Cleveland Browns 53-man roster prediction without Deshaun Watson
By Randy Gurzi
Cleveland Browns Linebackers (5):
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah
Jacob Phillips
Anthony Walker
Sione Takitaki
Dakota Allen
Cleveland doesn’t go deep at linebacker here but that’s because they typically only play two. Whether it’s a nickel cornerback or a third safety, defensive coordinator Joe Woods likes to go with more help in the secondary than at linebacker.
As for the starters, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and Jacob Phillips are the leaders in the clubhouse. JOK was showing off his talent more and more as his rookie campaign went on. He should be able to turn into a real playmaker for them going forward.
Phillips is a tackling machine that could lead the club in that statistic this season — provided he can stay healthy. That’s the lone question surrounding him.
Should he again be hurt, Anthony Walker is more than capable of taking over. They’re also using Walker outside in recent practices in an effort to get more versatility from him.
Sione Takitaki is entering year four and is an underrated player who shines on special teams. Lastly, Dakota Allen beats out Tony Fields for the final spot. Allen was recently signed and has just 28 career tackles — after making it to the NFL via the Netflix show “Last Chance U.”
The Browns will likely carry several linebackers on the practice squad this season, with Fields being one guy they hope will sneak through waivers. But on game day, they won’t ever need more than five, which is why they go thin.