

Jan 3, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; A Cleveland Browns fan displays the names of the quarterbacks since 1999 on a mask during the fourth quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Steelers beat the Browns 28-12. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 3, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; A Cleveland Browns fan displays the names of the quarterbacks since 1999 on a mask during the fourth quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Steelers beat the Browns 28-12. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 30, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns inside linebacker Karlos Dansby (56) reacts to returning an interception in the second half against the Baltimore Ravens at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Ravens won 33-27. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 30, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns inside linebacker Karlos Dansby (56) reacts to returning an interception in the second half against the Baltimore Ravens at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Ravens won 33-27. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

Use the Off-Season to Improve..

A team that had one of the highest cap spaces in the league last year should not be walking out as one of the highest coming into the next year. Use your money. This isn’t your high school savings account that earns you a little bit of interest every year. It’s the NFL, where money is meant to be spent. I know Cleveland’s a traditional football team, but there’s nothing wrong with flashing your money at a top free agent and signing them for a top deal.

Of course, they have to be willing to come there, but dollar signs moved Eric Decker to New York and Ndamukong Suh to Miami. The signing of Josh McCown was a good one, but they had an even better option in Hoyer last year. While he didn’t put up quite the same numbers as McCown, he was able to find ways to win.

That in itself should be the main focus for the Browns; find winners. Make sure you’re retaining guys that deserve to be there, especially if it comes down to the dollar amount. They did great in 2014 signing Dansby and Whitner, two players that came from strong organizations and replaced players that weren’t vocal leaders. However, they failed in retaining some of the top talent that was already on the team in Skrine, Sheard and Rubin. Signing veterans can be a good thing, but making sure they can still play at a high level is also important when you consider the signings of Tramon Williams and Randy Starks.

Let’s not forget the bench leader in Dwayne Bowe either (yikes!). There’s a number of top free agents coming out and not all of them will re-sign with their previous team. It’s important that the Browns take a step forward and flash the dollar signs at some of these guys looking to cash in for the next year.

Next: The Draft

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