The Browns finally gave a little free agency love to the offensive side of the ball. After signing three defensive tackles and one defensive end in the first few days of free agency, the Browns gave Deshaun Watson a new weapon in his former Texans’ tight end Jordan Akins. They signed Akins, 30, to a two-deal worth up to $5.2 million. His agent, David Canter, announced the signing Friday afternoon after Akins paid a free agent visit to Cleveland. A third-round pick of the Texans in 2018 out of Central Florida and the fifth tight end drafted that year, Akins spent four seasons in Houston with Watson, including 2021 when Watson sat out the year after asking to be traded and with civil suits piling up.vAkins (6-foot-4, 243 pounds) signed a one-year deal with the Giants in April of last year, but was released in August and was signed to the Texans’ practice squad. 

He was promoted to the active roster on Oct. 12 and had the best season of his career with 37 catches for 495 yards and a career-high five TDs, which tied the total production of Browns tight ends David Njoku (four) and Harrison Bryant (one). Akins provides Watson with another red zone and end zone threat, and someone who established a nose for the end zone last season. In the Browns victory over the Texans on Dec. 4, he caught three passes for 21 yards, and he finished the season strong, with two TD catches in a victory over the Colts. According to Pro Football Focus, Akins was the 9th best tight end in the NFL in 2022 with a 72.4 grade, two notches behind Njoku (73.7.). Bryant was 32nd at 59.3. Akins was the sixth new free agent signed by the Browns in this cycle. The others were defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo, defensive tackles Dalvin Tomlinson, Maurice Hurst and Trysten Hill, and safety Juan Thornhill. The Browns have also re-signed three of their own free agents in cornerback A.J. Green, center Ethan Pocic and linebacker Sione Takitaki.

#Browns

Built Bar

Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.

Ultimate Football GM

To download the game just visit Ultimate-GM.com or look it up on the app stores. Our listeners get a 100% free boost to their franchise when using the promo LOCKEDON (ALL CAPS) in the game store.

FanDuel

Make Every Moment More. Don’t miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS in Bonus Bets when you go FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON.

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices