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Cleveland Browns: 5 free agent options better than Malcolm Smith

By Chad Porto

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 27: A.J. Bouye #21 of the Jacksonville Jaguars enters the field with teammates Tyler Shatley #69 and Malcolm Smith #53 before the start of a game against the New York Jets at TIAA Bank Field on October 27, 2019 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 27: A.J. Bouye #21 of the Jacksonville Jaguars enters the field with teammates Tyler Shatley #69 and Malcolm Smith #53 before the start of a game against the New York Jets at TIAA Bank Field on October 27, 2019 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – DECEMBER 30: Manti Te’o #51 of the New Orleans Saints reacts to a play during a NFL game against the Carolina Panthers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on December 30, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – DECEMBER 30: Manti Te’o #51 of the New Orleans Saints reacts to a play during a NFL game against the Carolina Panthers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on December 30, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /

Manti Te’o

If you’re signing free agents like Malcolm Smith, you’ve set the bar pretty low. Smith and Manti Te’o are roughly in the same category of player, except that Te’o is younger and a better tackler. Sure, Te’o hasn’t had the best pro career, injuries have slowed him considerably but considering the Browns need dynamic playmakers and Te’o can still do some of that when he’s healthy, it makes sense to give him a shot.

After all, you’re giving Smith a shot. So why not? It’s not like Smith is one of the greatest linebackers of all time. He’s not even one of the three best linebackers from the Seahawks team he won a title with. He’s played 104 games but started only half of them. Te’o at least is a persistent starting-caliber linebacker.

Te’o brings a pedigree to the team that’s needed as well as a leadership that is clearly absent on this defense. The team is gambling hard that former leaders guys like Joe Schobert and Christian Kirksey are easily replaced, but that doesn’t seem to be the case, at least yet. Bringing in a guy like Te’o who nearly lead the Fighting Irish to an undefeated season from a linebacking position would help bring some structure to a defense that lacks, well, a lot.

Sure, Te’o’s translation to the pro game hasn’t been as prolific but he learned to lead at one of the toughest schools in the country and that leadership, unlike natural gifts, doesn’t just go away. With so many young players, and guys fighting for new contracts and bigger roles, someone’s got to step up and be a leader and the last guy to try that nearly ended Nick Chubb’s season and blew his leg out.

That guy was Mack Wilson, the person who’s injury caused the Smith signing.

So yeah, Te’o has a lot to offer a team. Even if he just has another injury-plagued season, it’s still better than having to wonder why the team gave a backup another chance.

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