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5 under the radar 2020 free agents Cleveland Browns should consider

By Greg Newland

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 05: Jared Cook #87 of the New Orleans Saints makes a catch before being tackled by Anthony Harris #41 of the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Wild Card Playoff game at Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 05, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 05: Jared Cook #87 of the New Orleans Saints makes a catch before being tackled by Anthony Harris #41 of the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Wild Card Playoff game at Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 05, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /
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GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN – DECEMBER 08: Terry McLaurin #17 of the Washington Redskins is brought down by Blake Martinez #50 of the Green Bay Packers during a game at Lambeau Field on December 08, 2019, in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN – DECEMBER 08: Terry McLaurin #17 of the Washington Redskins is brought down by Blake Martinez #50 of the Green Bay Packers during a game at Lambeau Field on December 08, 2019, in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

Blake Martinez – Linebacker

Stanford product Blake Martinez was a fourth-round pick by the Green Bay Packers in 2016. Martinez has played out his original rookie deal and is now ready to hit free agency. Martinez is the definition of durable as he has started 16 games for three straight seasons after winning the starting job at linebacker midway through his rookie year.

Joe Schobert will surely be missed, but the tackling machine Martinez would fill in nicely. Martinez has registered 144 tackles or more for three straight seasons and has totaled 25 tackles for loss in those same years. Martinez has been criticized for his pass coverage skills but has always been a dominating run stopper. What Martinez lacks, Mack Wilson has, which could make them a great combination in 2020. Also, remember Sione Takitaki will add depth to this group, but it doesn’t appear he is a top choice to start next season.

Martinez will not be cheap, but likely under the market of what Schobert will capture, as well as a few years younger. Over the cap expects Martinez to capture $8-9 million per year.

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Nick Kwiatkoski – Linebacker

The West Virginia product Nick Kwiatkoski is probably the least known name on this list, but certainly won’t be for long. With Danny Trevathan getting injured in 2019, Kwiatoski had a chance to start eight games, where he shined. With 76 tackles and three sacks in a half-season, the inside linebacker raised his stock significantly for free agency in 2020.

The Chicago Bears originally picked Kwiatoski in 2016 in the fourth-round, but he never had the chance to get consecutive starts with Trevathan and Roquan Smith in the picture. There are two sticky points with Kwiatoski going forward: He is expecting to get paid and may demand as much money as it would have been to keep Schobert. Also, the Bears may not even let him leave the facility!

With Trevathan and Kwiatoski hitting free agency in 2020, the easy solution may be to let the aging Trevathan walk and pay Kwiatkowski. However, with a superstar like Roquan Smith already in the middle, it could be a position the Bears try to go cheaper on and add depth elsewhere.

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