The 3 biggest mistakes by the Cleveland Browns this offseason
By Greg Newland
1. Release of two key locker room leaders
Perhaps the biggest mistake of the Browns offseason is the departure of two key veterans Joe Schobert and Christian Kirksey. While both these guys were apart of the current weakest position for the Browns, their leadership will be missed more than anything.
Kirksey was drafted by the Browns in 2014 and started to come into form in 2016. After 138 tackles in the 0-16 season of 2017, Kirksey struggled to stay healthy. He played seven games in 2018 and only two games last season. The Browns attempted to restructure his contract, but Kirksey’s market was hot enough he would eventually be released and sign with the Green Bay Packers.
Kirksey had the heart of many fans and always supported the town of Cleveland like it was where he was born and raised. Financially, letting Kirksey go was the right move, but the locker room will miss his presence. A second-year player like Wilson or a rookie like Philips could learn so much from Kirksey and what it takes to be an NFL linebacker.
Joe Schobert was a great football player on two very bad Brown’s teams. In 2017 Schobert led the NFL in tackles with 144 and made his first Pro-Bowl. He missed three games in four seasons with the team and was the only reason Wilson was able to get lined up most of last season. Schobert led by example and not with his mouth, but sometimes those are the best leaders.
Again, financially it would have been tough to sign Schobert to a deal like Jacksonville was willing to give him. But, if Dorsey would have been active during the middle of the 2019 season, the Browns could have extended Schobert a year or two at his $10 million asking price.
Next. Baker Mayfield set for a big 2020 season. dark
Keeping one of these fan favorites would have been so beneficial for the younger players on the team and made the linebacking core much stronger. In a perfect world, a two-year extension with Schobert would have been the best option because of Kirksey’s health concerns. Look for Baker Mayfield and Denzel Ward to step up as leaders as they enter their third year in the league.