The Browns are adding another smart, tough and accountable player to a defense looking to take another step forward in 2021.
LB Anthony Walker, a regular starter and leader for the Colts over the past three seasons, signed with the Browns on Friday, giving them their third big addition to the defense since the start of the new league year.
"We are adding another smart, tough football player to the fold," 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."
Walker, who appeared in 57 games with 48 starts over the past four seasons, visited the Browns at the team facility in Berea on Thursday before signing Friday.
"Just in spending some time with him, he loves diving into the X's and O's of this game," Stefanski said. "Also, he has just proven to be a tremendous teammate over the course of his career."
A fifth-round selection out of Northwestern, Walker took over as a full-time starter in his second season and promptly became one of the Colts' most productive players. He amassed 105 tackles in 2018 and a career-best 124 in 2019. He's had one interception in each of the last three seasons and missed just one game during that stretch.
Walker joins a Browns linebackers room that will feature the recently re-signed Malcolm Smith and a young core of Sione Takitaki and Mack Wilson — both of whom are entering their third NFL seasons — and Jacob Phillips, a third-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Cleveland's leading tackler from 2020, B.J. Goodson, is a free agent.
Walker is the third free agent on the defensive side of the ball to sign with the Browns since the start of the new league year. S John Johnson III (Rams) and DE Takkarist McKinley (Raiders) agreed to terms Wednesday and signed Friday.
Check out photos of linebacker Anthony Walker
Indianapolis Colts middle linebacker Anthony Walker (54) celebrates with teammates after he recovered a fumble by Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Northwestern linebacker Anthony Walker runs the 40 yard dash during the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday, March 5, 2017 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Eric Ebron (85) runs past Indianapolis Colts middle linebacker Anthony Walker (54) after making a catch and taking the ball in for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Indianapolis Colts linebacker Anthony Walker #54 is seen on the sideline during the second half against the Las Vegas Raiders in an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Jeff Bottari)
Indianapolis Colts linebacker Anthony Walker (54) warms up on the field before an NFL football game between the Indianapolis Colts and Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Zach Bolinger)
Cleveland Browns running back Kareem Hunt (27) spins away from Indianapolis Colts middle linebacker Anthony Walker (54) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Indianapolis Colts linebacker Anthony Walker (54) runs to the sidelines during an NFL football game between the Indianapolis Colts and New York Jets, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Zach Bolinger)
Chicago Bears wide receiver Allen Robinson (12) is defended by Indianapolis Colts middle linebacker Anthony Walker (54) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)
Indianapolis Colts middle linebacker Anthony Walker (54) wears a helmet with the name of Trayvon Martin in the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Jet in Indianapolis, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Indianapolis Colts middle linebacker Anthony Walker signs his jersey to swap with Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Devin Bush (55) following an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2019. The Steelers won 26-24. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Indianapolis Colts middle linebacker Anthony Walker (50) following an NFL wild card playoff football game against the Houston Texans, Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Vance McDonald (89) tries for more yards as Indianapolis Colts middle linebacker Anthony Walker (50) defends in the second half of an NFL football game , Sunday, Nov. 3, 2019, in Pittsburgh. He was ruled down at the one-yard line (AP Photo/Don Wright)
Indianapolis Colts linebacker Anthony Walker (50) closes in on Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) during the first half of an NFL divisional football playoff game in Kansas City, Mo., Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Indianapolis Colts linebacker Anthony Walker (54) runs a drill during practice at the NFL team's football training camp in Indianapolis, Monday, Aug. 17, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Indianapolis Colts middle linebacker Anthony Walker (50) dives for Tennessee Titans wide receiver Adam Humphries (10) in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/James Kenney)
Northwestern linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. (1) reacts after causing a Pittsburgh fumble during the fourth quarter of the Pinstripe Bowl NCAA college football game, Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2016, in New York. Northwestern won 31-24. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
Indianapolis Colts linebacker Anthony Walker (50) and defensive end Jihad Ward (51) celebrate after recording a sack on New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold, not pictured, during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 14, 2018, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Northwestern linebacker Anthony Walker runs a drill during the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday, March 5, 2017 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Indianapolis Colts linebacker Anthony Walker (50) tackles New England Patriots running back James White (28) during the first half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Oct. 4, 2018, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Indianapolis Colts linebacker Anthony Walker (50) watches from the sideline during the second half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jaguars won 30-10. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
