Browns and Chargers named potential landing spots for Packers $81 million free agent originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Cleveland Browns and Los Angeles Chargers both need help along the offensive line.
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The Chargers’ group upfront was arguably the worst in the NFL last season, with injuries playing a major role in that. Even putting those injuries aside, Los Angeles needs much more help to protect quarterback Justin Herbert.
Cleveland’s offensive line wasn’t as bad as Los Angeles’, but it wasn’t great, either. Adding to that, the Browns have several notable pending free agents upfront, a list that includes Joel Bitonio, Wyatt Teller, Cam Robinson and Jack Conklin.
One of the most coveted offensive linemen on the open market this offseason will be Green Bay Packers left tackle Rasheed Walker, who is projected to land a contract that pays him $81 million over four years.
According to Yardbarker’s Colton Edwards, the Browns and Chargers are both possible landing spots for the veteran tackle.
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“They need a reliable left tackle to anchor their offensive line. Walker’s availability and consistency would be ideal for a young quarterback,” Edwards said of the Browns.
“Jim Harbaugh prioritizes trench dominance, and their line needs reinforcement to protect Justin Herbert,” Edwards said of Los Angeles.
With Jordan Morgan waiting in the wings in Green Bay, and with the Packers being strapped for cap space, we could see the Packers letting Walker leave in free agency.
Walker isn’t an elite left tackle by any stretch, but he is definitely a starting-caliber player, at worst.
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He’s at his best in pass protection, where he has posted a 70 pass-blocking grade or better in each of the last three seasons, per Pro Football Focus, but the veteran does have issues with run-blocking (57.9 grade or worse each season).
That doesn’t exactly sound like an $81 million offensive lineman, but it’s realistic to think he could garner that kind of contract.
After all, we know that even average offensive linemen tend to do well in free agency given the fact that it’s a premium position and starters are hard to find.
We saw that last offseason, when the Tennessee Titans inked Dan Moore to a massive $82 million contract after a season in which he led the NFL in sacks surrendered.
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Moore isn’t even average, in our humble opinion, yet he got that contract anyway. We have no reservations saying Walker is better, so a similar contract should be Walker’s floor.
Seeing as how the Chargers have Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater as their tackles for next season, it’s odd on the surface to see Los Angeles mentioned as a possible landing spot for Walker.
However, it’s not impossible because The Athletic’s Mike Silver reported that the Chargers are considering moving Slater inside. If that is indeed the case, adding Walker makes sense.
The Browns are going to have at least one vacancy at their tackle spots. Robinson was not good for the Browns and Conklin simply couldn’t stay healthy during his stint in Cleveland, so it’s conceivable both won’t be back.
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The Chargers will have a distinct advantage over the Browns and just about any other team that has interest in Walker, though, as Los Angeles is loaded with the third-most cap space in the NFL entering the offseason.
If we had to bet on where Walker lands between the Browns and Chargers, we would put our money on Los Angeles.