Cleveland Browns: 8 roster moves the Browns should make for 2019

2. Extend Joe Schobert

Joe Schobert proved he was more than just a tackler during the 2018 season. I’m not sure why that’s a bad label, because it’s really the main function of a defense.

I guess it means that while Schobert was a known tackling machine entering the season, he wasn’t though as an essential player.

That changed when he went down with a hamstring injury midway through the season. He missed three weeks and the unit looked like a mess, surrendering on average, 459 yards and 32 points per game.

When he returned, the defense started clicking.

He’s not an elite player because he does have faults. Look no further than the grade PFF gave him against the run. The 55.1 mark is well below average.

With that said, the Wisconsin product is borderline elite in pass coverage, earning an 87.7 grade. Only Seattle Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner had a better grade in pass coverage.

Schobert was a player chosen by Sashi Brown in the fourth round of the 2016 draft. He wasn’t eligible to sign an extension until now, and the Browns should certainly seize the opportunity to lock him up.