5 Cleveland Browns who need to be cut before the 2023 offseason starts

Jacob Phillips

There was hope in year two for Jacob Phillips. He showed some life as a coverage guy but as they say in Ted Lasso, “it’s the hope that kills you”. Do you know what one trait, no matter what position you play on defense, you need to have to excel in the league? Tackling. You know the one thing Phillips can’t do? The same year he looked like he was about to “break out”, he missed 16% of his tackles.

Guess what he still can’t do in year three? Tackle. This is where my defense of Joe Woods comes back into play. The Browns started this man for four weeks, and it was among some of the worst performances the Browns saw all year.

Talent matters. Guys like Phillips held the Browns back. It’s no surprise that the team got better when guys like him got put on IR. The Browns need a better crop of talent at the linebacking position, and asking undersized linebackers (Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah), better suited to play safety, to be the best run-stopper at the position isn’t going to cut it either.

The Browns have got to invest in linebackers with size, and if that means cutting a bust like Phillips, so be it. He’s not helping the team and that means he’s hurting it.