How the Cleveland Browns can go from good to great
By Greg Newland
![Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator watches Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) warmup during the before an NFL wild-card playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. [Jeff Lange/Beacon Journal]Browns Extras 8](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape%2Fcover%2Fsport%2Fhttps-3A-2F-2Fdawgpounddaily-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fimagn-images-2F2018-2F08-2F15421295-850x560-b45e914e70a0d896afdd20234dd7c9122db74d161e7511ee37566b27298b1bfe.jpg "Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator watches Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) warmup during the before an NFL wild-card playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. [Jeff Lange/Beacon Journal]Browns Extras 8")
Help at linebacker
Perhaps one of the biggest frustrations of Browns fans from 2020 is the production from linebacker. Berry went cheap last offseason trying to utilize B.J. Goodson and Malcolm Smith as veterans to go along with three young players the Browns have drafted the last two seasons.
Sione Takitaki and Mack Wilson were both second-year players who have had flashes of being okay, but far too often they are out of position and lack the athleticism to make plays sideline to sideline.
A rookie third-round pick from 2020, Jacob Phillips, showed the most promise last season but struggled to stay on the field with a lingering knee issue. If healthy in 2021, Phillips could be a strong starter, but with Goodson and Smith out of contract, the Browns must do something to address the issue.
The new analytical approach to the game says linebackers aren’t important and you just need bodies there, but after watching guys like Lavonte David, Demario Davis, and Bobby Wagner make play after play, the Browns must address the issue.
Many are against drafting a linebacker in round one of the 2021 draft, but if by some chance Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah from Notre Dame or Nick Bolton from Missouri is on the board at pick No. 26, I sincerely hope the Browns pull the trigger.
Two other names to watch are Micah Parsons from Penn State and Zaven Collins from Tulsa. Both guys will likely be gone before the Browns pick in round one, but if one slides (especially Parsons) to the mid-teens, Berry should strongly consider trading up to fill the biggest hole of his defense.
Next. 3 players Browns could trade up for. dark
The free agency market for linebackers is thin, so that means there is a chance the top few guys could get overpaid which will be a huge negative for the Browns. Because of that, this issue must be addressed in the draft. The book says don’t pay a linebacker, but while you still have so many guys on rookie deals, the Browns should consider this next season.