We will look at the early moves by the Seahawks either today or tomorrow.
Cleveland signed just two players early and re-signed another that should be a starter.
The Browns traded for Minnesota defensive end Jayme Mitchell last season and never dressed him for a game. Mitchell was a bad fit for the 3-4 defense preferred by Eric Mangini but was a solid 4-3 end for the Vikings.
Mitchell must have liked something after getting paid last season to practice as the Browns re-signed Mitchell to a two-year contract.
Mitchell becomes an immediate starter for the Browns at the left defensive end.
The Browns added a new starter at safety in former Saints Usama Young. Young played his college ball at Kent State and spent the last four seasons as a reserve and special teams player for New Orleans.
Young will step into the spot vacated by free agent Abram Elam, who was not going to be re-signed.
Cleveland also added a needed player in Green Bay running back Brandon Jackson.
Jackson is not a full time back, but he is a reasonably decent blocker and excellent pass catcher from the backfield and fits the third-down pass-catching back role perfectly.
Jackson had been a disappointment in his attempts to become the full time back in Green Bay and had been unable to hold off various backs throughout his Packer tenure, but used in the proper positions could be a nice addition.
The Browns lost corner, Eric Wright, to the Lions and the unexpected loss puts the Browns into a position of needing to add a cornerback over the next few days.
Wright had an awful 2010, but still has plenty of talent and I wish the Browns would have found a way to keep him.
However, the Browns are now down to two corners with experience in Joe Haden and Sheldon Brown and a veteran is a must.
One player that is surprisingly on the market is former Ohio State star Nate Clements, who was dropped by the 49ers. Clements was released for contract reasons more than performance issues, so signing Clements to go with Haden and transitioning Brown to the third corner would be an upgrade even over the expected trio of Haden, Brown, and Wright...
As of this writing, the Browns have signed all of their draft picks except first-rounder Phil Taylor, which is expected to be sometime tonight or tomorrow.
The Browns do have some money to spend as they are under the salary "floor" and will have to spend some although the team has said they will not be a huge player in the market.
The Browns should have a few positions targeted besides the gaping need at the corner.
Despite re-signing Jayme Mitchell, another defensive end is needed, a right tackle to ensure against another injury to Tony Pashos might be a nice thought as would be a linebacker against D'Qwell Jackson's latest return from injury and I still would like to see another wide receiver brought into the fold.
I'll be here with more when players are added and I'll try to do a Seattle version of this soon...
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