Cleveland Browns: 5 most important additions this offseason
By Greg Newland
4. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah – Linebacker
One of the most exciting players in the entire 2021 draft was linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (JOK), a linebacker from Notre Dame. Not only were the Browns desperate for help at linebacker, but JOK is also the perfect fit.
Defensive coordinator Joe Woods wants to shift as much as possible to the 4-2-5 system. After being limited by his roster last season, a guy like JOK makes this possible. He’s undersized for a linebacker and has the speed of an NFL safety with great ball skills.
While JOK will lineup a majority of snaps at linebacker, he will be moving all around the field at times causing concern. On passing downs Grant Delpit will play the third safety role, with JOK likely filling in on obvious running downs.
While JOK has all the explosiveness and athleticism in the world, he must harness that at times and focus on wrapping up, and not just a big hit. Speed will allow him to get away with a few mistakes at the next level, but he can’t just rely on it.
Not only will JOK be a major part of the Browns 2021 defense as a rookie, but he was also a great value pick by Andrew Berry. An unfortunate heart issue recently turned some folks off him, but he has been cleared by doctors and was a major score at pick No. 52.