This was just a small story that I didn’t notice until last night, but the Browns made a waiver claim for free safety C.J. Spillman after he was waived by the San Diego Chargers.  Spillman is a 24 year-old with two years of NFL experience out of Marshall.  He is six feet tall and just under 200 pounds.  In two seasons with the Chargers, he has played in just ten games.  Ultimately the Browns missed out on Spillman with their 1-4 record as the 0-5 Niners picked him up after the Tuesday claims.

According to the San Diego columnist Kevin Acee, Spillman was waived because he wasn’t effective on special teams anymore.  Quite obviously, missing out on Spillman isn’t the biggest deal in the world.  According to the National Football Post, the Niners made a claim on Spillman to improve their special teams tackling.  Still, I wonder what it really says about the Browns organization’s current self-assessment.

Were the Browns just looking to add yet another special teams ace to the team?  In addition to his special teams abilities, Spillman is listed as a free safety.  That position is currently occupied by Abram Elam in the starting lineup. You have to assume that Spillman probably wouldn’t have been acquired to challenge Elam for his spot in the lineup.  Still, is it out of the realm of possibility that the Browns could be trying to add youth to the position because they are concerned about the future?

Abram Elam signed his tender and will be a free agent at the end of this year.  Additionally, the depth chart is currently occupied by Elam, Ventrone and Mike Adams.  All those guys are going on 30 years of age and Ventrone has very little upside beyond his roles on special teams.

As always it is fun to guess what the Browns’ motives are as they continue to mold their roster in-season.