3 Bold Browns predictions with 2020 NFL Draft approaching
By Cory Kinnan
Browns won’t pursue a LB before pick 97
While the Browns may have the worst linebacking corp in the entire league, this front office has made it glaringly obvious that the linebacker position is not a priority for them. Mack Wilson ranked among the bottom of the league of qualifying linebackers in 2019 according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), and Sione Takitaki, a third rounder a year ago, had trouble seeing the field.
Cleveland Browns
Joe Schobert, one of the best coverage linebackers over the last two seasons, was allowed to walk and sign with the Jacksonville Jaguars as the team felt he was not worth 10 million dollars annually. Given that it is often tagged as the running back of the defense, the position with the lowest priority of any position on that side of the ball, the Browns signed veteran B.J. Goodson, and have displayed interest in free agent Nigel Bradham.
It seems like the Browns would rather invest minimally in the position rather than give up a high asset to add talent to the position. If they are not willing to invest in their own productive players, then what would make one think they would pursue the likes of Isaiah Simmons, or any player in the first two rounds at the position. The most likely outcome is that the Browns will not address the position until the edge of the top-100 in the 2020 NFL Draft or later.