CLEVELAND, Ohio -- When new Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz met with the media last week, he made it clear that when it came to linebackers, he wasn’t too stringent as far as an ideal weight requirement for the position.
“I’ve seen some 250-pound guys that didn’t have a physical presence on the field and I’ve seen some guys in their 215s or 220s that did,” Schwartz said in his introductory press conference. “But I think it falls to the other things. It comes from toughness and instincts and explosiveness and the ability to play fast and think quick.”
For what it’s worth, the Browns only had one linebacker over 250 pounds this past year -- Reggie Ragland, a midseason acquisition -- and as the room was overtaken with season-ending injuries to five different starters, it’s hard to evaluate this group as a whole and project what its future could be.
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But project we shall.
Over the next two weeks, we’ll look at the Browns roster and identify core players. A core player, for this purpose, is a player who, without any ifs or other qualifications, will be a high quality starter in Cleveland for the next three to five years. Most players, you’ll likely find, will fall in categories other than core player -- many will likely fall in potential core players, given the age of the roster.
The Browns have already identified a few core players with contract extensions, which will also be noted in these posts.
Here’s a look at the core of the team’s linebacker room. Players are listed in alphabetical order.
CORE PLAYER
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah: The unicorn prospect out of Notre Dame who will be entering his third year in the league is the closest thing this room has to a core player. Andrew Berry and the Browns famously traded up with the Panthers and used the No. 52 overall pick in the 2021 draft to take Owusu-Koramoah in the second round. Enamored by his versatility, ability to play sideline to sideline, rush the passer, pick up running backs and drop back in coverage, he was viewed as an asset in Cleveland at a position this regime hadn’t spent big bucks on. Over his first two seasons, he’s been at his best playing against the Ravens and Lamar Jackson, truly showing off his athleticism in that matchup.
Let’s get some harsh grading out of the way, though: Owusu-Koramoah’s biggest struggle the last two yeas has been staying on the field due to injuries. This season, he injured his groin on Sept. 22 against the Steelers but didn’t miss any games with that injury. He injured his right knee late in the Oct. 23 loss to the Ravens, and missed the next three games. He worked his way back over the next four contests, but suffered a foot injury against the Bengals that landed him on IR, ending his season. He played in only 11 games this year, but still had 70 tackles, third-best on the defense; however, his defensive, run defense, tackling and pass rush grades all went down from a year ago, according to Pro Football Focus.
Owusu-Koramoah is a quintessential pick for this regime, and I think this room can be built around him. But going forward, he will have to stay healthy to still be considered the core, especially considering he didn’t make a big year-two jump.
ON THE BUBBLE
Tony Fields II: Fields to me was on the fence between “bubble” and “other” players. But I think considering he is almost a JOK-lite type of player and his special teams role, he’s bumped up to the bubble in my eyes. He also performed well when the players above him suffered season-ending injuries, and as a draft pick, likely holds higher value in this regime since they never really part ways with those guys. The highlight of his season was returning an interception for a touchdown against the Texans.
Jacob Phillips: Phillips has struggled with injuries for the bulk of his three-year NFL career. The 2020 third-round pick was limited to nine games as a rookie with a knee injury. In 2021 he tore his bicep during training camp and appeared in only four games. In 2022 he suffered a torn pectoral muscle in the Oct. 23 game against Baltimore, ending his season after only seven games. His development has really been thrown through a loop with the bad injury luck, and because of that, it’s difficult to project what the next few years can look like for him.
Sione Takitaki: Takitaki has always been strong defending against the run, but in 2022 he proved he can play every down as the season ending-injuries began to pile up. Unfortunately, he was the fourth player to suffer a season ending injury, tearing his ACL against the Texans. He said last week that he appears on track for an October return after having surgery in mid-December. This year, he tied a career high playing 498 defensive snaps, even with missing Cleveland’s final five games. He had 69 tackles, one sack and one forced fumble. He seems like the tough-nosed player Schwartz is looking for in this defense, but the only question with his injury is will the Browns extend him and allow him to continue his career in Cleveland, or let him walk in free agency this spring? If he sticks around, he has the potential to become a core player.
Anthony Walker Jr.: Walker Jr. was the first season ending injury in the room, tearing his quad tendon against the Steelers in Week 3. Walker was arguably the defense’s best communicator as their green sticker player, and was playing really well when he went down with his injury (in his three games, he received an 82.7 defensive grade from PFF). He is one of the most vocal leaders this group had, and one of their best defenders, too. It says a lot about him that the Browns seemed poised to have Phillips, their draft pick, be the starter at MIKE to open the season and Walker had such a good training camp, he essentially forced their hand and beat him out for the job. However, Walker’s going to hit free agency as he was only brought back to Cleveland on a one-year deal last season. Given his value though, an argument can be made for giving him another go-around. With more time in Cleveland, he too could be considered a core player.
OTHER PLAYERS
Reggie Ragland: Ragland is the biggest linebacker the Browns have, and did have a nice showing in Cleveland’s final games of the year. He also brings a strong veteran presence to a defense that could use it.
Deion Jones: Acquired early in the season via a trade with the Falcons, he managed to notch 2.5 sacks, but struggled in run defense. His contract was adjusted following the trade and he’ll hit free agency in March.
Jordan Kunaszyk: Kunaszyk played a key special teams role and also stepped up when all of the players ahead of him were injured; however, he himself was the final victim of a season-ending injury, landing on IR with a hand issue before the Commanders game. He has undeniably helped the depth in this room, though. He’ll hit free agency this spring.
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