BEREA, Ohio — The Greetham Point will do a position-by-position breakdown and investigation of the list from 2023 and looking ahead to 2024. The Cleveland Browns will have a few troublesome choices all over their program this offseason.
Over the following few weeks, we’ll take a see at the program by each position, the players that are still beneath contract, and the players who are set to ended up free operators. We’ll presently take a see at the linebacker position:
Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah had a breakout season and wrapped up the season as the team’s driving tackler with 98 handles. He moreover had 3.5 sacks, two interceptor, and six passes broken up in 16 diversions, as well as a number of handles for misfortune.
Sione Takitaki returned from a torn ACL late within the 2022 season and played in 15 recreations, counting seven begins, wrapping up third on the group in handles with 64 handles.
The Browns linebacker position was crushed by damage in more than any other position with wounds amid the 2022 season, counting five linebackers finishing the season on harmed save. In 2023, two linebackers wrapped up the season on harmed save, counting captain Anthony Walker and fourth-year linebacker Jacob Phillips.
The Browns right now have five linebackers beneath contract in 2024 with five set to ended up free specialists, counting two of the three starters.
Here could be a rundown of the linebackers who finished the season on the 2023 dynamic program, harmed save, or hone squad:
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Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (6-2, 221, 3rd year, Notre Lady) — Owusu-Koramoah, 24, driven the Browns with 98 handles, 3.5 sacks, two interceptor, six passes broken up and a constrained mishandle. Owusu-Koramoah was drafted within the moment circular in 2021 and is beneath contract for $1.543 million for 2024.
Anthony Walker (6-1, 235, 7th year, Northwestern) — Walker, 28, had 42 handles, four passes broken, two bungle recuperations and a constrained bobble in 12 diversions. Walker wrapped up the season on harmed save with a knee injury after finishing the 2022 season on IR, as well. Walker may be a free operator.
Sione Takitaki (6-1, 238, 5th year, Brigham Youthful) — Takitaki, 28, wrapped up third on the group with 64 handles, two sacks, an capture attempts and three passes broken up. Takitaki could be a free specialist.
Jacob Phillips (6-3, 229, 4th year, LSU) — Phillips, 24, was misplaced for the season in Eminent with a torn pectoral and missed the season on harmed save. Phillips could be a free operator.
Tony Areas (6-0, 222, 3rd year, West Virginia) — Areas, 24, finished with 27 handles, a bobble recuperation for a landing. He was drafted within the fifth circular in 2021. Areas is beneath contract in 2024 with a compensation cap number of $1.0 million.
Jordan Kunaszyk (6-3, 235, 5th year, California) — Kunaszyk, 27, had 7 handles on defense and two on special teams in five diversions. He begun the season on harmed save with a knee harm. Kunaszyk may be a free specialist.
Matthew Adams (6-0, 230, 6th year, Houston) — Adams, 28, driven the Browns with 10 extraordinary groups handles and a bobble recuperation. Adams too had seven handles on defense.
Mohamoud Diabate (6-4, 225, Rookie, Utah) — Diabate, 22, had six handles on extraordinary groups with a bungle recuperation and two handles on defense. Diabate is beneath contract in 2024 with a compensation cap number of $915,000.
Charlie Thomas (6-3, 216, Rookie, Georgia Tech) — Thomas, 24, was dynamic for two diversions and had two handles on extraordinary groups. Thomas went through the season on the hone squad. Thomas is under contract in 2024 with a compensation cap number of $915,000.
Caleb Johnson (6-2, 220, 3rd year, Houston Baptist) Johnson, 26, had five handles in 17 diversions with the Pumas in 2023 and has played in 48 diversions in three seasons with the Pumas and Bears. He has 29 career handles. Johnson was marked to as an elite rights free specialist and is beneath contract with a compensation of $795,000.
Summary and Looking Ahead
One of the Browns’ biggest decisions this offseason will be whether or not to sign Owusu-Koramoah to a long-term extension. JOK had his best season in 2023 and it should not be a tough decision for the Browns to extend him.
JOK became the playmaker that the Browns envisioned he would be when they traded up in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft to select him.
The other decision the Browns have is whether to bring Takitaki and Walker back as both are free agents. Walker is coming off his second season ending on injured reserve. Takitaki finished third on the team in tackles, despite coming off an ACL injury less than a year ago.
Walker and Takitaki would appear to be logical choices to re-sign to keep the core of the linebacker room intact. Takitaki has shown his versatility by playing multiple roles at linebacker. The Browns had high hopes for Phillip, but has only played in 20 games in his four seasons with the Browns, after being a third-round draft choice from LSU. Phillips played nine games as a rookie, which was the most games he has played for the Browns. With his rookie contract expiring, it is questionable whether the Browns would re-sign him.
Fields has found a role on special teams, where he finished fourth on the team in tackles. He also filled in as a starter in two games, as well. After scoring two touchdowns in 2022, Fields recovered a fumble in the end zone for a third touchdown in 2023.
Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz seemed to unlock Owusu-Koramoah’s potential and utilized his skill set. Schwartz used a lot of five-down defensive lineman schemes, as well as having three cornerbacks or three safeties on the field at the same time. Many times the Browns had just two linebackers on the field on many occasions and with Owusu-Koramoah being on the field on all downs by the end of the season, the Browns likely will not invest heavily in the position.
Walker and Takitaki would seem to be logical targets to re-sign, but if they decide to target linebackers besides their own free agent linebackers, some free agents that could fit include Blake Cashman (PFF.com No. 5 LB), Bobby Wagner (No. 7), Nicholas Morrow (No. 31), Zach Cunningham (No. 35) or Denzel Perryman (No. 63).
Rundown and Looking Ahead
One of the Browns’ greatest choices this offseason will be whether or not to sign Owusu-Koramoah to a long-term expansion. JOK had his best season in 2023 and it ought to not be a intense choice for the Browns to amplify him.
JOK got to be the playmaker that the Browns imagined he would be when they exchanged up within the moment circular of the 2021 NFL Draft to choose him.
The other choice the Browns have is whether to bring Takitaki and Walker back as both are free operators. Walker is coming off his moment season finishing on harmed save. Takitaki wrapped up third on the group in handles, in spite of coming off an ACL damage less than a year back.
Walker and Takitaki would show up to be coherent choices to re-sign to keep the center of the linebacker room intaglio. Takitaki has appeared his flexibility by playing different parts at linebacker. The Browns had tall trusts for Phillip, but has as it were played in 20 diversions in his four seasons with the Browns, after being a third-round draft choice from LSU. Phillips played nine recreations as a rookie, which was the foremost recreations he has played for the Browns. With his rookie contract lapsing, it is flawed whether the Browns would re-sign him.
Areas has found a part on extraordinary groups, where he wrapped up fourth on the group in handles. He moreover filled in as a starter in two recreations, as well. After scoring two touchdowns in 2022, Fields recovered a bobble within the conclusion zone for a third landing in 2023.
Protective facilitator Jim Schwartz appeared to open Owusu-Koramoah’s potential and utilized his aptitude set. Schwartz utilized a parcel of five-down cautious lineman plans, as well as having three cornerbacks or three securities on the field at the same time. Numerous times the Browns had fair two linebackers on the field on numerous events and with Owusu-Koramoah being on the field on all downs by the conclusion of the season, the Browns likely will not contribute intensely within the position.
Walker and Takitaki would appear to be coherent targets to re-sign, but on the off chance that they choose to target linebackers other than their possess free specialist linebackers, a few free operators that may fit incorporate Blake Cashman (PFF.com No. 5 LB), Bobby Wagner (No. 7), Nicholas Morrow (No. 31), Zach Cunningham (No. 35) or Denzel Perryman (No. 63).
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