Remaining free agents the Cleveland Browns should consider
By Greg Newland
2. Josh Kline – Guard
One of the more surprising cuts this offseason was Minnesota Vikings guard Josh Kline. Last offseason Kline signed a three-year $15.5 million deal with the Vikings. After a solid year and 13-starts last season, the two sides were unable to work out a contract restructure and the Vikings eventually decided to release Kline.
While the Browns should be set at offensive line after drafting a starting left tackle in the 2020 draft, can you have too much depth at offensive line? Currently J.C. Tretter and Joel Bitonio anchor the middle portion of the offensive line, but right guard will certainly be a weak spot in 2020. Wyatt Teller or Drew Forbes will be the current options, but a talented pass-blocker like Kline could be tempting.
Neither Forbes nor Teller are expensive options currently, both making under $1 million for the 2020 season. Given that, and the expanded rosters for 2020, the Browns could bring in Kline and use Teller and Forbes strictly for depth on the interior line. It’s uncertain how many offensive linemen the Brown’s will carry in 2020 but having Kendall Lamm and Chris Hubbard as backup tackles paired with Teller and Forbes at guard/center as back-ups would be a strength for the Browns.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski will be familiar with Kline and given how long he has remained available; the Browns could get a quality starting guard for a discount. At age 30, Kline will also not want to sign a one-year deal, however, a two- or three-year agreement with cap flexibility could be a longer-term solution to the Browns issue at right guard.