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Top 3 Cleveland Browns Linebacker Prospects in the NFL Draft

By Joshua Austin

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 01: Malik Harrison #39 of the Ohio State Buckeyes in action during the Big Ten Championship game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 1, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Ohio State won 45-24. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 01: Malik Harrison #39 of the Ohio State Buckeyes in action during the Big Ten Championship game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 1, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Ohio State won 45-24. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – AUGUST 17: A Cleveland Browns helmet is seen on the field before the preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on August 17, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – AUGUST 17: A Cleveland Browns helmet is seen on the field before the preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on August 17, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

With less than two weeks left until the NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns look to fill one of the two depth voids left on defense.

Despite the incredible circumstances surrounding the beginning of the NFL league year in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, new Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry and new head coach Kevin Stefanski have done well in free agency to improve an already talented roster.

The team added former Atlanta Falcons star tight end Austin Hooper, Tennessee Titans veteran guard Jack Conklin, and former Vikings safety Karl Joseph, among others. However, the Browns still have a major weakness on defense.

With the departure of free agent middle linebacker Joe Schobert, there’s no depth at the position. And by saying no depth, I mean none at all. There are currently 3 linebackers listed on the Browns official depth chart.

Only one of those players, Mack Wilson, has started more than one NFL game at linebacker. This, of course, doesn’t include free agent signing B.J. Goodson. However, even Goodson has yet to play a full NFL season as a starter. In his most productive season, he was a starter in 13 games for the Green Bay Packers in 2018 but only started 8 games in 2019.

This all goes to say, the biggest weak spot on the Browns roster is at the linebacker position. While some do expect Wilson to step up in Schobert’s absence, there’s a lot of weight placed on the shoulders of second-year player Sione Takitaki. He showed flashes of the player he could become on special teams and in the occasional reserve role at outside linebacker. That’s not enough to convince me he can be an every-down linebacker and even so, there’s currently only one back-up on the roster.

The Browns can be expected to hit the NFL Draft hard in attempts to find depth. In that, spirit, here’s a list of three linebackers that the Browns need to consider adding in the upcoming draft. In an ideal world, all three players will be available and end up on the roster.

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