The Cleveland Browns have a ridiculous amount of salary cap space and are finally turning a corner toward winning games, so it’s understandable to think any free agents they let leave the building won’t offer much to the New Orleans Saints. But we’re going to survey them anyway, doing due diligence just like the Saints’ pro scouting department.
Free agency is right around the corner, beginning on March 13. Here are the previous entries in our series previewing each team in the NFL:
- Arizona Cardinals
- Atlanta Falcons
- Baltimore Ravens
- Buffalo Bills
- Carolina Panthers
- Chicago Bears
- Cincinnati Bengals
So, on to the Browns. They fielded their best team in years in 2018 and look to retain almost all of their starters. But between some depth players looking for opportunity elsewhere and a few reclamation projects, they may have a prospect or two that piques New Orleans’ interest.
Unrestricted free agents
- CB E.J. Gaines
- CB Phillip Gaines
- DT Carl Davis
- LB Ray-Ray Armstrong
- OG Earl Watford
- OT Greg Robinson
- QB Tyrod Taylor
- WR Rod Streater
- WR Breshad Perriman
Options for the Saints
If they can’t retain backup Teddy Bridgewater, bringing in Tyrod Taylor would make sense as an insurance policy for Drew Brees. Taylor won’t confuse anyone for the future Hall of Famer, and losing his starting job to Baker Mayfield will probably depress his contract expectations. He’d be a more viable backup than other options like Tom Savage. Taylor has won at the NFL level and could be a two- or three-game bandage should Brees miss some time. Most importantly, he won’t break the bank.
Left tackle Greg Robinson played 498 snaps in 2018, and was largely anonymous. He committed a few penalties in limited starts but generally kept Mayfield clean down the stretch. Robinson also showed more of the athleticism to get out in space and dominate second-level blocks — attributes that got him drafted second overall in 2014. The Browns will likely hope to invest in a dominant, sure-thing at left tackle when free agency kicks off. But if they let Robinson go, he’d be worth a look in New Orleans as a puzzle to put together.
