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 Linebacker Shakeup

      The free agency period started with the Browns re-signing two key defensive linemen (more on the
retentions later in the week) but it was the linebackers that saw the most action with one player signing in Cleveland and two veteran Browns departing Northeast Ohio.

The new arrival is veteran Jordan Hicks, who signed a two-year contract valued at eight million dollars from the Minnesota Vikings.

Hicks will turn thirty-two before training camp and will be entering his tenth NFL season, four of those with Philadelphia where he played for Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz after being drafted by the Eagles in the third round in 2015, three with the Arizona Cardinals before his two most recent seasons with the Vikings.

Hicks started thirteen games for the Vikings last season, finishing with sixty-one solo tackles, a sack, and an interception.

Hicks hasn't played fewer than twelve games in the last six seasons, so he's durable and able to stay in the lineup.

Hicks knows what Jim Schwartz wants in a linebacker and while he's not an exciting playmaker like Jeremiah Owosu-Koramoah, Hicks is a solid, steady player that isn't all that different than either of the players that the Browns lost in free agency.

Cleveland lost Anthony Walker, who signed with the Dolphins, and Sione Takitaki, who was picked up by the Patriots.

Walker played three seasons for the Browns after being signed from Indianapolis and was loved by his teammates but I saw a player that rarely made big plays and in twelve games last season, Walker made only twenty-three solo tackles and just one for a loss.

Takitaki played five seasons in Cleveland after the Browns drafted him in the third round in 2019 from BYU.

Takitaki returned last season from a severe knee injury to play in fifteen games (seven starts) finishing with forty-five solo tackles, two sacks, and an interception last season.

Takitaki was also helpful on special teams, so the Browns will be looking through free agency, draft, or undrafted free agency for a linebacker who can cover on special teams.

Is Jordan Hicks a big upgrade over Anthony Walker or Sione Takitaki? 

Probably not but he's a mild upgrade over either.

Back later with the Browns other moves that saw them lose a key special teams player and re-sign two key members of the defensive line.