Browns linebackers: Stay or go in 2018?
By Thomas Moore
The Cleveland Browns have several roster decisions to make for 2018, but the linebackers may only be in need of some minor tweaking.
The Cleveland Browns are currently working their way through another one of their “most important off seasons ever” as the franchise undergoes its latest rebuilding project.
But unlike their past attempts to turn themselves into an actual NFL franchise, this rebuild is taking on a different look and feel.
Executive vice president of football operations Sashi Brown did a considerable amount of work before he was fired late in the 2017 season, and because of that general manager John Dorsey has a solid foundation to build on.
Cleveland Browns
In addition to sound offensive and defensive lines, along with young, promising players at tight end, linebacker and in the secondary, Dorsey has somewhere north of $100 million in cap space at his disposal, along with 12 selections in the 2018 NFL Draft – including picks No. 1 and No. 4 in the first round, plus another three selections in the second round.
Dorsey needs to hold onto some of that cap space to start resigning players nearing the end of their rookie deals, running back Duke Johnson comes to mind, but the cap dollars, draft picks and unwritten NFL rule that a new general manager needs “his players” to make things work means that the roster will undergo changes between now and Week 1 of the regular season in September.
To that end, let’s take a look at the linebackers on the roster to determine who will likely still be in Orange and Brown come the fall, and who will be seeking employment elsewhere.
Current linebackers
Dominique Alexander, B.J. Bello, Max Bullough, James Burgess, Austin Calitro, Tank Carder, Jeremy Cash, Jamie Collins, Josh Keyes, Christian Kirksey and Joe Schobert
Contract status
Alexander, Bello, Burgess, Calitro and Cash are all signed through 2018; Bullough and Schobert are signed through 2019; Collins is signed through 2020; Kirksey is signed through 2021; Carder is an unrestricted free agent; Keyes is a restricted free agent. (Per spotrac.com)
Stay or Go?
Along with the defensive line, the Browns linebackers played a major role in helping the defense finally find a way to slow down opposing running backs in 2017.
And along the way the team found a surprising contributor.
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Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams switched Joe Schobert to the middle linebacker position and the move paid off as Schobert made the Pro Bowl after tying for the league-lead in tackles with 144.
Christian Kirksey had another solid season with 138 tackles and three-and-a-half sacks, which just about matched his production from 2016 (143 tackles to go along with two-and-a-half sacks).
The one downside from the position group was the loss of Jamie Collins, who suffered a season-ending knee injury on Nov. 12 against the Detroit Lions. That injury did provide an opportunity for James Burgess, however, and he responded with 70 tackles and four sacks, and always seemed to be in the middle of the action on defense.
Collins is expected to make a full recovery after having surgery to repair his MCL, which gives the Browns four solid linebackers to build around heading into 2018, with Schobert in line for a new contract if he can repeat his Pro Bowl season.
After the four primary players, however, are a group of special teamers and interchangeable parts.
Carder has been a solid contributor on special teams, and Alexander looked to be filling a similar role, before both were lost with knee injuries. Carder is a nice veteran presence to have around, but after spending the season on injured reserve with a torn ACL, his time in Cleveland may have come to a close.
Next: Would the Browns really trade the first-round pick?
The Browns look to be set with the starters at the linebacker position, but could use a bit more depth and should always be on the lookout for another game changer. They have higher priorities at other positions, but it would not be surprising to see them take a hard look at some linebackers either in free agency or during the second and third day of the 2018 NFL Draft.