Cleveland Browns: 5 players with the most to prove in 2021 offseason

Oct 18, 2020; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Chase Claypool (11) stiff arms Cleveland Browns linebacker Mack Wilson (51) on an end around during the fourth quarter at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 18, 2020; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Chase Claypool (11) stiff arms Cleveland Browns linebacker Mack Wilson (51) on an end around during the fourth quarter at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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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 /

3. LB Mack Wilson

Mack Wilson struggled as a rookie, thrust into a much larger role than he should have been playing. He did show improvement towards the end of the season, but unfortunately, that improvement did not carry over into 2021. He functioned as the team’s fourth linebacker, playing each role, but performed poorly.

If Owusu-Koramoah is considered a linebacker, then Wilson is currently sixth or seventh on the depth chart, depending on how rookie Tony Fields II does in training camp and the preseason.

Considering the team isn’t likely to keep more than six at the absolute most, and most likely just five, Wilson really doesn’t have any room for error and needs to show significant improvement in the mental side of the position and contribute on special teams if he has any hope of making the roster.

He’s been a fan favorite for his entire career to this point thanks to his social media usage and love for the game of football, but there is no question that he has been one of the Browns least effective players over the past two seasons, and it’s difficult to find a place for him this year. Perhaps he will surprise and take a leap forward, but that seems unlikely.