Five free agents the Cleveland Browns should sign to replace Mack Wilson.
The Cleveland Browns were counting heavily on Mack Wilson, so when the second-year linebacker injured his knee in Training Camp, the position group took big hit.
It remains unclear how long Wilson will be out, but it seems the injury will cost him considerable time. He may even opt to have season ending surgery.
It wasn’t a very long camp for Wilson, but the former fifth-round pick out of Alabama certainly made headlines. He touted the linebacking corps after prognosticators called it the worst unit in the league.
Then, on the first day of pads, he hit Nick Chubb, forcing the Browns best player to enter concussion protocol.
And then there was the devastating injury he suffered–playing on the second-team–his penalty for the shot he delivered to Chubb.
Despite the team’s reluctance to seriously address the position, the front office has to be looking for depth.
Currently, the unit is so inexperienced. Sione Takitaki is expected to play a lot, but he was on the field very little as a rookie. Rookie Jacob Phillips looks like a tackling machine, but he was a late-third round pick who’s NFL experience amounts to three days in pads.
Veteran B.J. Goodson promises to be more a factor, and, welp, that’s it. There’s guys such as Willie Harvey and Tae Davis from last season, but they’re as inexperienced as Takitaki and don’t come with as much acclaim.
Assuming the Browns are looking to sign some help, here’s five free agents the Browns should be looking at to add to the body count on the depth chart.
1. Darron Lee
Every Buckeye fan knows the name of Darron Lee, a linebacker who played a critical role in helping Ohio State capture the inaugural College Football Playoff national title.
Lee continued to play well in the following season, turning himself into a first-round pick in 2016.
That’s when his career starting trending downward, though. Lee started in 2017 and 2018, but the results weren’t great. He was popped for PEDs toward the end of the 2018. The Jets cut and ran, sending Lee to Kansas City where he played primarily special teams.
Lee’s athleticism got rave reviews coming out of college, and it’s why the Browns should, at the very least, kick the tires on the central Ohio native. Lee hasn’t had a severe injury, and he’s just going to be turning 26 in October.
Something else to consider: The Jets tried to play Lee in a 3-4, when a 4-3 scheme is probably the optimal scheme you’d like to see him in.
The Browns liked Wilson so much because he could fly all over the field. Without him, they need someone who can try and fill that role, and considering who’s available right now, Lee’s one of just a few options.
2. Alec Ogletree
The Browns should look at Alec Ogletree, but the veteran shouldn’t be the top priority in trying to find someone to fill in for Mack Wilson.
The University of Georgia product has logged a lot of miles since being a first-round pick of the Rams back in 2012.
That said, he’s experienced, still flashes some nice speed and has a veteran where-with-all that the Browns could certainly use. Sure, that doesn’t matter to the analytically oriented front office, but this team needs bodies–and the Browns are desperate.
Perhaps the Browns add him, and rotate him with someone such as WIllie Harvey and Tae Davis. While Ogletree’s durable, he’s not exactly been a stalwart at stopping the run or dropping back into coverage.
That said, he could be used situationally as a blitzer, where he compiled a 76.0 game from PFF last season.
3. Jake Ryan
Hard to believe that Jake Ryan is still looking for a job. The Michigan product was a fourth-round pick of the Packers in 2015.
In 2016 and 2017, Ryan really put together two nice seasons, compiling 163 total tackles and 11 quarterbacked hits. His career was derailed by an ACL injury that cost him all of the 2018 season. He played just 35 snaps in two games with the Jags during the 2019 campaign.
Free agency started promising for the Westlake native, as he landed with the Ravens, but the marriage was short lived. Baltimore picked up some linebackers in the draft and Ryan was eventually released with a non-football injury designation.
If the Ravens thought enough of him to give him a deal, the Browns should be willing to do so, as well, if he’s healthy.
Now’s the time to take a look at him. There were no mini camps or OTAs, so it’s unclear what type of shape he’s in.
That said, there is no risk in signing Ryan to a cheap, prove-it type deal. If he can’t play, you release him and Cleveland’s stuck in the same spot as they were before.
4. Clay Matthews
Our own Chad Porto made the case as to why the Browns should take on the 37-year-old veteran. Sure, he’s a future Hall of Famer, and the Browns won’t be getting the player that accrued all those stats, but Matthews can still cause problems at linebacker, as well as on the edge as a pass rusher.
Fans, writers and talk show hosts have been making the Matthews connection to Cleveland ever since Christian Kirksey was released. It amplified after Joe Schobert signed a free-agent deal with the Jags and, when the Browns waited until late in the third round to draft Jacob Phillips, it seemed like signing Matthews was a given.
Nothing happened though, which makes you wonder what’s going on. Perhaps the Browns aren’t interested. Matthews is old and the analytically driven front office doesn’t sign a lot of old guys. Perhaps Matthews’ asking price is too high–that’s hard to believe, and it’s not a good excuse, either.
The Browns are loaded with cap space and need help at this position. No one is saying invest Myles Garrett-type money in Matthews, just get him here to help for 2020!
5. Mark Barron
The Browns recent moves have shown what they think of the linebacking corps and the value it provides to a roster. They clear priorities are on the edge and in the secondary.
Well, having ignored the position group has caught up with the franchise, as the injury to Mack Wilson looks to be one the Browns might not be able to cover up.
Under John Dorsey, the Browns knew their linebacking corps was in trouble, which is why the team tried to use three safeties and two linebackers.
Well, what if they could deploy a “dime backer,” or basically a linebacker to come in on 3rd downs that would help in passing situations.
Enter Mark Barron. He’s 31, but logged 70 percent of the Steelers’ defensive snaps last season. Plus, he should be affordable.