With teams working to get under cap before February 27th, the offseason has truly started.  Already we've seen some talented players like Fred Taylor and Chris McAlister hit the market as cuts.  As the reader, we want to know what your dream plans are.

Currently the NFL salary cap is set for $123 million for 2009.   If you would like a nice breakdown of how the cap works, check out this article by Al Lackner.  Right now it looks like the Browns have roughly $17 million in cap space, which is an average amount.  That would probably preclude them from having a huge offseason like they had under Phil Savage in 2005-2007.

Mike Florio of PFW has broken down the free agents by team and position.  Both are updated as of today.

So what is your plan for the Browns in free agency?  Leave us a comment and let us know what you would do, or what you think the Browns should do.

Aaron Curry, OLB, Wake Forest -Mel Kiper

Comment: No new change with this selection.  Curry is the top rated linebacker on most draft boards.

Everette Brown, DE, Florida State & Sean Smith, CB, Utah – Todd McShay

Comment:  Brown probably could be had a few picks back, but the Browns would need to stay in front of the Packers, who are interested in Brown.  Smith is an interesting cornerback prospect who may not be available in the second round.  He has great speed and size.

Everette Brown, DE/OLB, Florida State & Darius Butler, CB, Connecticut – Matt Miller

Comment:  I'm not very high on Butler.  He is slight and not as productive as other corners in this draft.  With Wright and McDonald both smaller corners, I'd rather see some height at the position.

Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State & Paul Kruger, DE/OLB, Utah – Scott Wright

Comment:  Kruger is a nice second choice should the Browns pass on Curry or Brown in the first.  He is a productive pass rushing linebacker with the athleticism to convert to linebacker.  I would be very pleased with Kruger in the second.

Everette Brown, DE/OLB, Florida State & LeSean McCoy, RB, Pitt – Matt McGuire

Comment:  McCoy likely won't fall this far, but what a haul if he does.  I had the privilege to speak with him recently and he had the kind of character and demeanor that one would hope a professional has.  On the field, he'd be a great compliment to Jamal Lewis, should he be retained for the 2009 season.

Michael Johnson, DE/OLB, Georgia Tech & Duke Robinson, OG, Oklahoma – NE Patriots Draft

Comment:  This one jumped out at me since Johnson is barely holding a first round grade anymore, let alone a top five.  Johnson is a bit tall to be a linebacker, but he could be another Mathias Kiwanuka.  He does cover well in short zone.  As far as Robinson goes, he would be a great addition at RG.  He's a power run blocker with great quickness for his size.

Rey Maualuga, ILB, Southern California & Shon Greene, RB, Iowa – NFL News & Rumors

Comment:  For the commenters out there clamoring for Maualuga, here it is.  Although he is not the top five pick he once was, if a trade back happened to acquire an extra pick (hello third round), this could be a steal for the Browns.  As far as Greene goes, I'd stay away.  I'll pass on any pick with questionable work ethic, weight issues, a missed season due to being academically ineligible, and no burst.

Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois – Guess Fest Mock Draft

Comment:  This isn't a well known mock draft expert, but I agree with his assessment.  Davis is a complete game changer, and has better overall coverage skills than Jenkins.

Mark Sanchez, QB, Southern California – Brew Town Beat

Comment: Okay, I know, enough with the bloggers.  I just was amazed to find someone who out there who thought both Quinn and Anderson were the problem.

Per Adam Schefter, if the New York Jets make a trade for a quarterback, it will be for the Browns' Derek Anderson.

If the Jets decide to trade for a quarterback, the most logical one is Cleveland’s Derek Anderson. For starters, Anderson has the most attractive contractual situation of any veteran quarterback. He is due a $5 million roster bonus on the 15th day of the league year, which is about a month from now. He signed a three-year, $24.5 million deal last year and still has two seasons remaining on it.

Beyond the contract are the relationships. Browns coach Eric Mangini and Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum have enough of a relationship that the two men could work out a deal. Also, Jets coach Rex Ryan worked with Anderson in Baltimore before the Ravens released the QB.

With Brett Favre again dabbling in retirement, it gives the Browns another possible trade partner should they choose to move Anderson. The pieces could fit together.

The Jets, with offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, run the same basic offensive system as the Browns. New Jets head coach Rex Ryan was a member of the Baltimore Ravens staff when they drafted him in 2005, so he is familiar with Anderson. I may be making myself feel better, but there is at least one other writer out there who agrees with me.

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Notes…

In other news, the Browns have added George McDonald to their coaching staff as the offensive quality control coach. If you don't know an offensive quality control coach does, read this description.

Could the Browns be interested in bringing in USC linebacker Clay Matthews? He recently met with the Browns, and there could be interest on the team's part. Mel Kiper tends to think that the Browns should be interested in Matthews, should they trade back in to the twenties.

Rumors of Braylon Edwards being moved to the New York Giants are picking up steam.

The Browns will not be raising ticket prices for the 2009 season.

Tony Grossi has done a good job breaking down the Browns offensive and defensive free agents.

Misleading headline? Absolutely, but what else would you expect from the Browns Bulletin?

Both Ken Dorsey and Bruce Gradkowski were given walking papers late on Monday, per Zac Jackson. Dorsey was a favorite of former offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski, so his release was not stunning. Plus he was purely horrible on the field. Gradkowski was not much better, and he epically failed in his audition for the third quarterback job in his one start of the season, against the Steelers.

Right now the Browns still have former practice squad quarterback Richard Bartel on the roster, but with a possible trade on the horizon, look for the Browns to add another veteran quarterback in free agency.

Also mentioned in the piece is that veteran cornerback Terry Cousin (as I had mentioned in his my last article)and linebacker Antwan Peek were waived. Both had not achieved as expected, and Peek due to injuries and Cousin due to production.

The future contracts of punter Mike Dragosavich and kicker Jason Reda were waived also. Both were practice squad players in 2008. If you are looking for a detailed explanation of future contracts, click here.

Other news

Former defensive coordinator Mel Tucker is getting criticized in Jacksonville.

Comment: I like Tucker, and the way he's handled this thus far. Now I don't know how safe his job is in Jacksonville, but he's making a smart move by continuing on as a coordinator.

The Buccaneers have re-signed quarterback Luke McCown.

Comment: McCown has starter potential, and it's a step in the right direction under new head coach Raheem Morris. McCown was shuttled out of Cleveland because of the regime change from Davis to Savage, but he had nice upside even back in 2004. At the very worst, he's a quality backup who knows the system that new offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski plans to use.

The Arizona Cardinals fired defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast.

Comment: Yes, the same Clancy Pendergast who I said should get an interview as the Browns head coach. Some people support the firing, some don't. Right now, I'd get my hands on Pendergast if I was Mangini. Bringing him in as a linebacker coach would be very smart. The work he did with Karlos Dansby was impressive, but turning a guy like Chike Okeafor into an outside linebacker in mid-season is impressive. His linebackers are fundamentally sound, plus he's held this same role before in Cleveland.

The Browns holes right now are fairly clear:  OLB, RB, CB, FS, OL, and WR; in no particular order.  Free agency will of course shape up the Browns roster differently.  In free agency, I'm predicting the Browns will do the following:

Retain:  SS Sean Jones, FS Mike Adams, CB Daven Holly, TE Darnell Dinkins

Depart:  CB Travis Daniels,  ILB Andra Davis, OG Seth McKinney, OLB Willie McGinest (retire), LB Shantee Orr, OG Scott Young, OG Lenne Friedman

The Browns have picks in the first, second, fourth, and sixth rounds.  The trades they made to diminish their stock are explained here.  The Browns could have possibly compensatory picks coming for the loss of DE Simon Fraser,LB Matt Stewart,  or LB Chaun Thompson, but that seems unlikely due to the signings of OG Rex Hadnot and WR Donte Stallworth.  Also I did not predict any trades because they are too random and hard to decide.

My rankings and round values are all taken from New Era Scouting, and scouting information was also used from Mocking the Draft.

Round 1 – Aaron Curry, OLB, Wake Forest

I expect the Browns to draft a productive, versatile, and intelligent defensive player with this pick.  They need a stabilizing force for the linebacking corps also.  Curry is a highly productive and experienced linebacker who would fit best as the strongside outside linebacker in the Browns 3-4, although some feel he could also play inside.

Other possibilites:  CB Malcolm Jenkins (Ohio State), WR Michael Crabtree (Texas Tech), OLB Brian Cushing (Southern California)

Round 2 – Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland

Another key upgrade the Browns are lacking is at wide receiver.  Assuming Stallworth is cut due to financial reasons, the Browns will need a second option outside Braylon Edwards.  Bey is a physical receiver who can work the middle of the field, and caps out in the NFL as a second receiver.

Other possibilities:  DE/LB Paul Kruger (Utah), DE Tyson Jackson (Louisiana State),  RB Donald Brown (Connecticut)

Round 4 – Keenan Lewis, CB, Oregon State

Even if Holly comes back, I'd expect the Browns to make more personnel decisions regarding the backups.  Terry Cousin could be sent packing, and the Browns will likely try to develop a corner to push either McDonald or Wright.  Lewis is a smart corner with good quickness and smarts.  He should be a nice addition as a zone corner, and the Browns were heavily scouting him at the Senior Bowl.

Other possibilities: SS Chip Vaughn (Wake Forest), OT Augustus Parrish (Kent State), RB James Davis (Clemson)

Round 6 – Mike Goodson, RB, Texas A&M

While it's late in the game, Goodson would be a huge value here.  He has questions about durability and translating to the pro game, but he could be developed as a kick returner and third running back, similar to what the Jets did with Leon Washington.

Other possibilities: ILB Frantz Joseph (Florida Atlantic), SS Courtney Greene (Rutgers), OG Greg Isander (West Virginia)

The new-found strength at the top of the AFC North is hardly comforting to Browns fans.  Picturing another set of seasons where the Ravens and Steelers trade the division crowd is hard to swallow.  Luckily for Browns fans, both the Ravens and Steelers are on edge of a downturn.

In Baltimore, they have already lost their defensive coordinator Rex Ryan, and now the heart and soul of their defense could be gone.  Middle linebacker Ray Lewis may be departing in free agency.  It seems likely that the Ravens will find a way to keep Lewis, their unquestioned leader, but at what cost?

Also on the free agent chopping block is inside linebacker Bart Scott, outside linebacker Terrell Suggs, and strong safety Jim Leonhard.  Scott may be tough to resign, as he already took less money once to stay in Balitmore.  Suggs wthinks all three can stay if they agree to take a hometown discount, but how realistic is it?  Even with a franchise tag and a transition tag at their disposal, it seems unlikely that they can keep all four.  Plus using both tags would be extremely expensive.  My best guess is that Lewis and Suggs stay, and that Leonhard and Scott walk.

In Pittsburgh, things are looking a bit more difficult.  Not only are the Steelers looking at a heavy class of unrestricted free agents this season, but next also.

This year the Steelers have both starting offensive tackles, their backup quarterback, and several key backups set to hit unrestricted free agency.  Check them out here.  More telling though is the listing beneath, the players who will be free agents after 2009.  Having to resign nine starters, including the reigning AP Defensive player of the year will be extremely difficult.

Both teams are adept at building their rosters through the draft and then turning over free agents when they become too expensive, but facing that amount of atrition could give the Browns a perfect opportunity to take over the division.  If the Browns can draft a productive rookie class and play their cards right in free agency, they could take over the division in a down year.

Other news

For you Akron Zip fans, I did an interview with linebacker Kevin Grant.  Check it out, he was a great player to talk to.  He might be a late-round selection, but should be on an active NFL roster this fall.

The Browns were supportive of the veterans during the Super Bowl also.

Per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, the Browns have fired scout Kevin Kelley, who was in the charge of the Midwest.

This comes shortly after the firing of national scout Daniel Jeremiah and director of player personnel T.J. McCreight.

It's unlikely this is the final scout firing by new General Manager George Kokinis. By now, most scouts should have their reports all filed with the team. At that point, they're basically not needed.

So, don't get scared about the draft. This is just about standard protocol for teams that hire a new general manager after the season. Sometimes the scouts are kept until just after the draft, but not always.

Notes…
Jim Ingraham of the News-Herald wonders "Will Browns fans finally give up on the team?" My answer: No. The end.

Are the Browns suffering from "The Curse of Big Ben?" This is a column that's a stretch, at best. It's pretty pointless really. Have the Browns made some bad draft choices? Of course. But so does every team.

The Sports Xchange, via CBS Sports, offers a strategy and personnel breakdown of the Browns. Because that's always useful before free agency and the draft!

Is it the end of April yet?

After a perfect season, of sorts, in 2008, the Lions have decided not to bring back cornerback Leigh Bodden.  Bodden was a key piece to the Shaun Rogers trade.

Commentary:  Bodden's star has fallen pretty far from the 2005 season.  He was thought of as a rising star as cover-man, but now he's being released by the worst team in NFL history.  He forced a trade out of Cleveland because of a financial dispute with former general manager Phil Savage, and was not a happy camper in Detroit.  I would highly doubt that Bodden would return to Cleveland, also.

Martin Rucker's cousin, defensive back Ghaali Muhammad is a member of the University of Wisconsin's 2009 class.

Quoting a piece from my previous post, head coach Eric Mangini has identified the following players as guys he likes:

RB Jamal Lewis
OT Joe Thomas
ILB D'Qwell Jackson
NT Shaun Rogers

Commentary: Not much to be explained here, but with Jamal Lewis facing a huge cap number in 2009, it could be telling to his status with the team.

Could the Browns find a trade partner for Braylon Edwards?  David Geller thinks it could be the New York Giants.

Commentary: This is a pure speculation piece, but it's at least intriguing.  I don't feel like trading Edwards is a smart move unless it's a blockbuster set of picks.

Head coach Eric Mangini had a press conference today, covering a variety of topics.  Patrick McManamon does a great job of covering it here.

He also announced that he had hired George Warhop to the the team's new offensive line coach.  Warhop was last seen as the 49ers offensive line coach, but he lost his job in October 2008.  Included in the link is his coaching history.

I reached out to Samuel Lam, the San Francisco 49ers Examiner, to shed some light on Warhop:

Warhop is a hit or miss kind of guy. If you took at the disaster that was last season, Warhop lost a lot of power under Mike Martz's watch and eventually would be fired along with Mike Nolan. The 49ers had allowed the most sacks up to his firing that season. A lot can be blamed at the youth of the offensive line or the new offensive system the team had, but some of it has to be put on Warhop.

However, Warhop does present a pretty solid resume. He previously worked with the Cardinals and Cowboys. In those years, the offensive line allowed fewer sacks than the previous years. Most notable of those years was in 2001, when the team surrendered only 29 sacks.

If anything, Warhop is a fine coach and should do well in Cleveland. He just happened to be the scapegoat of the mess this past season. But the offenseive line did allow Frank Gore to rush for three consecutive 1,000 yard seasons. Given the situation in Cleveland, I would expect Warhop to do just fine.

Strength and conditioning coach Tom Myslinski and assistant Alan DeGennaro will be kept on Mangini's staff.  No word yet on wide receivers coach Wes Chandler (no relation to yours truly).

It's not easy to be the new kid in town, but the treatment of head coach Eric Mangini has become absurd in less than one month.

His former staff members have started taking criticism of his overall planning.  Star players aren't innocent in this matter either.

Mangini is not winning any popularity contests, per Todd Porter of the Canton Repository.  Reading the article though, it seems that there is nothing more than Mangini walking past Shaun Rogers at a public function.  Do we know if Mangini and Rogers had others plans to talk, or if the two then later spoke that night?  The context is a bit to flaky for me to assume that Mangini hates his star nose tackle, as Porter does.

Taking Mangini's less than bubbly demeanor as a sure sign of failure is also a scary proposition.  Bill Parcells was one of the toughest coaches to the media, but he won a great deal of ball games.  Part of the appeal to a Parcells press conference was the possibility that he would destroy a reporter who asked a silly question.  The cat and mouse was his appeal, but it always flew over best when his team was winning.  If Mangini wins games, Mangini's press conferences will become more entertaining than negative.

The NFL has been full of tough personalities for coaches, which have now been immortalized by Coors Light commercials.  Mangini is fairly tame compared to coaches like Chuck Knoll, but YouTube wasn't around 30 years ago.  The Cleveland media, myself included, is agitated after a disappointing season, but taking out aggression on a coach who has barely picked out his office furniture is beyond wild.  If his team fails, have at it.  Until then, let the man coach. You never know, he might end up being a good guy.