Jordan Hicks Retires

    The already ailing Cleveland Browns took another blow with the surprising retirement of linebacker Jordan Hicks.

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.

Browns sign Jerome Baker

   The Cleveland Browns signed another player to a position of need with the inking of linebacker Jerome Baker.

Baker, who was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the third round in 2018 from Ohio State, spent his first six seasons with the Dolphins before splitting last season between Seattle and Tennessee.

Baker played five games with each team, collecting a sack for each and combined for forty solo tackles.

During his time as a Dolphin, Baker was involved with over one hundred tackles in three seasons, so Baker could be a valuable addition to the Browns linebacking corps.

The twenty-eight-year-old Baker is a speedy, rangy, linebacker, who is capable of playing all three downs and could be the replacement for the questionable return of Jeremiah Owosu-Koahmoah if JOK is unable to return from his neck injury suffered last season.

At worst, Baker would be a backup to JOK, and Jordan Hicks and possibly could be a full-time starter.