Hicks's retirement was announced on the third day of training camp after Hicks had asked to be excused from the first two days for personal reasons.
The thirty-two-year-old Hicks played in twelve games last season in his only year with Cleveland, finishing with forty solo tackles and two sacks.
Hicks finishes his ten-year career with over six hundred solo tackles, sixteen sacks, and thirteen interceptions.
As for the Browns, the linebacking corps was already shorthanded with the possible career-ending injury to Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, and combined with Devin Bush's legal issues, Hicks's retirement leaves the Browns very vulnerable at the position.
Second-round draft pick Carson Schwesinger, free agent signee Jerome Baker, Devon Bush, and special-teams ace Mohamoud Dibate comprise the corps for now.
Jerome Baker's signing seems prescient now that Hicks has retired, and without Baker, this situation would be a very difficult one.
Baker is a similar player to Hicks and will have the first chance to replace Hicks in the lineup.
I'm sure the Browns will be looking to address the position sometime between now and the start of the season, most likely trying to add a veteran to replace Hicks.
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