Filling In Holes

[Hut5]

How do you think we are doing this offseason?

So far, we have picked up Eric Steinbach and Jamal Lewis, and traded Reuben Droughns to the Giants for WR Tim Carter.
from Cleveland Browns.com (http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/article.php?id=6558):
Just two days after the Browns acquired former Ravens running back Jamal Lewis, the team said 'goodbye' to its starting back from the past two seasons.

Reuben Droughns, who will be entering his eighth NFL season this fall, was traded Friday to the New York Giants for receiver Tim Carter.

During his stay in Cleveland, Droughns became the first Brown to rush for 1,000 yards in a season since 1985. He finished 2005 with 1,232 yards and broke the team's single-season record with 309 carries. His numbers regressed in '06, however, when he rushed for 758 yards on 220 carries.

Droughns came to the Browns in a March 2005 trade that sent Ebenezer Ekuban and Michael Myers to Denver.

"Reuben (Droughns) gave the Browns our first 1,000-yard rusher in 20 years during the 2005 season. We wish him the best of luck in New York," Browns general manager Phil Savage said. "As for Tim (Carter), he brings five years of NFL experience and legitimate speed to our receiving corps. We almost signed him last year as an unrestricted free agent, so he will be familiar with the Browns."

During five NFL seasons, Carter (6-feet,200 pounds) has caught 72 passes for 967 yards and 3 touchdowns. In 2006, he managed 22 receptions for 253 yards and 2 touchdowns sharing catches with Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer.

He joined the league as a second-round draft pick by the Giants in 2002 out of Auburn.

According to his bio, Carter is a cousin of Browns Hall of Fame tight end Ozzie Newsome as well as former Cleveland Indian Dwight Gooden.
This much looks positive to me, but what is your opinion? Good moves? Bad moves? Is it enough? What's next?

[Hut5]

...and then we released CB Daylon McCutcheon. He was one of three "original" Browns left on the team, and now there is only Phil Dawson and Orpheus Roye.

[mordeci]

I don't like the Steinbach signing, but that's because you took him from us. He's was our best lineman last year. Very versitile, a very good guard, good center and can fill-in at tackle. $7M is too much for a guard, any guard, but he was one of the best players in free agency this year.

I don't like the Jamal Lewis signing. He's definitely lost a step (or two). He still has power, but no speed or moves. He can't break a tackle. The first guy almost always brings him down, he'll drag them 2, 3 or 5 yards, but he will go down. He'd be an average back if he was behind a very good line. Browns' line will be better, with Steinbach, but I don't think they'll be good enough to make Lewis look good.

Carter was a decent pick up. He is all speed (a lot of speed) but no hands. They can put him on the outside on passing downs and send him deep. Because of his speed they'll have to keep a safety deep, which should open things up for Edwards and Winslow.

Rumor mill says that the front office has decreed that they take a QB with the 3rd pick. I assumed they were going to take Peterson, but that's probably out with the Lewis signing, and take Troy Smith in the 2nd round, but Smith is sliding badly since the combine and looks like a 3rd rounder.

The wags have said that Romeo hasn't had enough time to get the personel he needs to play the 3-4, but they haven't done much to get those guys this year.

[Hut5]

From ClevelandBrowns.com (http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/article.php?id=6587):
Friedman signed to 1-year deal
Jeff Walcoff, Staff Writer
03.20.2007
The Cleveland Browns have signed offensive lineman Lennie Friedman to a one-year contract, the team announced Tuesday.

After a series of injuries to the unit, Friedman provided much-needed depth along the team's offensive line at guard and center, playing in all 16 games during the 2006 season with two starts.

Friedman was acquired from the Chicago Bears via trade on Aug. 24, 2006 just 17 days prior to the start of the regular season. His two starts of the season came against Baltimore on Dec. 17 and Houston on Dec. 31.

The 30-year-old Milford, N.J. native is an eight-year veteran of the NFL. He has appeared in 81 career games (34 starts) with Denver, Washington, Chicago and the Browns. He was drafted by Denver in the second round, 61st overall, in the 1999 NFL Draft out of Duke.

The Browns have now signed three interior offensive linemen this free agency period in Friedman, Eric Steinbach and Seth McKinney.

Also this week, we signed two D-Linemen, both Smiths: 29-year-old DE Robaire Smith (http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/article.php?id=6574) (from Texas) and 25-year-old former Bengal Shaun Smith (http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/article.php?id=6578), who it looks like we plan to use as a NT.

With them stocking up on linemen via free agency it looks like management really is going to try to draft a QB early.