Cleveland Browns: 3 rookies who will make the biggest impact in 2021
By Sam Penix
1. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah
The elite talent without a true position (as of yet), Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah seems destined to play the role of a will linebacker, whether that fits his unique skillset or not. The issue is that he hasn’t actually done linebacker things, and as long as Malcolm Smith is on the roster, it seems like he will be starting at will, when the position is used on passing downs.
Regardless of what JOK is labeled as, it will be incredibly difficult to keep him off the field. He’s ultra-explosive, extremely fluid, and his instincts in coverage are rare, even when comparing him to safeties.
He is a prototype hybrid defender, ready to make an impact in one of the most progressive defenses in the NFL, and he should do just that. Whether he’s flying into the backfield to make tackles for loss from the backside, or using his sideline-to-sideline speed to stick with receivers in coverage, his presence will be felt.
Starter or not, it is likely that Owusu-Koramoah will be one of the team’s 11 best defenders very early on, and will be well suited to show why he was almost universally considered a top-20 prospect.
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In a completely transformed defense, JOK may end up being one of the most impactful players.