Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah's breakout season resulted in his first Pro Bowl appearance and perhaps a bigger payday coming his way. (Cleveland Browns)
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
(One in a series of position recaps as Browns head into the 2024 player transaction season.)
Position group: Linebacker.
Players under contract: Mohamoud Diabate, 22, (through 2025); Tony Fields, 24, (2024); Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, 24, (2024); Charlie Thomas, 24, (2024)
Players not under contract: Matthew Adams, 28; Jordan Kunaszyk, 27; Jacob Phillips, 24; Sione Takitaki, 28; Anthony Walker, 28.
Position coach: Jason Tarver.
Overview: This position group has not been a high priority in the four years of GM Andrew Berry. He has devoted only three of 31 draft picks on a linebacker. They were taken in the third round (Phillips), fifth (Fields) and second (Owusu-Koramoah). Most of Berry’s veteran acquisitions were backup types who contributed primarily as special teams core players. According to data on overthecap.com, the Browns have ranked in the bottom half of the league in linebacker spending under Berry – 20th in 2023, 16th in 2022, 25th in 2021 and 26th in 2020. Berry and his analytics department simply believe the top resources on defense should be allocated to the defensive line and cornerback position groups. That belief aligns with that of coordinator Jim Schwartz. In the draft, Berry will always be on the hunt for linebackers with speed and quickness in the middle rounds. Thus, the only chance of fielding a playmaker at linebacker is to develop one of their own and that certainly has happened in the case of JOK.
Issues: As JOK enters the last year of his rookie contract the question facing Berry is simple: Does JOK fit as another foundation block of the defense? The answer is simple, too: Yes. So JOK figures to join Myles Garrett, Denzel Ward and Grant Delpit as young defensive players signed to a big, second contract by Berry. There may be no rush to do so in this offseason, but you figure it must be taken care of at some point in the 2024 season to avoid JOK leaving in free agency. Since this position groups feeds the special teams, it’s probable that Berry will want to bring back a few of the linebackers whose contracts expired. Phillips is an interesting case. He's missed 47 of a possible 67 games in his four seasons because of injuries. He’s the typical Berry-preferred linebacker when healthy – fast, light and quick. I wouldn’t be surprised if Berry gives Phillips one more chance with a minimum contract.
Position group: Specialists.
Players under contract: Lucas Havrisik, 24, (through 2024); Dustin Hopkins, 33, (2024); Charley Hughlett, 33, (2026); Jaelon Darden, (2024).
Players not under contract: Cory Bojorquez, 27; James Proche, 28.
Position coaches: Bubba Ventrone and Stephen Bravo-Brown.
Overview: Ventrone made a big impact his first season as coordinator, though there’s much work to be done in the return game. Hopkins was having a franchise-record year until he pulled a hamstring chasing Houston returner Dameon Pierce in Game 15. Hopkins sprinted 50 yards in vain and did not kick again. Hopefully, he learned never to do that again. Bojorquez was solid again in his second season. He actually had 26 more punts in one fewer game than in 2022, and improved his gross average by nearly one full yard and his net by almost two yards.
Issues: Seems like a no-brainer to bring back Bojorquez. He is weather-tested and didn’t have a mishandled placement in two seasons. Proche ended the season as the return specialist and had his moments with a few punt returns of double-digits. The Browns have been snakebit in recent acquisitions of pure return specialists (JoJo Natson, Jakeem Grant). Either they try again or continue to manage the return game through committee.
Previously: