Browns finally get started in free agency

The Cleveland Browns finally began to take some action in free agency as the Browns signed corner Tramon Williams as a free agent from the Packers and defensive tackle Randy Starks,who was recently released by Miami.

These are not players signed for the long haul,both are in their early 30's (Williams 32 and Starks 31),but the Browns are hoping to get a quality season or two from each to build a bridge to a younger player at those positions.
Williams was signed to a three year deal for 21 million,which is more per season than the Jets signed Buster Skrine away for,which speaks volumes for how this organization is currently thought of,while Starks was signed to a two year deal worth eight million.
No word on how much of the contracts are guaranteed,which is the most important thing when looking at contracts in the NFL,but on the surface,I'd say the Browns overpaid for Williams,which is likely what it took to land a player with his resume',but may have gotten a low risk bargain in Starks.

Tramon Williams was last seen being the player burnt by the Seahawks for the game winning score in the NFC Championship,but has started for the Packers for years and has proven to be a durable player.
Williams has intercepted 28 passes in his eight year career and in the last five is second only to Joe Haden in passes defended,so this is a quality player-IF..
Williams is not a player on the decline and when I talked to Ryan about Williams,he seemed to think that this was a possibility.
Ryan said look at the Packers track record under Ted Thompson and look at the players that they allowed to leave,the results generally favored the Green Bay side of the ledger.
At seven million dollars a season,the expectation is that Williams will start on the corner opposite Joe Haden unless Justin Gilbert gives the Browns what they expected last season and beats Williams out.
In that scenario,the Browns could shift Williams to the slot corner and have one of the better secondaries in the game..
Seven million per year is sort of high for a slot corner,so one would think the Browns are hopeful of a Justin Gilbert maturation,but they are attempting to cover themselves and not counting on it.

Randy Starks is a two time Pro Bowler and is a player at 31 that Miami released mainly because of their signing of Ndamukong Suh and could be one of the few that is a solid pass rusher from the defensive tackle position.
Starks had 4.5 sacks last season as a Dolphin and in eleven seasons,Starks has missed just five games,so once again in theory,the Browns may have signed an older player,but one that has proven to be a durable one.
Starks is not noted as a run stuffer,so look for the Browns to still look at a defensive lineman early in the draft,but between Starks and a hopefully healthy Desmond Bryant,the Browns should have a surprisingly strong interior pass rush.

I think the Browns overpaid for Tramon Williams,but being in Cleveland with a losing franchise,the Browns will have to overpay players until they turn things around.
The Browns overpaid last season for Karlos Dansby and Donte Whitner and just because you overpay doesn't mean that it always is a bad signing.
It's pretty clear to me that the Browns are attempting to leap ahead in the rebuilding process by building a strong veteran defense to make up for a less than dynamite offense.
This,at least,is a step towards that goal.