Browns linebacker Joe Schobert may not be a household name, but he has quietly become one of the best young LBs in football. The 2017 Pro Bowler announced his presence on the national stage during Thursday night’s win over the Steelers, flying all over the field to post 10 total tackles, a sack, and two interceptions.
Schobert, 26, has been a full-time starter since 2017, and he has recorded over 100 tackles in each of the past two years (he already has 92 tackles this season). He does well against the pass and against the run, and he has played every defensive snap for the Browns this year.
The 2016 fourth-round pick is also playing out the final year of his rookie contract, and as Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal writes, the Browns and Schobert’s agent have discussed a contract extension. “They’ve had conversations,” Schobert said. “I just let him do his job and I just try to focus on football.”
When asked if he was open to staying in Cleveland, Schobert didn’t exhibit unbridled excitement. “Sure,” he said. “You always want to have the long-term security and comfort knowing where you’re going to be and what team you’re going to be on and that kind of stuff.”
Schobert may not be in Bobby Wagner territory, but he will almost certainly crack the $10MM/year mark when he signs his next contract. A five-year, $65MM pact with around $35MM in guarantees sounds like a good bet.
Going into this year I assumed that they’d let him walk this offseason (hence why they drafted Takitaki and Mack Wilson), but in reality I think it’s probably Kirksey that’ll be gone at the end of the year instead.
Schobert has been the glue of that defense, and they can’t afford to let him walk. Kirksey has been solid when healthy and he’s one of my favorite players, but his cap hit is too high and he’s been injured way too often the past few years.
Easy decision, Kirksey hasn’t given the browns much over the past couple years. When he has been on the field, he hasn’t been very good… but paying that much for Schobert seems like it’s too much.
Cool beans
That AAV sounds high.
Maybe, but it would be the fifth-highest AAV for ILBs as of right now, and he definitely can make a case.
Though he is solid, maybe a bit too much money for someone who misses an awful lot of tackles.
You can excuse missed tackles in cases where the guy is simply trying to cover for a teammate who failed to do his job.
No, I can’t. A missed tackle is what it is.
Not sure many players would want you as a HC. You would have 53 guys on waivers after the first game for not being able to do the other guys job…lol.
On Wisconsin!