3 players the Cleveland Browns should consider moving on from in 2020
By Dan Justik
Linebacker Christian Kirksey
There is little doubt that Christian Kirksey is a leader in the locker room. He is the second-longest tenured player on the roster, only because Joel Bitonio was drafted a round earlier than Kirksey in the 2014 NFL Draft. However, Kirksey has not performed at the rate of his contract, even as linebacker contracts have become inflated recently.
Since playing in every game the first four seasons of his career, including starting all 16 games in both 2016 and 2017, Kirksey has struggled to stay on the field. In the past two seasons, Kirksey has played only nine games, including only two in 2019.
In the nine games the past two seasons, Kirksey has made 54 total tackles, two tackles for loss, two interceptions, and five passes defensed. Kirksey signed his four-year, $38 million contract in the offseason after he made 148 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks during the 2016 season.
Kirksey has the sixth-highest cap hit on the Browns roster, and the 11th-highest among inside linebackers in the NFL. Kirksey has a $9.95 million cap hit in 2020, but the Browns would save $7.55 million if they move on from Kirksey before June 1.
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Although he is a leader on the Browns roster, Cleveland invested in linebackers in the 2019 NFL Draft and gave Mack Wilson significant playing time while Kirksey was injured. Unless he is willing to come back to the Browns with a cheaper cap hit, then the Browns should likely move on from Kirksey this offseason.