Browns' Free Agent Update

Just as Free Agency has begun, the Browns have quickly struck two deals upgrading an average, to below average Offensive Line unit. Surprise…surprise! Not much has been mentioned about the Browns upgrading a notoriously neglected unit this off-season as its depth is still weaker than you would like to see, but the Browns made big waves by signing what could be the best overall Free Agent on the market: Center - LeCharles Bentley. They also inked up-and-coming Left Tackle Kevin Shaffer (former Falcon) in a possible move to replace Free Agent L.J. Shelton.

Last year, when Phil Savage took over player personnel moves from egotistical bastard Butch Davis, the Browns wasted no time by addressing one of the weakest Offensive Lines in the league by bringing in L.J. Shelton, Cosey Coleman, and veteran leader Joe Andruzzi to upgrade a weak unit. The Offensive Line responded by having one of their best seasons in a while helping Ruben Droughns become the first Browns’ RB in 20 years to rush for 1000 yards.

The Browns have wisely continued the upgrading by bringing in young stud LeCharles Bentley, a Cleveland native who played for High School powerhouse St. Ignatius, and went on to Ohio State. I love this player and was a little miffed when Butch Davis didn’t try and draft this guy when he came into the NFL and went to the Saints. Bentley is a beast of an interior lineman that can push around big interior defensive lineman and is just entering an age (26) where he can be hitting his prime.

While the Browns seemed set at starting guards and center with Coleman, Andruzzi, and Center Jeff Faine, Andruzzi is getting older, and there’s still no guarantee that Faine can stick as the Browns’ Center. Bentley makes the interior line options just that much better and really helps improve an OL that has been atrocious since the “new” Browns have been born.

This move comes as a big surprise since it appeared that Bentley seemed set to sign with the Philadelphia Eagles this weekend as rumors were running that he had already agreed to a deal with them. Then late reports surfaced today that he was flying in to visit with Cleveland. Before you knew it, Cleveland snatched the top O-Lineman in Free Agency. Bentley’s contract is 6 years for $36 million. This is the second big deal Savage has doled out in 2 seasons as they gave CB Gary Baxter a similar deal last off-season.

Let’s not forget the Kevin Shaffer deal. Shaffer is the 26th rated Free Agent on ESPN.com’s player ratings, and is considered an improving talent at the Left Tackle position. He was one of those late round finds from college who went in the 7th round, and has worked his way into being a good NFL player by being a starter for Atlanta since 2003. Shaffer’s scouting report says that he can still have problems with speed rushers, but is continually improving into a solid Left Tackle. Shaffer’s deal went for a staggering 7 years at around $5 million per year.

The Shaffer deal most likely spells the end of L.J. Shelton’s stint as the Browns’ Left Tackle. While he was good, he wasn’t great, and he may be heading down to Miami now since the Browns couldn’t reach an extension with Shelton before Free Agency began.

Overall, I like the two moves. Shaffer is young and coming into his own, and Bentley has the potential to be one of the best interior lineman in the NFL for the next 5 years or so. I’ve always advocated that the Browns should continually work on stacking talent at the OL position. That’s the way to build up a solid OL. They never did that with Dwight Clark and Butch Davis running the show. Now it appears Savage is doing the right thing.

Stay tuned for more Cleveland Browns Free Agent updates. There are still several players from my March 10th Free Agency introduction that the Browns are still linked to signing, including a potential signing of WR Joe Jurevicious who is rumored to be closing in on a 4 year deal with the team when he visits the Browns tomorrow.