3 Most likely Cleveland Browns breakout stars in 2020
By Randy Gurzi
3. Mack Wilson, Linebacker
There are two sides of the fence when it comes to takes on linebacker Mack Wilson. There are those who think he’s a liability and one of the bigger weaknesses on the Browns defense. Then there are those who think he’s going to be the next big thing to come out of Alabama and take over the NFL as a defensive stud. There’s hardly an in-between, but as is often the case, that’s where the truth lies with Wilson.
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Each side has its valid points. The anti-Wilson side can point to his low 41.6 grade on Pro Football Focus (subscription required). That places him 83rd out of 89 linebackers who were ranked by the analytical site. While PFF isn’t an exact science, that’s still rough.
As for the other side, he did register 82 tackles with seven pass breakups and an interception. This doesn’t make up for the missed tackles or the times he was out of place on his assignment, but he did show some promise — and remember, this was a fifth-round pick who was said to need time before being ready for the pros by his collegiate coach Nick Saban.
This coming season will be huge for Wilson. He’s slated to be a starter after Christian Kirksey and Joe Schobert each left Berea. Now with a full season of experience, he needs to show he can improve his play. If he doesn’t he probably won’t last long with the Browns, but if he does, this could look like quite the steal for John Dorsey during his unexpectedly short tenure.