5 NFL free agents who could become stars

3. Jack Conklin, RT, Cleveland Browns

While right tackles are not always going to turn heads the way a left tackle can, considering the creativity of modern NFL offenses and the increased use of the entire field by play-callers, they are increasingly interchangeable in terms of value.

Signing Conklin to a three-year, $42 million deal (with $30 million guaranteed) helps the Browns’ offensive line massively and puts Conklin in great position to succeed.

In Minnesota, Stefanski was fond of zone-blocking, which led to a career (and NFL-best) year for youngster Dalvin Cook. Coaches who have the personnel to pull off a sophisticated and diversified zone-blocking attack will always have success. There is simply too much of a recent track record, from Houston with Arian Foster to the Redskins and 49ers under Kyle Shanahan, to argue it at this point.

With Baker Mayfield and a growing stable of weapons (such as Hooper, who was discussed in the previous slide), Stefanski should be able to trick defenses with different play-action looks and jumbo sets that make it hard to know what’s coming.

Conklin will serve as a valuable run and pass-blocker in an attack that will likely be similar to what Tennessee put together in their impressive 2019 playoff run, but with even more talent in Cleveland.

Running back Nick Chubb should benefit in addition to Mayfield, and Stefanski could engineer a massive improvement for Cleveland’s offense, with Conklin a key piece of it all.