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Cleveland Browns: 3 Players needing to bounce back in 2019

By Randy Gurzi

CARSON, CA - DECEMBER 03: Christian Kirksey #58 of the Cleveland Browns celebrates an incomplete pass in the endzone during the second quarter of the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at StubHub Center on December 3, 2017 in Carson, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
CARSON, CA - DECEMBER 03: Christian Kirksey #58 of the Cleveland Browns celebrates an incomplete pass in the endzone during the second quarter of the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at StubHub Center on December 3, 2017 in Carson, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND, OH – OCTOBER 07: Christian Kirksey #58 of the Cleveland Browns celebrates defeating the Baltimore Ravens at FirstEnergy Stadium on October 7, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Browns won 12 to 9. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – OCTOBER 07: Christian Kirksey #58 of the Cleveland Browns celebrates defeating the Baltimore Ravens at FirstEnergy Stadium on October 7, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Browns won 12 to 9. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

1. Christian Kirksey, Linebacker

The Browns have started to get a reputation for being able to find solid linebackers in the second and third days of the NFL Draft. Middle linebacker Joe Schobert was a fourth-round pick out of Wisconsin in 2016 and has become a force for them in the middle of the defense.

One of his running mates is Christian Kirksey, who was a third-round pick out of Iowa in 2014. Kirksey enters this season tied with Joel Bitonio as the longest-tenured member of the team — the final two remaining from the purge of general manager John Dorsey.

He entered 2018 on the heels of two-straight 100-plus tackle seasons after racking up 143 in 2016 and another 138 in 2017. Things started out strong as Kirksey had 43 tackles and his first two career picks through seven games. Then, he started dealing with a hamstring injury and wound up on the injured reserve.

Kirksey aims to bounce back this season but has a lot of competition suddenly. He was at the 2019 NFL Draft in Nashville and announced the Browns third-round pick which was BYU linebacker Sione Takitaki. They also added Alabama’s Mack Wilson in the fifth round and the two join free agency addition Adarius Taylor who was a team captain for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers a season ago.

Next. Browns who could make their first Pro Bowl. dark

Even with the added competition, Kirksey returning to his previous form will help the entire defense get better. They do have plenty of depth now, but there’s nothing wrong with making the young guys wait their turn — and that’s what Kirksey will aim to do.

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