The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Browns add LB Walker on one-year deal
The Browns on March 19 agreed to a one-year contract with middle linebacker Anthony Walker, originally a 2017fifth-round draft pick of the Colts.
Another day, another boost to the Browns’ defense.
The Browns on March 19 agreed to a one-year contract with middle linebacker Anthony Walker, originally a 2017 fifthround draft pick of the Colts. As with defensive end Takk McKinley, who also is working on a one-year agreement, signing Walker doesn’t come with a lot of flash, but he can add bang to a defense that needs upgrading.
“We are adding another smart, tough football player to the fold,” Coach Kevin Stefanski said. “This is a guy that plays hard, plays fast, plays nasty. He can be a quarterback for the defense out there. Really intelligent, heady player.
“Just in spending some time with him, he loves diving into the X’s and O’s of this game. Also, he has just proven to be a tremendous teammate over the course of his career.”
Walker is basically a swap-out for B.J. Goodson, who signed a one-year contract in 2020 and led the Browns with 91 tackles from his middle linebacker spot. Walker made 92 for the Colts last season. He picked off one pass and recovered a fumble. He had 343 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 11 pass breakups, three interceptions and two fumble recoveries in four seasons with the Colts.
Walker, 6-foot-1, 230 pounds, played in 15 games with 14 starts in 2018. He started all 16 games in each of the last three seasons. He is the fourth major addition to the defense since free agency began on March 15. The Browns also signed safety John Johnson III and cornerback Troy Hill, both from the Rams, for three and four years, respectively, in addition to signing McKinley.
In other news, the Browns re-signed kicker Cody Parkey for one year. Parkey was 19 of 22 on field goal tries and 43 of 47 on extra points for the Browns in 2020. He was 8-for-8 on extra points and 3-for-3 on field goals in the Browns’ two playoff games.
Wide receiver JoJo Natson also re-upped for one season with the Browns, as did linebacker Elijah Lee.
Natson is a wide receiver, but his biggest value to the Browns is as a return specialist. Natson returned three punts for 25 yards (his longest return was 13 yards) and one kick for 31 yards before a knee injury in the third game cut short his season.
Lee saw most of his action last season on special teams after being claimed off waivers by the Lions in midseason. He made six tackles in punt and kick coverage.
The Browns lost backup offensive lineman Kendall Lamm to the Titans in free agency. They filled that void by signing offensive tackle Greg Senat.
Senat started the 2020 season on the Browns practice squad. The Cowboys signed him a month into the season. He played 10 games for Dallas, mostly on special teams.
The Browns also officially announced they re-signed wide receiver Rashard Higgins.