The Cleveland Browns signed Josh McCown this week and he likely will be the starter over Johnny Manziel for 2015 and now the team may focus on the rest of the offense in free agency, as players like Randall Cobb, Jeremy Maclin, Julius Thomas, Brian Hartline, Ted Ginn and Harry Douglas could be potential options on the market.
The Browns started Brian Hoyer and Johnny Manziel last season before turning to Connor Shaw when they went down with injuries. According to ESPN.com, McCown signed a three year deal and general manager Ray Farmer was quoted as saying that McCown can give the team leadership in the locker room and on the field. McCown was a target for the Buffalo Bills and it appeared he would sign there, but McCown opted to settle on Cleveland, who needed a quarterback badly after the way last year ended.
McCown also was a potential option for the New York Jets and he also met with the Chicago Bears. According to Jeremy Fowler, McCown was negotiating with the Browns and the Bills before deciding on Cleveland. The move with McCown likely means that Brian Hoyer will not be coming back and now he could end up in Buffalo or with the Jets. Hoyer started the season 7-4 and had the Browns in the playoffs race before the team faltered down the stretch.
The Browns are projected to have over $50 million in cap space and that means they may look at signing a number of players on both sides of the ball. The team needs playmakers on offense and with Josh Gordon out for next year with a suspension, players like Cobb, Maclin, Hartline, Julius Thomas and Torrey Smith could be targets. Cobb and Maclin are coming off of career seasons and could price out of their current spots, while Thomas is expected to leave Denver. ESPN.com also adds that Hartline could be a target after his release from the Dolphins, while Jerry Hughes and Mathias Kiwanuka could be options at linebacker.
McCown had a strong season in 2013 and parlayed that into a contract with the Buccaneers. Things did not go well in 2014, as McCown went 1-10 as a starter and put up 2,206 passing yards with 11 touchdowns and 14 interceptions for Tampa Bay. McCown previously started nine games for the Raiders and while he was in Oakland he worked with new Browns offensive coordinator John DeFilippo when he was QB coach. That connection should help the Browns, who had issues with coordinator Kyle Shanahan last year.
McCown now has the inside track to be the starter and as a longtime veteran, he can help mentor Manziel as a young quarterback. Manziel got the chance to start late in the season and ended up getting injured and this offseason he entered rehab treatment. The team reportedly was interested in bringing back Hoyer, but only at "the right price" and now McCown leads the group of Manziel and Shaw, while Farmer could also look at bringing in another prospect in the draft.
