3 Free Agents the Cleveland Browns Should Bring Back

A look into three current Cleveland Browns players that are set to hit free agency. Perhaps Cleveland should think about bringing back these three players, as it could make sense for both sides.

Brandon Little | Mar 9, 2023

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Cleveland Browns

Cleveland Browns are set to tackle free agency next week when the legal tampering period starts on Monday. Cleveland will undoubtedly make a couple of moves by adding new players to the roster. As it stands currently, the argument should be made for specific current Browns players to be retained as well.

A couple of players make sense for the Browns to bring back, whether it is on a one-year deal or longer. Each of these players is a veteran at this point with the team.

LB Anthony Walker Jr.

It was disappointing last year when Walker went down in the third game with a season ending injury. Just a couple of games in, Walker was playing at the highest level he had in his career. Through the first few weeks, Pro Football Focus had him graded pretty high at 82.7. He was the Browns best linebacker through the first few games.

Walker was the on-field play caller for the Browns when he was on the field, he was a veteran leader in the locker room and for the defense. Walker is a smart, instinctive player that gets at hat to the ball.

Bringing Walker back makes sense to pair with Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. Seeing the two fair against good offenses with a better defensive line will be interesting. That could just happen as the Browns have to attack the defensive line this off-season.

The price tag shouldn't be too high and would likely come at another one-year deal.

LB Sione Takitaki

Takitaki doesn't do berthing well for a linebacker but he is solid in his defined role. As a SAM linebacker, Takitaki is a very good run defender due to his ability to square up guards while finding the ball carrier. Last year he had to move around a bit due to an injury, eventually suffering one himself. He started eight games and played in 12 total. Takitaki made 71 tackles -- or 7.8 percent of the total -- both were career marks.

Cleveland could bring back Takitaki as a solid depth option and player that could be on the field often on early downs. In terms of how much he will cost, Over The Cap has is value of $2.8 million. That is a doable number all day for Cleveland.

RB D'Ernest Johnson

Kareem Hunt's time is over and perhaps should have ended sooner in Cleveland. Not only was he performing at a decreased level, but he was taking snaps away from rookie Jerome Ford and Johnson. Not to say they would have faired better, but the point could have been proven. Johnson is already a player noted that could be back, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland Dot Com.

Johnson has never had a ton of opportunity in Cleveland, though he's done everything asked of him when given the chance. In 2021, Johnson carried the ball 5.3 yards per carry for 534 rushing yards. His role diminished in 2022 when he had just four carries.

Cleveland could pair Johnson with Ford, behind Nick Chubb for at least one more season. You'd spend next to nothing on Johnson on a short deal.

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