Report: Cleveland Browns cut LB Paul Kruger

The Cleveland Browns have started trimming their roster and linebacker Paul Kruger is the biggest name of the early cuts.

The Cleveland Browns have released veteran linebacker Paul Kruger, according to Mary Kay Cabot at cleveland.com.

NFL teams must have their rosters down to a maximum of 75 players by Tuesday at 4 p.m. In addition to Kruger, the Browns have also reportedly released tight end E.J. Bibbs, kicker Travis Coons and quarterback Austin Davis.

Kruger was the marquee signing of the Joe Banner/Mike Lombardi regime, signing a five-year, $40 million contract in 2013. Kruger was coming off a then-career year with the Baltimore Ravens by posting nine sacks during their Super Bowl run in 2012.

Later that spring the Browns selected Barkevious Mingo in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft, planning to pair him with Kruger as outside linebackers to terrorize opposing quarterbacks. Mingo never worked out, for a variety of reasons, and was traded to the New England Patriots last week for a draft pick.

Kruger struggled in his first season with the Browns, only posting 4.5 sacks under defensive coordinator Ray Horton. After Horton was let go, Kruger had a career year in his first year playing in former head coach Mike Pettine’s defense, recording 11 sacks in 2014.

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Things went off the rails last season, however, as Jim O’Neil took over the play calling on defense and had Kruger inexplicably dropping into coverage as much as he had him rushing the quarterback.

Kruger finishes his Browns career having made 46 starts and recording 18 sacks. While he was an effective pass rusher, Kruger continued to struggle in the run game – although he was far from the lone culprit on the defense.

The move to release Kruger is just the latest sign that the Browns are fully committing to building around their young players, rather than trying a “win now” approach to their latest reboot. Kruger joins Donte Whitner, Karlos Dansby and Randy Starks as veteran defensive players released since the end of the season.

Emmanuel Ogbah, Cleveland’s second-round selection in the 2015 NFL Draft, should now be in line to take over Kruger’s rush spot at outside linebacker.

Among the other reported cuts, the release of Davis, the team’s fourth quarterback, signals that the Browns plan to keep Josh McCown around as insurance for quarterback Robert Griffin III.

The Browns also parted ways with defensive end Nick Hayden, defensive end Sean Baker, wide receiver Josh Boyce, wide receiver Ed Eagan, fullback Robert Hughes, tight end David Reeves and offensive lineman Cory Tucker

Cleveland placed defensive lineman Nile Lawrence-Stample and running back Glenn Winston on injured reserve.

The team is now down to 76 players, so one more move must be paid before tomorrow’s deadline. The Browns will also be looking at the players released from other teams, so more roster moves may be on the way.