Cleveland Browns: 10 potential free agent reinforcements ahead of 2021 season

Cleveland Browns options at linebacker

9. K.J. Wright

K.J. Wright has been a player many fans have been asking for throughout this entire offseason, probably because of name recognition. He’s now 32 years old and entering his 11th campaign, and is still a quality player. Seattle’s defensive scheme is unconventional, but Wright plays more of a WILL role for the Seahawks, with some experience as a SAM.

He doesn’t fill the Browns need for a backup MIKE, and signing Wright would just mean fewer snaps for Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, so that doesn’t make much sense, not to mention that Wright will probably end up as the most expensive player on this list.

8. Avery Williamson

Williamson has been a high-quality run-stopper for the duration of his career but has always struggled in coverage. The same goes for starting MIKE Anthony Walker Jr., and the Browns seem to be structuring their LB corps to where they can mix and match skillsets based on the situation; if a player is good at one thing and struggles with another, that player will be set up to have success.

So while Williamson doesn’t do everything that Phillips does, he could be a good depth option because there is an area he excels in. But he would not be starting, and that could be a deal-breaker for him.

7. B.J. Goodson

Goodson started at MIKE last year for the Browns, and didn’t play too well. He lacks the speed to be much of a factor when the play is moving lateral, and the vast majority of his tackles came down the field, as his instincts don’t allow him to sniff out plays. He also has his issues in coverage, and Walker should be a fairly significant upgrade.

Still, Goodson knows the scheme and is a fundamentally sound player. That’s valuable, and there’s a chance he winds up back in Cleveland at some point, just as a backup and special teamer instead.