The Browns are just three days away from the start of training camp, which will kick off with their trip to The Greenbrier. To prepare for training camp, we're putting together a preview of each position on the roster. Let's take a look at the linebackers as the next part of the series.
The Linebackers:
Devin Bush
Mohamoud Diabate
Tony Fields II
Jordan Hicks
Caleb Johnson
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah
Winston Reid
Charlie Thomas III
Nathaniel Watson
What we know: The Browns linebacker room went through a number of changes during the offseason, as they lost Anthony Walker Jr., Sione Takitaki and Matthew Adams to other teams in free agency. However, they brought in Hicks and Bush for depth, as well as drafted a young player in Watson in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Even with the changes to the unit, they are anchored by Owusu-Koramoah – who had a breakout season in 2023 and is likely to have a more prominent role in 2024 – and Fields – who ended the 2023 season as their third linebacker as he built a level of consistency and specified his skillset in the pass game, as well as excelling in shedding blocks. Diabate and Thomas provide necessary depth as they have continued to develop from the 2023 season and over the 2024 offseason and establish themselves as potential backups.
There could be a healthy level of competition among the linebackers as they establish their roles among the group.
The biggest question: How does the linebacker room mesh together? With all the change that occurred in the offseason, there is a mix of familiar and new faces to the unit. Owusu-Koramoah and Fields have the most experience in playing in the Browns' defensive system during the 2023 season. However, Hicks brings a different background as he enters his 10th NFL season, as well as brings experience from playing three seasons under defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz's defense with the Eagles.
The Browns linebacker room went through a number of changes during the offseason, as they lost Anthony Walker Jr., Sione Takitaki to other teams in free agency. However, they brought in Hicks and Bush for depth, as well as drafted rookie Watson in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Even with the changes to the unit, they are anchored by Owusu-Koramoah – who had a breakout season in 2023 -- and is likely to have a more prominent role in 2024.
Linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during the third day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 13, 2024.
Linebacker Tony Fields II (42) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals on January 7, 2024 at Paycor Stadium. The Browns lost 14-31.
Linebacker Caleb Johnson (48) during OTA 1 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 21, 2024.
Linebacker Bookie Watson (40) during OTA 2 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 22, 2024.
Linebacker Charlie Thomas III (35) during a preseason NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Kansas City Chiefs on August 26, 2023 at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. The Browns lost 32-33.
Linebacker Winston Reid (59) during the third day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 13, 2024.
Linebacker Winston Reid (59) during OTA 4 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2024.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during OTA 2 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 22, 2024.
Linebacker Caleb Johnson (48) during OTA 2 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 22, 2024.
Linebacker Tony Fields II (42) during a NFL Wild Card playoff football game between the Cleveland Browns and Houston Texans on January 13, 2024 at NRG Stadium. The Browns lost 14-45.
Linebacker Bookie Watson (40) during a workout on the first day of Rookie Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 10, 2024.
Linebacker Bookie Watson (40) during a workout on the second day of Rookie Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 11, 2024.
Linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during OTA 2 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 22, 2024.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 12, 2024.
Linebacker Mohamoud Diabate (43) during a NFL Wild Card playoff football game between the Cleveland Browns and Houston Texans on January 13, 2024 at NRG Stadium. The Browns lost 14-45.
Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (6) during a NFL football game between the Chicago Bears and Cleveland Browns on December 17, 2023 at Cleveland Browns Stadium. The Browns won 20-17.
Linebacker Mohamoud Diabate (43) after a NFL football game between the New York Jets and Cleveland Browns on Thursday Night Football on December 28, 2023 at Cleveland Browns Stadium. The Browns won 37-20.
Linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during a workout in Phase II of the offseason at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 7, 2024.
Linebacker Mohamoud Diabate (43) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals on January 7, 2024 at Paycor Stadium. The Browns lost 14-31.
Linebacker Charlie Thomas III (35) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Indianapolis Colts on October 22, 2023 at Lucas Oil Stadium. The Browns won 39-38.
Linebacker Winston Reid (59) during a workout on the first day of Rookie Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 10, 2024.
Linebacker Tony Fields II (42) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens on November 12, 2023 at M&T Bank Stadium. The Browns won 33-31.
Linebacker Charlie Thomas III (35) during a NFL football game between the Chicago Bears and Cleveland Browns on December 17, 2023 at Cleveland Browns Stadium. The Browns won 20-17.
Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (6) before a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Houston Texans on December 24, 2023 at NRG Stadium. The Browns won 36-22.
Linebacker Caleb Johnson (48) during a workout in Phase I of the offseason at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on April 24, 2024.
Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (6) during a NFL football game between the New York Jets and Cleveland Browns on Thursday Night Football on December 28, 2023 at Cleveland Browns Stadium. The Browns won 37-20.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during a workout in Phase II of the offseason at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on April 29, 2024.
The X-Factor: Owusu-Koramoah. After a breakout season in 2023, Owusu-Koramoah is poised to have a more prominent role in the defense in 2024. He ended the 2023 season with 101 tackles, 3.5 sacks, six passes defensed, two interceptions and one forced fumble. He also finished fourth in the NFL with 20 tackles for loss during the regular season and ended the year with 24 total tackles for loss including the postseason. Last season, he focused heavily on taking one play at a time and anticipating the ball, which allowed him to find success in the defensive scheme. His progression from the 2023 season will play an important part in the success of the linebacker unit as well as the overall defense's presence.
The biggest number: 101. Owusu-Koramoah led the Browns in total tackles for the 2023 season. He jumped from the previous season of 70 tackles and had a positive impact on the dominance of the Browns defense in 2023.
Says it all: "Tony Fields, Jeremiah (Owusu-Koramoah), they've been here at the same time together. Tony's really grown up as well, so it's been fun to watch Tony and Jeremiah because they'll compete to be first at things. But what we also have in the room is we have Mohamoud (Diabate) and Charlie (Thomas III) that have been around for a year. And the scheme is still here, so, there's actually a lot of carryover. They competed all spring to see who could be first to answer all my questions. So, Charlie's first, then Mohamoud's first, then Jeremiah's first, then Tony's first, and Jordan's first. And that's how you want it. So, we train everybody, and we want everybody interacting and answering questions. So, Jeremiah and the guys are right in that. They're a lot of fun to be around. There's energy in there all the time." – linebackers coach Jason Tarver on the linebacker room
How many were kept on the initial 53-man roster last year: 7
