Browns Sign OG Paul McQuistan, Former Starter on the Seattle Seahawks

Last Wednesday, it was reported that the Cleveland Browns were bringing OG Paul McQuistan in for a visit. On Monday, the Browns signed the former Seattle Seahawk, making him the first offensive lineman who has been added to the team in the Ray Farmer era.

UPDATE: McQuistan signed a two-year deal:

Paul McQuistan's deal with the #Browns: 2 years, $3 M with $750 K guaranteed, per source.

— Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) March 24, 2014

McQuistan was a third-round pick in the 2006 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders. He spent three years with the Raiders and then some time with the Jaguars, before actually signing with the Browns for a month during the 2010 season. McQuistan then signed with the Seahawks in 2011, which is where he's been ever since -- he won a Super Bowl ring last year.

McQuistan has started 40 games over the past three years with the Seahawks, including 14 this past year. He did not start in any of the playoff games, though. In the NFC Championship and in the Super Bowl, he saw half the snaps in the lineup as part of a planed rotation by head coach Pete Carroll. He was one of Pro Football Focus' worst-rated free agent offensive lineman this offseason, scoring even way lower than Oniel Cousins did. Part of that might have had to do with the fact that he played some tackle and guard:

The team has to hope they never, ever have to start Paul McQuistan (-24.8) at left tackle again. It went very badly and he wasn’t much better at guard.

At this point in time, it's hard to projected whether McQuistan would be viewed as a starter or a backup. After choosing not to re-sign last year's starting right guard, Shawn Lauvao, there is an open spot on the offensive line, but John Greco and Jason Pinkston are still on the roster, as is Garrett Gilkey. McQuistan could simply be taking the role left by Cousins, who served as a veteran backup tackle/guard the past few years.