The Cleveland Browns have proven that coverage linebackers aren’t the key

The Cleveland Browns have prioritized speed and coverage skills at linebacker and that hasn’t really helped matters.

PFF thinks that of all the Cleveland Browns players who are currently free agents, Anthony Walker is among the most important people to re-sign. In fact, they think he’s the top priority. At least according to PFF’s Brad Spielberger.

Spielberger cites the Browns’ need at linebacker, lack of cap space, and play in coverage as reasons the Browns should consider him over someone like Ethan Pocic. In fact, they even hint at the fact that Bill Callahan could likely turn the next center the Browns have into another top-performing guy, an assessment that I agree with.

Yet, I don’t agree with Walker returning.

From PFF’s Brad Spielberger;

"Center Ethan Pocic could be the answer here, as well, but the Browns already have two of the highest-paid guards in the NFL on the interior, so they could continue to cycle through centers and let offensive line coaching savant Bill Callahan work his magic. On defense, linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is an exciting young foundational piece, and he got off to a hot start to the 2022 season alongside Walker before the latter went down with a season-ending injury.Cleveland can’t afford to spend much on defense outside of perhaps investing in their interior defensive line, which makes Walker a solid option here coming off his torn quadriceps tendon injury. His 85.9 coverage grade over the past two seasons ranks third among off-ball linebackers, and while he can stand to improve against the run — as is the case with almost the entire Browns defense — those improvements are more likely to come via the aforementioned interior defensive line additions and a change in philosophy under new defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz."

The Cleveland Browns have proven that smaller linebackers aren’t the answer

The Browns need good coverage linebackers, that’s not in dispute, so let’s avoid that being the argument. The issue is whether or not an undersized linebacker in Walker should return over someone like Sione Takitaki or even Reggie Ragland. The Browns are not going to just get rid of all of their better coverage guys, but the team has got to get size and guys who can attack the line of scrimmage and shed bigger blockers.

This is something that PFF cites as an issue for Walker that he can improve on but he’s about to be 28 and coming off of a major injury. How much is he going to improve at this point in his career, when it’s been something he’s routinely struggled with for his career?

Historically he’s always been bad against the run, which is part of the reason the Browns gave up the 8th most yards per carry in 2022. Yes, they were in the Top 5 when it came to least fewest passing yards against, but keep in mind the Cleveland winter is one of the greatest 12th men in the league.

For that reason alone, the Browns need bigger linebackers and sinking money into a guy like Walker just isn’t prudent. He was part of the issue last year and finding a replacement who can meet guys at the line of scrimmage is a massive priority.