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Linebacker competition looks to be fierce for Cleveland Browns heading into camp

By Giovanni Castelli

Dec 31, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Wildcats linebacker Scooby Wright III (33) gets past Boise State Broncos offensive lineman Rees Odhiambo (71) during the second half in the 2014 Fiesta Bowl at Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Wildcats linebacker Scooby Wright III (33) gets past Boise State Broncos offensive lineman Rees Odhiambo (71) during the second half in the 2014 Fiesta Bowl at Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 31, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Wildcats linebacker Scooby Wright III (33) gets past Boise State Broncos offensive lineman Rees Odhiambo (71) during the second half in the 2014 Fiesta Bowl at Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Wildcats linebacker Scooby Wright III (33) gets past Boise State Broncos offensive lineman Rees Odhiambo (71) during the second half in the 2014 Fiesta Bowl at Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports /

The Cleveland Browns should see some great competition at the linebacker position this summer in training camp.

The Cleveland Browns enter the 2016 off-season programs with a plethora of new, young players from the 2016 NFL Draft and from free agency. A position that was heavily addressed in the off-season has been the linebackers.

It’s no secret that the Browns have lacked playmakers at the linebacker position for years. Sure, there were a couple of guys, such as Jamir Miller and  D’Qwell Jackson, who excelled at their positions, but overall the Browns have lacked that difference maker at the linebacker spot just as they have at the quarterback position for years.

So with no surprise to anyone, executive vice president of football operations Sashi Brown and head coach Hue Jackson went to work to help rectify the position by adding young free agents in Demario Davis and Justin Tuggle. They then went out and drafted Joe Schobert and Scooby Wright III, showing a determination to try to infuse some hungry, young talent at the position.

Related: Cleveland Browns sign Demario Davis

Couple the new guys with an existing core of Paul Kruger, Nate Orchard, Barkevious Mingo, Christian Kirksey, Armonty Bryant and Tank Carder, and the Browns now have 11 players at the linebacker position all gunning for four starting spots on the team.

So the question arises: who’s in and who’s out?

This isn’t about who will start and who won’t, but rather who will make the final roster cut come September. A few of these guys are shoe-ins to make the roster, with Davis and Kirksey being players the team has identified as ones they intend to build around, for now.

The other nine players may have to prove that they deserve a roster spot, especially with a new regime in place.

So with that being said, let’s take a look at each of the nine players who must prove it during off-season workouts and training camp, plus our predictions on what their roles will be on the team come September.

Next: The big-money guys

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