Cleveland Browns 3 players whose stock rose at Training Camp

3. B.J. Goodson, Linebacker

When Mack Wilson went down with a hyperextended knee, it seemed as though the Cleveland Browns linebacking corps was going to be in real trouble. Wilson was emerging into a leader for that unit and he had just delivered a passionate defense for the rest of the team’s linebackers days before his injury.

Wilson believed the group was much better than they were being given credit for and so far, it looks as though he might have been right. In the team’s live scrimmage, Sione Takitaki stood out as he made a few good plays but really, the star since Wilson went down has been veteran B.J. Goodson.

After losing Joe Schobert in free agency, general manager Andrew Berry landed Goodson who has four seasons under his belt. The first three of those were with the New York Giants and he spent 2019 with the Green Bay Packers. In all, he had 160 tackles in those four seasons as well as two picks and two forced fumbles.

So far in Cleveland, he’s looked to be a good signing as he’s constantly in the right place ready to make a play. And while he’s been called primarily a run-defending linebacker, it’s been his coverage that has really stood out.

Goodson has been able to make a few pass defenses and even picked off one pass from Baker Mayfield meant for Austin Hooper. He’s showing that he can be the leader they lost when Wilson went down, which is exactly what the Browns needed.