The Cleveland Browns 2014 Free Agent Signings Analysis

The Cleveland Browns do enough in the off season to win the AFC North?  The Cleveland Browns in-depth analysis of the free agents signed and players lost for the 2014 NFL season. Will these additions help The Cleveland Browns turn around their 2013 season and win the AFC North in 2014?

 

The Cleveland Browns finished the 2013 season a dismal 4-12 and it could have been worse if WR Josh Gordon didn't just overwhelm secondaries and put up multiple 200 yard games. The 2014 season brings a fresh coach, Mike Pettine and a new offensive coordinator, Kyle Shanahan. The Browns had a good draft day, 2014 Draft Report Card and Player Analysis for the Cleveland Browns if Josh Gordon isn't suspended for he year violating the substance abuse policy. If he is suspended and GM Ray Farmer knew it before the draft, it would make the draft a lot less significant for 2014. The Browns signed 4 wide receivers and unfortunately they are all scrubs with little upside. The true stars of the draft were OT Joel Bitonio, CB Justin Gilbert, and QB Johnny Manziel. I'm not a fan of Manziel and see limited success but the Browns love failing QBs and he could be the biggest one yet to fall from grace in Cleveland. The Browns will miss SS T.J. Ward and little else. They have been a sub performing team and it shows in their terrible free agent signings. The only two signings I like are the RB Ben Tate signing from Houston and SS Donte Whitner from the 49ers. I don't see the rest moving the needle on the win/loss record.

Players lost in the off season to other teams

• Jason Campbell, QB--9th season, signed by The Cincinnati Bengals


• Oniel Cousins, G--6th season, signed by The Tampa Bay Buccaneers


• Caleb Hanie, QB--6th season, signed by The Dallas Cowboys


• D'Qwell Jackson, ILB--8th season, signed by The Indianapolis Colts


• Shawn Lauvao, G--4th season, signed by The Washington Redskins


• Naaman Roosevelt, WR--3rd season, signed by The Detroit Lions


• Alex Tanney, QB--2nd season, signed by The Tampa Bay Buccaneers


• T.J. Ward, SS--4th season, signed by The Denver Broncos


• Brandon Weeden, QB--2nd season, signed by The Dallas Cowboys

Players signed in free agency from other teams

• Anthony Armstrong, WR--4th season, signed from The Dallas Cowboys


• Miles Austin, WR--8th season, signed from The Dallas Cowboys


• Nate Burleson, WR--11th season, signed from The Detroit Lions


• Karlos Dansby, ILB--10th season, signed from The Arizona Cardinals


• Jim Dray, TE--4th season, signed from The Arizona Cardinals


• Larry Grant, LB--5th season, signed from The Chicago Bears


• Andrew Hawkins, WR--3rd season, signed from The Cincinnati Bengals


• Paul McQuistan, T--8th season, signed from The Seattle Seahawks


• Chris Pressley, FB--5th season, signed from The Cincinnati Bengal


• Ben Tate, RB--4th season, signed from The Houston Texans


• Isaiah Trufant, DB--3rd season, signed from The New York Jets


• Donte Whitner, SS--8th season, signed from The San Francisco 49ers

Can The Cleveland Browns make it to the playoffs in 2014?

I predict another last place finish in their division. Outside of WR Josh Gordon and RB Ben Tate, here is little reason the Browns are going to be any better than the 2013 season. They just don't have the talent on either side of the ball. They are almost like a poorman's Cincinnati Bengals and that's not saying much. Nice thing is we will mostly likely get a chance to watch Manziel fail in his first year as QB. Without a receiving corps and other defensive players wanting to level him, it won't be long before he is wheeled off on a stretcher.