NFL insider’s latest is a bucket of cold water on Cleveland Browns’ potential signing of one of the top free agents to be

The Browns need offensive line help but one potential target may end up out of their price range.

Brandon Little — Ohio State Buckeyes & Cleveland Browns News Writer
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Jeff Lange-USA TODAY NETWORK

With the Cleveland Browns hiring Todd Monken as the new head coach, attention turns to what the roster is going to look like. 

Much of the change that’ll come this offseason for the Browns is on offense where they were downright terrible last season. All five of the Browns’ offensive linemen are set to be free agents, so a big change is likely coming up front. 

The idea of signing Tyler Linderbaum sounds good but it probably won’t happen for Cleveland 

With Monken coming over from the Baltimore Ravens, it won’t be surprising if Cleveland signs a player or two away from their AFC North rival. One player who has been brought up a ton is Pro Bowl C Tyler Linderbaum, who is currently set to hit free agency. 

The Browns are likely moving on from C Ethan Pocic and will need their next guy in the middle of the offensive line. NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah’s latest comment on Linderbaum doesn’t bode well for the Browns. 

“I love my job but if I could switch jobs for just the next couple of months I’d want to be Tyler Linderbaum’s agent because everybody that I talk to seems to be in on Tyler Linderbaum,” Jeremiah stared. “So it sounds like he’s going to have a robust market.”

A busy market for Linderbaum if he does indeed hit free agency and doesn’t sign with the Ravens is not good news for the Browns. Pro Football Focus projects a four-year, $80 million deal for Linderbaum. The three-time Pro Bowler is set to be the highest-paid center in the NFL if he does hit the market. 

There’s still no sure word on whether Linderbaum will hit the market. The Ravens can choose to franchise tag him, or he could just sign an extension with them before becoming a free agent. 

Linderbaum having played the majority of his career for Monken as the offensive play caller, helps the cause for the Browns. 

Legal tampering begins on March 9 and that’s when the noise will pick up. If Linderbaum is available, then the Browns should be in the mix. It won’t come cheap though and Cleveland will have to be willing to pay up. 

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