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5 Cleveland Browns who could be cut before seeing the field in 2021

By Greg Newland

Dec 14, 2020; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) along with wide receiver Jarvis Landry (80) and wide receiver Rashard Higgins (82) walk back to the locker room following the team’s loss to Baltimore Ravens at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 14, 2020; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) along with wide receiver Jarvis Landry (80) and wide receiver Rashard Higgins (82) walk back to the locker room following the team’s loss to Baltimore Ravens at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports /
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Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns outside linebacker Sione Takitaki (44) is awarded a chain after intercepting Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. [Jeff Lange/Beacon Journal] /

2. Sione Takitaki, Linebacker

After being in an extremely weak position last year, the Browns have really beefed up at linebacker for the 2021 season. They signed Anthony Walker in free agency, drafted Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah in round-two this year, and will get Jacob Phillips back to full health.

The big question will be which 2019 draft pick will be let go. Third-rounder, Sione Takitaki, or fifth-rounder, Mack Wilson. Both have played a significant amount of snaps, and neither has really progressed to starting-caliber linebackers.

Unfortunately, I see Takitaki as the odd man out. Although he improved in 2020, the skillset just isn’t there and his game doesn’t match the 4-2-5 scheme well at all. Wilson fits the mold better and could have a good year after a knee injury really slowed him down in 2020.

Veteran Malcolm Smith and 2021 fifth-round pick Tony Fields will likely round out the last two spots at linebacker. Smith could be the one to go over Takitaki, but his locker room presence and playoff experience will help him make the roster.

Linebacker is one position that could be wide open, but either way, there will be someone let go who has a lot of starting experience in the NFL.

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