4 free agent linebackers Cleveland Browns should target in 2022 offseason
By John Suchan
Cleveland Browns LB Target: Alec Ogletree
If the Browns are looking for an older veteran who could provide some benefit to the younger players in the linebacker room, Alec Ogletree might fit the bill.
The former 2013 NFL draft first-round pick out of Georgia had a great career with the Los Angeles Rams. He then got traded in the spring of 2018 to the New York Giants. In 2016, when he played for the Rams, he finished with an impressive 136 tackles, two interceptions, and one forced fumble. When he was with the Giants in 2018, he had a solid 93 tackles and five interceptions.
This past season, he played for the Chicago Bears and had a decent year. He started all 16 games and recorded 87 tackles. He only was paid $1.1 this past year at 30 years of age. In his hay day, he was making $10 to $12 million. He will certainly be asking for more than he made this past year, but the Browns wouldn’t have to break the bank for him.
Cleveland Browns LB Target: Foyesade Oluokun
If you want a consistent linebacker who is still very young, then Foyesade Oluokon might be your guy. The Atlanta Falcon was drafted in the sixth round out of Yale, the hotbed of producing NFL linebackers. Over the four years with the Falcons, he’s had 462 tackles, seven forced fumbles, and five interceptions. He registered 192 tackles this past season including seven quarterback hits and two sacks.
The free-agent Falcon linebacker made just over $2.1 million this year. He should get paid very handsomely by some NFL team. The Browns would be advised to take a hard look at Oluokun.
He seems to be in the prime of his career, is considered to be very athletic and quick to the ball player like Cleveland has already in Jeremiah Owusu Koramoah. Adding him to the mix on the Browns defense could be another important piece to helping this team get back to the playoffs.