Linebackers
ILB Christian Kirksey (24) – 147 tackles, 2.5 sacks in 2016. (contract expires 2018)
ILB DeMario Davis (27) – 99 tackles, 2.0 sacks, 1 forced fumble in 2016 (contract expires 2018)
OLB Jamie Collins (26) – 69 tackles, 2.0 sacks, 1 forced fumble in 8 games with Browns in 2016 (free-agent)
OLB Joe Schobert (23) – 16 tackles in 16 games (contract expires 2020)
OLB Cam Johnson (26) – 29 tackles, 3 sacks in 12 games (contract expires 2018)
OLB Nate Orchard (23) – Appeared in 3 games, made 4 tackles in 2016. Missed most of season due to injury. (contract expires 2019)
This group is a bigger question mark than the defensive line, mostly because of the uncertainty of contract situations.
2017 will be a huge year for Kirksey to earn himself a big contract.
Will the Browns extend Collins?
If the front office lets either of those two leave, whether it’s this offseason or the next, the team will be losing valuable linebackers, who seem to be a great foundation for a 4-3 defense.
The rest of the linebackers corps, aside from Collins and Kirksey, leaves room for improvement.
Johnson played well, Davis did not live up to expectations, we still don’t know what to make of Orchard or Schobert.
Whether the Browns add linebackers via the draft, free-agency, or a combination of the two, it’s going to be one of the areas the team addresses this off-season.
At least we know if the team re-signs Collins, there are two potential building block type players out of the three starting linebackers (for at least one more season).
For now, here’s what the 4-3 defense could look like, operating under the premise that Garrett is the Browns’ choice at No. 1 overall pick:
LE Ogbah DT Shelton DT Bryant RE Garrett
OLB Collins ILB Kirksey OLB Schobert/Johnson
That should give Williams a great base to build off of and the long-term future of having three of the four defensive linemen locked up is encouraging for the next 3-4 years.
Although the two star linebackers are not guaranteed to be here long-term, if the Browns were smart, they’d lock up those players, who are both in the prime years of their careers.
For so long, Clevelanders have complained about a lack of defensive playmakers. Right now, we’re looking at the start of something that could be special for years to come.
If the Browns make one or two moves to add talent to that front seven, aside from keeping its current players and drafting Garrett with the No. 1 pick, it could put this group over the top.
There are still significant holes in the secondary and those will have to be addressed, but pressuring the quarterback and stopping the run look like two areas where the Browns can excel in 2017 and beyond.
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