Hey Terry, should the Cleveland Browns bring in a QB to compete with Baker Mayfield?

BRINGING IN HELP?

Do the Cleveland Browns need a veteran QB to help Baker Mayfield? Photo by John Kuntz / cleveland.comcleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio — A new regime with the Cleveland Browns leads to some new/old questions. A favorite topic? Quarterbacks.

HEY, TERRY: New coach, new QB. Why not bring in someone to compete with Baker (Mayfield)?

– Ed Bonchak, Concord Township

HEY, TERRY: What are the chances of the Browns drafting or signing a QB capable of taking over if Mayfield doesn’t show any progress?

– Tom Parks, Mayfield Heights

HEY, ED & TOM: Ed mentioned three names: Marcus Mariota, Case Keenum and Nick Foles. I like the last two with their primary role being a veteran backup. I believe it’s imperative they bring in a viable veteran who helps set the tone for Mayfield in terms of what it means to be a long-term NFL QB. But I don’t want an open QB competition.

HEY, TERRY: Any inkling the Browns might take a QB in the third round or later?

– Fritz Johnson, New Philadelphia

HEY, FRITZ: I’ve not heard anything either way on QB plans in the draft, but I’d be open to taking a QB in the lower rounds. But my primary focus would be adding a veteran behind Mayfield. Keenum had a good year with Kevin Stefanski in Minnesota in 2017, so there is a connection.

HEY, TERRY: Where did Baker rank in tipped passes last season? Seems there were more than a few.

– Andrew Darrah, Reminderville

HEY, ANDREW: You are right. According to Profootballfocus.com, Mayfield tied with Andy Dalton for the NFL lead with 15 passes tipped at the line of scrimmage. That is up from nine in 2018.

HEY, TERRY: The Browns were featured on many primetime games last season as the network’s fell for the hype. Do you expect a lot of standard 1 p.m. games this season.

– Tim O’Hara, Alvaton, Kentucky

HEY, TIM: In a word . . . yes. The 6-10 record and everyone getting fired again has led most of the NFL to view the team as “The Same Old Browns.”

rowns middle linebacker Joe Schobert tackles Buffalo Bills running back Devin Singletary

Cleveland Browns middle linebacker Joe Schobert is a free agent, and the team needs him in 2020. Photo by John Kuntz / cleveland.comcleveland.com

HEY, TERRY: Is there a reason the Browns are dragging their feet re-signing Joe Schobert?

– Christopher Andrews, Strongsville

HEY, TERRY: Isn’t signing Schobert almost a must?

– Fred Pausch, Dublin, Ohio

HEY, FRED & CHRISTOPHER: It’s very important they keep Schobert to anchor the 4-3 defense. As I wrote Sunday, he is worth “over-paying.” The problem with waiting this long to sign your own unrestricted free agent is it’s very tempting for the player’s agent to say, “Let’s try the open market in March.” The new front office has a higher opinion of Schobert than the previous one. I’d be surprised if any deal happens before March. That’s the price of not signing him a year ago.

HEY, TERRY: Do you think the new regime will limit the on- and off-field drama the team has been through since last off-season?

– Chris Ard, Willowick

HEY, CHRIS: I know that’s the goal of new GM Andrew Berry and Stefanski. Both have been using the words “tough, smart, accountable” when describing what they expect of their players. Some of this comes down to Odell Beckham Jr. No matter what he says, he’s craves being the center of attention. The obsession with getting the ball to him hung over the team. That has to change. But I don’t know how the new regime will handle these issues, other than they say they plan to stress character, etc.

HEY, TERRY: What should the Browns do and what would you do with Kareem Hunt?

– Joe Dailey, Charleston, West Virginia

HEY, JOE: Hunt is an “exclusive rights restricted free agent.” That means the Browns can match any offer he receives. They also can do something such as put a “second-round tender” on him. A team would have to part with a second-round pick to sign Hunt. That’s what I’d do. If Hunt messes up again and is suspended, the Browns don’t have to pay him. I don’t know what plans the new front office has for the running back.

HEY, TERRY: Is the new front office going to look to the draft or free agency for some offensive linemen to protect for Baker?

– Dean Flory, Louisville, Ohio

HEY, DEAN: The answer is probably both. Lost in the criticism of the Sashi Brown front office is that it signed center JC Tretter and guard Kevin Zeitler to lucrative free agent contracts. They were criticized for “over-paying” for those offensive linemen. I expect them to make at least one significant free agent move to help at tackle, and then head into the draft for help. That front office also paid huge bucks to extend the contract of guard Joel Bitonio.

HEY, TERRY: The Browns need to keep Christian Kirksey. Are there any free agents better than him?

– Dan Chormanski

HEY, DAN: Part of ability is durability. A GM once told me that. Kirksey missed nine games with an injury in 2018 and played only two games in 2019. He didn’t missed a game in his first four seasons. He has the character and accountability the team wants. But I wonder if the front office wants to gamble on his $7.5 million salary (not guaranteed) because of his recent injuries. I’ve not done the homework on free agents yet.

HEY, TERRY: Here we go again, why does every new GM come in and shed players the prior GM signed/drafted? I think it sets the team back every time.

– Sean Krause, Avon

HEY, SEAN: I agree and even wrote a column about that. But in terms of these specific cuts: Eric Kush, Demetrius Harris, Adarius Taylor, TJ Carrie. I have no big issue. Eric Kush was a disaster at guard. He should have been replaced earlier in the year by Wyatt Teller, something former GM John Dorsey wanted done. Dorsey signed Demetrius Harris to play tight end instead of keeping Darren Fells. That was a mistake. Fells caught seven touchdown passes for Houston. Taylor was a non-entity. I like Carrie, but his $8 million cap figure is high. According to Profootballfocus, QBs completed 46-of-62 passes to men covered by Carrie, a 116.2 passer rating.

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