Cleveland Browns: Jacob Phillips completes perfect pair at LB

The skillset of linebacker Jacob Phillips could give the Cleveland Browns a perfect pair at linebacker with Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah.

The first two years of Jacob Phillips‘ career with the Cleveland Browns have been marred by injury and not a ton of time on the field. Last year, he had a bizarre freak injury where he reached out to grab a passing player and he tore his bicep.

Normally that injury is considered season-ending but Phillips managed to find his way back on the field in 2021.

But when he is healthy and on the field, it is clear the traits that the Browns like about him and the vision they see pairing him with Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. Phillips has great speed, athleticism, and football instincts, and pairing that with JOK’s abilities it could create an incredibly fast linebacker room.

Looking back at Phillips during his senior season at LSU he led the Championship-winning Tigers in tackles with 113 total and had 7.5 of those tackles go for loss. He flies all over the field, reads the play quickly, and has the tools to react and make the play in a hurry.

When you look at the AFC and the NFL as a whole you see a lot of athletic quarterbacks that can hurt you with their legs just as much as they can their arms. If you want to combat athletic quarterbacks and rushing attacks you need speed and athleticism at linebacker and that is exactly what the Browns are looking to have with Phillips and JOK.

Phillips needs to stay healthy but he has all the tools and ability to really great a perfect pair for many years to come with the Browns.