The Cleveland Browns are in the process of hiring a head coach and as soon as they do, he is going to begin the task of rebuilding the team’s offense essentially from the ground up.
That process will start with free agency in the spring, during which the Browns are liable to consider a pass-blocking left tackle to anchor a unit that is facing a major overhaul this offseason. Cleveland owns the No. 6 pick in April, but almost every national mock draft to this point projects the Browns going with one of the top two wide receivers on the board there: Carnell Tate of Ohio State or Jordyn Tyson of Arizona State.
Should that happen, Cleveland will likely watch at least two or three offensive tackles come off the board before they select again at No. 24 in the first round, via a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Browns may also need to replace one, or both, of their offensive guards — Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller — and selecting the top OG in the field would most likely represent more value than the fourth-best OT.
Considering these factors, Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report named Cleveland one of the top two landing spots for Green Bay Packers left tackle Rasheed Walker, who will become a free agent in March.
“Set to turn 26 in February, Walker should be the top target of any team seeking a long-term left tackle in free agency,” Knox wrote on January 7.
Browns Must Consider Rasheed Walker’s True Value Against Salary He Might Command
GettyGreen Bay Packers left tackle Rasheed Walker.
The sticking point involving Walker’s free agency is likely to be the contract. Spotrac projects Walker will command nearly $81.5 million over a new four-year deal (approximately $20.4 million annually).
Knox made a similar argument, citing former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Dan Moore Jr. and the $84 million he got in free agency less than one year ago.
“The free-agent market is usually short on starting-caliber left tackles,” Knox wrote. “This past season, Walker was responsible for five sacks allowed, according to Pro Football Focus. That’s a far cry from the 12 sacks Moore allowed in 2024 before getting his payday from the Tennessee Titans.”
Browns Have Too Much Need Across Roster to Spend Big on Middling Left Tackle in Rasheed Walker
GettyGreen Bay Packers left tackle Rasheed Walker.
Moore quickly developed a reputation as one of the league’s most overpaid players, which the numbers in 2025 backed up. He finished 62nd out of 89 tackles (either side of the line) who saw enough snaps to qualify, per PFF.
The Browns must decide if Walker, a former seventh-round pick who finished 52nd on the same list last season, is worth that kind of scratch. There is no question that Walker would represent an upgrade at the position over anyone currently on Cleveland’s roster, but that doesn’t make him worth north of $20 million per season.
And spending frivolously shouldn’t be a strategy in Cleveland as the franchise heads into quarterback Deshaun Watson’s final contract year ($80.7 million salary cap hit) after putting together arguably the best draft class in 2025 (ranked No. 2 by Aaron Schatz of ESPN).
The Browns aren’t turning everything around in one offseason, even despite the No. 4-rated defense in the league and quality skill-position finds in rookies Quinshon Judkins (RB) and Harold Fannin Jr. (TE). Cleveland also potentially needs a quarterback, and free agency or a trade is the most likely option with Fernando Mendoza arguably the only franchise prospect in this draft class.
Knox ranked Walker as the No. 6 free agent heading into the offseason, and given that he is probably the best available player at a top-three position in the sport, one can certainly argue the validity of that claim.
But Walker wouldn’t be a finishing piece for the Browns this spring, he would be a building block. And at that price, Cleveland should probably look for something sturdier to come its way.