Levi Brown is not technically a free agent. He is still under contract for one more season. However, with a salary cap number of nearly $17 million, he will be unless the Arizona Cardinals can restructure his contract to a more manageable number.
Brown has been the whipping boy of Cardinals fans for quite some time now. However, he might be returning, based on what XTRA Sports' Mike Jurecki is hearing:
I'm hearing that Levi Brown may be the best option at tackle for the Cards. #cards
— Mike Jurecki (@mikejurecki) February 28, 2012
That tweet might just make fans sick. However, the problem is that teams don't really ever let good offensive tackles go. So you end up with below average to average guys on the market, unless it is someone unproven who turns out to be a stud.
In addition to Brown's possible return, he might be the left tackle again. It would depend on what happens with the the draft in April.
For example, Jurecki speculates that if Arizona drafted Iowa OT Riley Reiff (who is currently grading out fairly well at the combine), Brown would play LT while Reiff would anchor the right side of the line.
Is this idea for Arizona? Maybe not, but if Brown can replicate his play in the second half of the 2011 season, it won't be too bad.
It comes down to whether or not the two sides can get a deal done, but as odd as it sounds, Levi Brown is a Cardinals priority this offseason.
You can talk more Cardinals over at Revenge of the Birds.
For the latest AZ sports, follow us on Twitter @SBNArizona and "Like" us on Facebook.