Cleveland Browns lose former NCAA champion, 2020 draft pick to Houston Texans in free agency

The Cleveland Browns had one of the best defenses in 2023, and much of that was due to a new defensive coordinator, Jim Schwartz, and defensive end Myles Garrett, who claimed his first NFL Defensive Player of The Year Award. Another bright spot on the defense was linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, who turned himself into a Pro Bowler last year. Still, he will not be playing alongside another linebacker on the team since 2020. 

The Browns Lose One Of Their Linebackers

According to Adam Schefter from ESPN, the Houston Texans are signing former Browns  free-agent linebacker Jacob Phillips to a one-year deal. 

Phillips was a third-round pick by the Cleveland Browns in 2020 and was a significant part of the 2019 LSU Tigers National title team. 

Phillips was injured greatly in four years with the Browns and even missed the 2023 season. The most games he saw in a season was his rookie year when he played in nine. 

Browns And Texans Have Gone At It For A Few Years Now

The Cleveland Browns and Houston Texans have been going at it the last few years, and it goes back to two years ago when the Browns traded for Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, and then the Browns fell to the Texans in this year’s playoff, so the two teams know each other well.