CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Browns are staring down a 56-year NFL anomaly. Every single starter on their offensive line just watched their contracts expire. Cam Robinson, Joel Bitonio, Ethan Pocic, Wyatt Teller, and Jack Conklin are all packing up their lockers. The last time an entire unit hit free agency at once, the year was 1970. General Manager Andrew Berry isn’t just patching a leak; he needs to pour a completely new concrete foundation to keep second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders upright. And the blueprint starts with Green Bay Packers left tackle Rasheed Walker.
Building the Blindside Wall
Walker didn’t just block pass rushers in 2025; he erased them. He logged 16 starts and turned the left edge into a no-fly zone for opposing defenses. Watching the tape from last December, you can see how he uses quick lateral feet and heavy hands to steer edge rushers completely out of the play. The Browns desperately need that physical edge.
Cleveland’s tackles were an absolute liability last season. The revolving door of injuries and inconsistent play resulted in Sanders taking 23 sacks in just seven starts. Sanders flashed massive potential, throwing for 1,400 yards and earning a Pro Bowl nod, but you could almost feel the collective breath leave Cleveland Browns Stadium every time the pocket collapsed around the young signal-caller.
NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe dropped the intel that Cleveland has Walker circled in red ink. But signing the 25-year-old tackle requires serious financial gymnastics. Early projections suggest Walker could demand a four-year, $82 million contract on the open market. The Browns are already suffocating under Deshaun Watson’s massive cap hit, meaning Berry has to start slashing contracts—like potentially cutting veteran Cornelius Lucas—just to clear room to negotiate.
“One team I’m told to keep an eye on: the Cleveland Browns, who have a lot of offensive line needs. They’ve expressed interest, potentially, in Walker.”
— Cameron Wolfe, NFL Network
Draft Capital vs. Proven Protection / What’s Next
If Berry misses out on Walker, the pressure shifts entirely to the 2026 NFL Draft. Cleveland holds the sixth overall pick. Using that premium selection on a rookie tackle is the safe, traditional route. But if they manage to sign Walker, the entire draft board blows wide open.
Securing a proven commodity at left tackle allows new head coach Todd Monken to weaponize that first-round pick. They could target an elite wide receiver to give Sanders a true number-one target, or they could trade back to accumulate picks and draft interior linemen to fill the massive voids left by Teller and Bitonio.
The free agency tampering window opens soon. Green Bay could still slap the franchise tag—projected around $27 million—on Walker to force a tag-and-trade scenario. If Walker hits the open market, Berry has to be the first one on the phone. Protecting Sanders isn’t just a priority; it is the entire season.
