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Browns Free Agents: 6 Free Agents The Cleveland Browns Should Target

By Nick Dudukovich

Jan 7, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans cornerback A.J. Bouye (21) celebrates an interception against the Oakland Raiders during the AFC Wild Card playoff football game at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 7, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans cornerback A.J. Bouye (21) celebrates an interception against the Oakland Raiders during the AFC Wild Card playoff football game at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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NFL: Baltimore Ravens at Oakland Raiders
NFL: Baltimore Ravens at Oakland Raiders /

How great would be to rip away someone from the Ravens?

Baltimore has a more higher profile free agent in nose tackle Brandon Williams, but Ricky Wagner’s importance to the offensive line can’t be overlooked. If Baltimore loses their right tackle, GM Ozzie Newsome will be scrambling to find a suitable replacement.

If you’re looking at this from a Browns perspective, you’ll notice this is the third offensive lineman on this list. Cleveland needs to fill the tackle position because the front office let Mitchell Schwartz leave last offseason. He’s one of the best right tackles in the game, but according to Pro Football Focus, Wagner had a better 2016 campaign.

The 27-year-old graded as the 18th best offensive tackle in the game, according to Pro Football Focus (84.5). Schwartz was 27th. Wagner graded out as a better pass blocker, while Schwartz’s rung blocking grade was slightly higher.

Either way, it will probably take a contract–five years, $33 million–simliar to what Schwartz got to get him to Cleveland. For a guy who’s in the early ages of his prime years and who can start day one, the Browns would be lucky to get him at that price.

As you’ve noticed, Wagner is the third lineman on this list.

Ideally, the Browns will fill one of their line positions with a guy already on the roster. They could add another via the draft, say with the No. 52 overall pick.  With free agency, the Browns can get better on the line and add depth by adding at least one player.

If pressed, Wagner would be my choice. You’d pair him with Joe Thomas as the tackles, Greco and Bitonio as the guard spots. Center could come from within. Harvard product Anthony Fabiano made his NFL debut against the Steelers. He played well. The Browns would probably like to see more, though. Austin Reiter, a former draft choice of the Redskins, played well in the one game he started for the Browns last October, until he tore his ACL.

I’m not counting on Cameron Erving. Right now, he should not be considered anything other than the line’s sixth man. Spencer Drango, a 2016 draft choice, can backup at guard.

Austin Pasztor is also a free agent who can play tackle. Ideally the Browns could re-sign him too, to keep the depth chart bolstered.

Baltimore has just over $15 million cap space After signing Williams, that number will shrink, which will cause for Wagner’s future to become very interesting.

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