Ranking and grading every linebacker on the Cleveland Browns ahead of training camp
By Chad Porto
We’re taking a look at the Cleveland Browns linebacking corp ahead of the start of camp.
The Cleveland Browns are an interesting team, and one I can safely say is not as loaded as fans will want to claim. They have a lot of top talent in the league but a lot of their positions are being held up by the ideas of “player development” and hope.
Too many positions are being bolstered by rookies, first-year or second-year players. First and second-year players that either hasn’t shown a lot or haven’t shown enough. The linebacking corp is one of those positions.
We’ve already touched on the quarterbacks, receivers, tight ends, offensive backs, offensive linemen, and defensive linemen. So now it’s the linebackers’ turns, then it’s the defensive backs, and then later the special teams, which will be done in conjunction with the coaching staff.
After that, we’ll look at the top players on the team and do a formal round-up of the team, and hopefully by then, more than just the rookies will be in camp.
The grade breakdown will be just below this, but please keep in mind these are only preseason estimates of these players. These are not final career letter grades, only a grade to highlight their expectation heading into the 2022 season. Most of these will change depending on how they perform.
The Boilerplate Stuff
"The below grades are intended for individual talent evaluations only. Letter grades are given “+” or “-” to determine exactly where they rank among others in that grade. For instance, an A- is a Pro Bowler, an “A” is your top-of-the-class, All-Pro type, while an “A+” is for your guys playing at a Hall of Fame level. INC – Given to expected practice squad players with little-to-no tape on them F –expected to be out of the league before the end of his rookie contract D – practice squad guy C – could get minutes as a backup B – starter A – among the league’s best Positional grades are more optics related. In that regard here’s how that would break down; F – Position is a determinate to the team and talent is needed. D – Not a very talented group/too many unknowns. C – League average, can win with them but will also lose with them. B- A strength on the team. A – Among the league’s very best. I want to stress these aren’t season-ending grades or evaluations. Depending on seasonal production, I expect some of these grades to go up or down. This is merely establishing a baseline for expectations."