The bulk of the Cleveland Browns’ 2026 roster needs reside on offense. It’s not an exaggeration to recommend that the crew may use assist at each offensive place on their depth chart.
There’s a sneaky want brewing on protection, although, and it simply grew to become extra obtrusive after a young, fourth-year professional determined to walk in free company.
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Cleveland opted to not tender restricted free agent Mohamoud Diabate earlier this month, and per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the 24-year-old linebacker has agreed to phrases with the Tennessee Titans.
It’s a curious determination by GM Andrew Berry and the Browns, who had a number of restricted free brokers coming into the brand new league yr however solely opted to tender security Ronnie Hickman.
Diabate was by no means going to be a precedence, however he began 11 video games through the 2024 season and one other six final season, and the crew is not precisely crawling with inside linebacker depth for the time being.
the Browns’ linebacker depth simply took a greater hit than anticipated
So far, the Browns have swapped Devin Bush for Quincy Williams at off-ball linebacker, and that is about it. The crew has the luxurious of reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year Carson Schwesinger main that group, however what’s behind him has grow to be a rising concern.
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The crew can be in wonderful form if Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah was wholesome and totally cleared to renew his profession, but that seems iffy at best following the intense neck harm he suffered in 2024. As it stands, the crew’s right down to particular teamer Easton Mascarenas-Arnold and three gamers who did not play a snap in 2025 – Edefuan Ulofoshio, Nathaniel Watson and Winston Reid – because the remaining inside linebackers on the depth chart behind Schwesinger and Williams.
No one’s actually anticipating the Browns to make use of this yr’s No. 6 general draft choose on star Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles if he is out there, however with Berry and firm, nothing can be ruled out.
The safer prediction is that the Browns’ 2026 draft class will embody a linebacker for the third consecutive yr. Cleveland at present holds 9 picks, and after it addresses wants at offensive sort out and huge receiver, linebacker needs to be excessive on the precedence record. The crew may realistically goal gamers like Georgia’s CJ Allen and Texas Tech’s Jacob Rodriguez as early as Day 2.
Diabate’s manufacturing slipped on the finish of the 2024 season and his position declined in 2025. Still, he is a young participant the crew’s been creating since he signed as an undrafted rookie, and given the present state of the roster, letting him walk for what needs to be a particularly low cost contract is a critical head-scratcher.
This article was initially printed on www.dawgpounddaily.com as Browns letting this young free agent walk is a real head-scratcher.
