Browns sign Malcolm Smith

With the recent injury to linebacker Mack Wilson, the Cleveland Browns were positioned to add a linebacker and preferably a veteran that could step into the fray as quickly as possible.

While the news on Wilson has been better than expected as a source close to the team told Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com that the team is hopeful that Wilson might not miss the entire year as originally feared, Wilson is still going to miss a substantial amount of time and the mentioned need above for a linebacker was still in place.

The Browns made their move Sunday in announcing the addition of veteran linebacker Malcolm Smith split last season between Jacksonville and Dallas but played for San Francisco in 2018 under Browns defensive coordinator Joe Woods, so Smith should have some knowledge of the system to step in quickly and compete for playing time.
Smith is remembered by most for his Super Bowl MVP performance for the 2013 champion Seattle Seahawks in Seattle's 43-8 crushing of Denver when Smith grabbed a Peyton Manning pass and ran sixty-nine yards for a touchdown, recovered a fumble and finished with nine tackles on the evening.

The ten-year veteran has played for four teams since leaving Seattle following the 2014 season to sign with the then-Oakland Raiders, where he started thirty of the Raiders thirty-two games in his two seasons with them.
Since then, Smith has missed a season, started five of twelve games for San Francisco, and played two games each last season for Dallas and Jacksonville, starting one for the Cowboys.

Honestly, I'm non-plussed by this signing because I think there are superior free agents available such as Alec Ogletree and Mark Barron with another having upside if not established play in Darron Lee.
All of these players are better players of late, the Browns linebackers are filled with question marks as it is and the Browns could have made a better argument in signing another linebacker AND still signing Malcolm Smith.
It's a depth move that is needed, but not one that immediately improves the team.

The Browns also may be looking for a safety after second-round draft pick Grant Delpit was carted off the practice field after suffering what has been reported to be an Achilles injury.
Achilles injuries are rarely short-term injuries and I would think that the chances are better than average that the Browns may have seen the last of Grant Delpit this season.
More on that as the news develops.