NFL free agency doesn’t officially start until the poorly-nicknamed “legal tampering period” opens on March 9th. No one is fooled by that date, as conversations about free agents and trades started last year during and after the NFL trade deadline. Things will really heat up at the NFL combine next week when dinner and drinks are really about dollars and years in a contract or draft pick swaps in trades.
For the Cleveland Browns, the list of free agents off last year’s roster is quite large. While
we await Joel Bitonio’s decision, David Njoku and Wyatt Teller have already said goodbye to Cleveland in advance of their free agency.
Whether Bitonio returns or not, the Browns need a lot of help on the offensive line for new OL coach George Warhop (pictured). Green Bay Packers OT Rasheed Walker is a name already connected to Cleveland as he’s one of, if not the, top tackle in the free agent class. According to Cameron Wolfe, rumors around the NFL are that the Browns are indeed a team to watch on the Walker market (around the 1:20 mark in the video below):
As noted, Walker is expected to get paid big money this offseason. According to Pro Football Focus, a contract of four years, $84 million seems realistic. Based on current left tackle contracts, $21 million a year would put Walker just outside of the Top 10 at the position, but, as always, the amount of guaranteed money in the contract would be the key figure to watch.
The Packers selected Walker in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL draft after his career at Penn State. The NFL Network had projected Walker as a third-round pick who might fit better at right tackle or guard in the NFL due to some concerns with speed rushers.
Instead, Walker locked down the left tackle position for Green Bay the last three seasons, showing incredible skill as a pass blocker (grading out at 70 or above by PFF each year). Walker’s downside is as a run blocker with mediocre grades in the 50s.
In the NFL, passing is king, which means Walker is likely to get a big contract, perhaps even above PFF’s prediction. The Browns can create a load of salary cap space if they choose to, and the 26-year-old Walker would fit their timeline for competing over the next few years.
Do you think the Browns are willing to pay Walker top dollar in NFL free agency? Would you be in favor of that or prefer GM Andrew Berry spend more draft capital on the offensive line instead?
