INDIANAPOLIS -- Andrew Berry said Tuesday he plans to meet with representatives of Pro Bowl linebacker Joe Schobert, who is set to hit free agency at the start of the new league year.
The Browns external vice president of football operations and general manager praised Schobert, Cleveland's leading tackler this past season and a 2017 Pro Bowler, but stressed a potential agreement would have to work for both the organization and Schobert.
"Joe is a good player and an even better person," Berry said during his media session at the 2020 NFL Combine. "He's obviously earned the right to test the market if he deems that appropriate. It's one of those situations where we like Joe and it obviously has to work from both sides. It has to work from us from a cost perspective with our long-term roster strategy and obviously has to be a fit for Joe and his family as well."
Over four seasons, Schobert has racked up 408 tackles over 59 games. He's been an every-game starter since his second season, when he shifted from outside linebacker to inside linebacker. He's thrived in a handful of different schemes, playing for three different defensive coordinators in four years.
If he returns to Cleveland, it'd be a fourth in five years under Joe Woods, who recently assumed the role on head coach Kevin Stefanski's 2020 staff.
"I think Joe's a good football player. I have not gotten a chance yet to get in front of him," Stefanski said. "I think from everybody that I've spoken to in the building about Joe the person, I think it's A++. Really looking forward to seeing how this whole process plays out but this is free agency so it has to be both sides. I'll just wait to see how this thing shakes out."
Schobert is the only potential free agent from a Cleveland linebacker room that is a season removed from playing all but two games without veteran Christian Kirksey, who suffered a chest injury in the Browns' Week 2 win over the Jets. The Browns used two draft picks on linebackers in 2019, selecting Sione Takitaki in the third round and Mack Wilson in the fifth. Wilson started in Kirksey's place and finished the year with 82 tackles while Takitaki mostly played on special teams.
"No different than any other position group, we're going to try to put the best talent on the field come September," Berry said. "Some of that is going to be from players who are going to take a step internally. Others may be external additions. We're not going to bound ourselves to really any specific combination of players. We're going to look for the best options."
Get ready for the Combine next week by checking out photos of current Browns working out at their combines
Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield runs the 40-yard dash during the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Saturday, March 3, 2018 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Louisiana State University wide receiver Odell Beckham speaks to the media at the 2014 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, on February 21, 2014. (AP Photo/Johnny Vy)
Miami defensive lineman Olivier Vernon runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis on Monday, Feb. 27, 2012. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
Georgia running back Nick Chubb runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 2, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Miami defensive lineman Olivier Vernon runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 27, 2012. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Missouri defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 25, 2013. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
Ohio State defensive back Denzel Ward is seen at the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Monday, March 5, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Miami defensive lineman Olivier Vernon runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 27, 2012. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield is seen at the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Saturday, March 3, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Charlotte nose tackle Larry Ogunjobi is seen before a drill at the 2017 NFL football scouting combine Sunday, March 5, 2017, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
University of Nevada offensive lineman Joel Bitonio runs up the field at the 2014 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, on February 22, 2014. (AP Photo/Johnny Vy)
Missouri defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 25, 2013. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Louisiana State wide receiver Odell Beckham makes a catch during a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2014. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Miami tight end David Njoku runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine Saturday, March 4, 2017, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Nevada offensive lineman Joel Bitonio runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine Sunday, March 5, 2017, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Missouri defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 25, 2013. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine Sunday, March 5, 2017, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
North Carolina Charlotte defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine Sunday, March 5, 2017, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine Sunday, March 5, 2017, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Georgia running back Nick Chubb runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, March 2, 2018. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Georgia running back Nick Chubb runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 2, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett is seen before a drill at the 2017 NFL football scouting combine Sunday, March 5, 2017, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
North Carolina Charlotte defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine Sunday, March 5, 2017, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield throws during a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Saturday, March 3, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Ohio State defensive back Denzel Ward competes in the Bench Press at the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday, March 4, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield throws during a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Saturday, March 3, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Nevada offensive lineman Joel Bitonio runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Missouri defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 25, 2013. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Ohio State defensive back Denzel Ward runs the 40-yard dash during the NFL football scouting combine, Monday, March 5, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
FILE - In this March 3, 2018, file photo, Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis. Mayfield is expected to be a first round pick in the NFL Draft. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)
Nevada offensive lineman Joel Bitonio runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
LSU defensive back Greedy Williams runs the 40-yard dash during the NFL football scouting combine on Monday, March 4, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Oklahoma kicker Austin Seibert during the 2019 Scouting Combine in Indianapolis on Friday, March. 1, 2019. (Perry Knotts via AP)
LSU defensive back Greedy Williams during the 2019 Scouting Combine in Indianapolis on Monday, March. 4, 2019. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Ohio State defensive back Denzel Ward competes in the Broad Jump at the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Monday, March 5, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Ohio State defensive back Denzel Ward competes in the Vertical Jump at the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Monday, March 5, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
LSU defensive back Greedy Williams participates in a drill during the NFL football scouting combine on Monday, March 4, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
LSU defensive back Greedy Williams runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Monday, March 4, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
LSU defensive back Greedy Williams during the 2019 Scouting Combine in Indianapolis on Monday, March. 4, 2019. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield looks on during the NFL football scouting combine on Saturday, March 3, 2018 in Indianapolis. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
LSU defensive back Greedy Williams participates in a drill during the 2019 Scouting Combine in Indianapolis on Monday, March. 4, 2019. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Cornell offensive lineman J C Tretter gets measured during the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Ind., Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett runs the 40 yard dash during the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday, March 5, 2017 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
North Carolina Charlotte defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi runs a drill during the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday, March 5, 2017 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett runs in a drill at the NFL football scouting combine on Sunday, March 5, 2017, in Indianapolis. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
LSU wide receiver Odell Beckham runs a drill at the 2014 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, on February 23, 2014.(Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Georgia running back Nick Chubb runs a drill during the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Friday, March 2, 2018 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett at the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine at the Lucas Oil Stadium, Sunday, March 5, 2017 in Indianapolis. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Ohio State defensive back Denzel Ward runs the 40-yard dash during the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Monday, March 5, 2018 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett at the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine at the Lucas Oil Stadium, Sunday, March 5, 2017 in Indianapolis. (Perry Knotts via AP)
North Carolina Charlotte defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Sunday, March 5, 2017 in Indianapolis. (AJ Mast via AP Images)
Miami tight end David Njoku runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Saturday, March 4, 2017 in Indianapolis. (AJ Mast via AP Images)
Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett runs a drill at the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine at the Lucas Oil Stadium, Sunday, March 5, 2017 in Indianapolis. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Louisiana State wide receiver Jarvis Landry makes a one-handed catch during a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2014. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Georgia running back Nick Chubb participates in the broad jump during the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Friday, March 2, 2018 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Louisiana State University wide receiver Odell Beckham catches footballs at the 2014 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, on February 23, 2014. (AP Photo/Johnny Vy)
LSU wide receiver Odell Beckham runs the 40-yard dash at the 2014 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, on February 23, 2014. (AP Photo/Johnny Vy)
Georgia running back Nick Chubb runs the 40-yard dash during the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Friday, March 2, 2018 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Miami tight end David Njoku runs the 40 yard dash during the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday, March 4, 2017 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett runs the 40 yard dash during the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday, March 5, 2017 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Louisiana State wide receiver Jarvis Landry runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2014. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
North Carolina Charlotte defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi runs the 40 yard dash during the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday, March 5, 2017 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
