Cleveland Browns: 3 potential first time Pro Bowlers for 2020

Mack Wilson – LB

Mack Wilson is being keyed as many as the de facto replacement for Joe Schobert and Christian Kirksey, the two recently departed stalwarts in the middle of the defense. Wilson may not move over to the middle of the defense but is the likeliest of the four names often mentioned to start at linebacker. The other three being B.J. Goodson, Sione Takitaki, and rookie Jacob Phillips. Wilson, however, started as a rookie at linebacker, put in some impressive outings, and is the only returning full-time starter of the four.

With a hopefully much improved defensive line, Wilson may be able to avoid the issues that plagued Schobert and Kirksey during their tenure with the Browns; a weak front-four that caused a lot of problems for the linebackers. If the interior group is improved, then Wilson may be able to benefit in ways Schobert and Kirksey weren’t able to, namely with having offensive guards kept off of them on rushing downs.

Wilson showed a Schobert-like nose for the ball and could put up similar numbers (hopefully) to Schobert if Wilson becomes the primary linebacker on the field like his predecessor was. That’s still an “if” situation, but a very good possibility.

With Wilson, the big question is going to be how he handles the pass defense, something Schobert was stellar against. If Wilson can even be good enough to be on the field against offenses in passing situations, Wilson may be able to replicate the Pro Bowl success of Schobert and earn his own trip to the pre-Super Bowl event.