5 star players for the Cleveland Browns to target in free agency

1. Lavonte David, LB

Something felt icky writing this piece and not addressing the linebacker position at all.

Truth be told, there’s not that much room for improvement in free agency this time around.

Bud Dupree is really a defensive end and a defensive gadget player that thrived off the blitz. Matt Milano misses a bunch of tackles. K.J. Wright is the same age as Malcolm Smith. Denzel Perryman is oftentimes one-dimensional.

Enter Lavonte David.

Now, David is no spry chicken either. He will be 31 years old at the beginning of the league year. But he is still playing the position at an extremely high level.

For a linebacker, David thrives in coverage and his speed on the field is what Cleveland should covet most.

When Andrew Berry met with the media on Wednesday, he noted that adding speed defensively is always essential in today’s NFL. Even at 31, if David loses a step as he ages, his ability to read situations and cover the field will withstand the test of time.

Entering this season, the Browns were aware that the defense was going to be a work in progress. It was going to require using some of the hoarded salary cap and draft picks to secure the future of the franchise in many positions.

While those young players take time to come into their own, adding David in free agency helps Cleveland contend right away.