Dawg Pound Daily
FanSided

What 2021 NFL draft means for Cleveland Browns linebackers

By Greg Newland

Jan 3, 2021; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns outside linebacker Mack Wilson (51) runs onto the field before the game between the Cleveland Browns and the Pittsburgh Steelers at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 3, 2021; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns outside linebacker Mack Wilson (51) runs onto the field before the game between the Cleveland Browns and the Pittsburgh Steelers at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 5
Next
Cleveland Browns
Jan 10, 2021; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers running back James Conner (30) runs the ball against Cleveland Browns outside linebacker Jacob Phillips (50) in the third quarter of an AFC Wild Card playoff game at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

Malcolm Smith

Malcolm Smith has been a productive NFL linebacker for 10 seasons. He was not brought back for a second one-year deal with the Browns because of his production, but because of the presence, he brings in the locker room.

Smith has 11 games of playoff experience and was a Super Bowl MVP. While the Browns have a talented roster, they are young and certainly lacking experience.

If Wilson is healthy and has a great camp, I think Smith’s time as a Brown could be over as well. Wilson has shown he can be a vocal leader but needs to just prove he can perform on the field as well.

Jacob Phillips

The 2020 third-round pick from LSU is another interesting one. Jacob Phillips showed a lot of promise at times as a rookie but also struggled to stay on the field. If healthy, he likely would have started half the season, but instead only started three games and totaled 25 tackles.

Phillips has great instincts in the run game and athleticism in coverage. He was still continuing to learn the game at the NFL level, but with a full NFL camp in 2021, he could be set for a breakout season.

Early in the season, I expect Phillips to be the second starting linebacker. He could eventually lose that spot to JOK, but in any scenario where there are three linebackers on the field, expect to see Phillips in 2021.

Home/Browns Depth Chart