NFL free agency begins in less than two weeks, and the Cleveland Browns are expected to be quite active. Coming off perhaps the most disappointing season since the franchise returned in 1999, Cleveland's biggest need is offensive tackle.
Last year's starting left tackle, Greg Robinson, had a poor season, and wasn't going to be re-signed even before he was busted for 157lbs of marijuana near the border. Right tackle Chris Hubbard has been a massive bust since signing a $36.5 million contract in 2018.
The Browns need two starting tackles, in addition to depth, and perhaps a starter at right guard. Fortunately, this Draft class is incredibly deep at OT, and the team will almost certainly select one at pick #10. But Cleveland will also need to address the OL in free agency, and despite some big names on the market, the Browns can improve the position group significantly without overspending.
Chances are that one of Andrew Thomas, Tristan Wirfs, Jedrick Wills Jr., or Mekhi Becton will be a Brown by the end of April, likely along with another tackle chosen in the second or third round. Starting two rookie tackles is less than ideal, so Cleveland should look into adding at least one veteran to be a stopgap until the less developed rookie is ready to take over.
Out of price range
The Tennessee Titans Jack Conklin is the crown jewel of this FA class. He is entering his fifth NFL season and will be 26 years old in August. He was named First-Team All-Pro as a rookie and earned an 80.6 overall grade from Pro Football Focus. His 2017 season was not quite as good, but still solid. In the playoffs, Conklin tore his ACL, which caused him to miss the first three games of 2018, then suffered another knee injury which forced the Titans to place him on injured reserve. In 2019 Conklin was healthy and returned to form as one of the better RTs in the game.
Conklin is currently younger and better than Trent Brown when Brown signed the largest contract for an OL in NFL history last offseason, a four-year $66 million deal with the Oakland Raiders. It would not be a surprise in the slightest to see a team offer Conklin even more, but it almost certainly won't be the Browns.
Other tackles on the market include Philadephia's Hal Vaitai and Jason Peters, Green Bay's Bryan Bulaga, and Los Angeles' Andrew Whitworth. Peters and Whitworth are 38 but still excellent players. Vaitai will likely be overpaid due to his status as a starter on the Eagles 2017 Super Bowl team and his ability to play multiple positions. Bulaga is an upper-tier RT who will be paid accordingly.
Guard options include New England's Joe Thuney and Detroit's Graham Glasgow. Thuney is fantastic while Glasgow is solid. Both will be in high demand, especially if Washington places the franchise tag on Brandon Scherff. The Browns did make Kevin Zeitler the highest-paid guard in history back in 2017, so it's possible they'll target one of these players, but still unlikely given the cost.
Budget-friendly options
Now for the players who would be shrewd investments for the Browns. Going after these free agents would be a similar strategy to what the Buffalo Bills employed last offseason; they signed four lineman, three of whom were on cheap short-term deals. Three saw significant playing time and two played multiple positions. Versatility is extremely valuable when discussing depth players, and most of the following can provide that.
Daniel Brunskill, San Francisco 49ers
Brunskill was originally signed by the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 2017. He was waived and signed to the practice squad twice before playing for the San Diego Fleet of the now-defunct Alliance of American Football. Brunskill finally saw his first NFL action in Week 3 of last season.
He ended up playing in 14 games including the playoffs and Superbowl, and started seven of them. He took snaps at both tackle spots and right guard, and graded out at a 73.0 overall. Not a bad investment considering Brunskill made under $500k for the season. The Niners will certainly want him back, but the Browns should go after him, as long as his price remains reasonable.
Jason Spriggs, Green Bay Packers
Spriggs was a second-round pick by the Packers back in 2016, and was considered a project at the time. He had good size and athleticism, but lacked strength and refinement. He's managed to play only 574 snaps due to injury, and when he has been on the field, he's been wildly inconsistent.
Spriggs missed all of 2019 on injured reserve, and is now a free agent. He is a big risk, but there is still a talented player there just waiting to be unlocked. He's worth bringing into training camp and seeing what respected OL coach Bill Callahan can do with him.
Joe Haeg, Indianapolis Colts
While Anthony Castonzo is the big name, the Colts have another important lineman hitting free agency this year. Haeg has played every spot except center during his four years in Indy, and would be a great under-the-radar signing for the Browns. He could start at either RG or RT, and provide versatile depth if not. It's unlikely he'll cost all that much either.
Daryl Williams, Carolina Panthers
Williams may just be the most interesting player on this list. He will be 28 in August and is entering his sixth NFL season. He has also played every spot aside from center. He made Second-Team All-Pro as an RT in 2017. During training camp in 2018, Williams suffered a dislocated kneecap and torn MCL, but somehow ended up starting Week 1. Unfortunately, he re-injured his knee in that game and was forced to undergo surgery.
He signed a one-year prove-it deal with the Panthers worth $6 million but had already lost his starting spot to Taylor Moton by that point. Williams was bounced around from LT to LG and RG, and played poorly at all three, often looking completely lost on the blindside, nothing like his All-Pro self two seasons earlier.
With the Russell Okung trade finalized, Carolina won't be bringing back Williams, and his value has taken a nosedive. It's worth looking into to see if Cleveland can get Williams on the cheap, hoping he can regain his All-Pro form exclusively on the right side.
Dennis Kelly, Tennessee Titans
Kelly is known for being the heaviest player to ever catch a touchdown in the postseason, but he also happens to be a solid depth tackle. He graded out at 75.4 and 71.7 over the past two seasons and plays both tackle spots. He would be a strong backup for Cleveland, and there's always the chance he could catch another TD.
Marcus Gilbert, Arizona Cardinals
Gilbert spent seven great seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers before being traded to Arizona last offseason. He's dealt with injuries since 2016 and missed all of last season with a torn ACL. His previous contract was worth about $30 million over five years, which is a fantastic price for a player of his caliber. Now 32 and with a lengthy injury history, Gilbert could be had for even less. If he stays healthy he's an above average starter, but that's a big if.
Depending on how the team feels about players like Kendall Lamm and Drew Forbes, it makes a lot of sense for the Browns to go after one or two of these lower-profile lineman. Cheap depth is invaluable, especially with a position as important as offensive line. Baker Mayfield needs to feel better protected in 2020, and that can't (or shouldn't) happen only by adding rookies.
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