NFL Offseason Roadmap: Cleveland Browns

NFL Offseason Roadmap is a series focused on the needs of NFL teams as they begin the offseason.

Save the Giants, the Browns were probably the biggest surprise of the season. After winning 10 games in the previous two years, Cleveland reeled off 10 in 2007. Third-year wide receiver Braylon Edwards finally put it all together, a healthy Kellen Winslow played like one of the best tight ends in football, and the Browns first first-round pick, tackle Joe Thomas, was better than advertised.

Things went so well that head coach Romeo Crennel is about to get a shiny new deal. The team looks to build on its recent success, but how do they go about doing that?

1. Quarterback. The Browns have offered Derek Anderson a three-year deal and while there will be some negotiating, the two sides are expected to reach an agreement. Make no mistake, though; Anderson is Cleveland's quarterback for 2008, and maybe beyond. The team missed on Charlie Frye, but luckily Crennel pulled the plug on that experiment about 15 minutes into the season.

And if Anderson falters (and that doesn't seem likely), there's 2007 first-round pick Brady Quinn. The real dilemma could come next off-season; if Anderson has another solid performance in 2008, the Browns might have to make a decision on Quinn's future.

2. Defensive line. The Browns do have some bright spots on defense -- Leigh Bodden, Sean Jones, Brodney Pool, Andrea Davis -- but the defensive line could use an overhaul. Specifically, a dominating nose tackle. Cleveland runs the 3-4 and without a nose tackle to draw double-teams, it becomes much harder for the linebackers to make plays. Second-year linebacker Kamerion Wimbley had a down season, but again, a lot of that had to do with the inability of the front three to take on blockers.

3. Defensive coordinator. Todd Grantham finally got canned in a weird series of events, and Cleveland replaced him with defensive backs coach Mel Tucker. The players supported the move and hopefully Tucker can get this unit to do something Grantham couldn't: get off the field. According to Football Outsiders, the Browns ranked 22nd in total defense, and were consistently one of the worst defenses in the NFL last season.

4. Running back. Jamal Lewis had a surprisingly strong season, and is in the process of re-signing with the team. His big-play ability made Anderson's job easier, and opened things up downfield in the passing game. But even if Lewis and the Browns can't come to terms, there are already plans to find his replacement.