Grading Cleveland Browns position groups before free agency and draft
By Clay Goodwin
Linebackers: C+
Linebackers for the Cleveland Browns are perhaps the biggest mystery. They can be very good or below average. The first question is whether or not they will retain Joe Schobert.
Schobert has played excellent despite what some fans believe. He is the undisputed leader of the defense and puts players in the right spot to make plays. He had 133 tackles and four interceptions this past year and is a playmaker for this defense.
He is likely expecting high-tier linebacker salary, and the Browns may not be willing to pay that. The Browns have a much better unit with Schobert in the lineup, but that remains a question throughout the offseason.
The second question is how well the young linebackers will play. Cleveland took two backers in last year’s draft. Sione Takitaki was taken in the third round and Mack Wilson was selected in the fifth.
Wilson played and started much of the year after a great preseason and Christian Kirksey going down with a season-ending injury. He showed plenty of promise, but also showed vulnerability as most rookies do. Takitaki was mostly a special teams player last year. It is hard to tell what he will bring to the table based on last year’s performance.
If the two can step up and develop, the Browns’ unit could be a real force. If they continue to have frequent mistakes, the linebacker group could be a weak spot for the team.
Right now the unit ranks as a C+ but can certainly be much higher if Schobert returns, Kirksey stays and is healthy, or the young players have a great offseason. But at this point, there is too much uncertainty to have a higher grade.