Browns to extend Pro Bowl LB

Already carrying big-ticket contracts at the other four positions on defense, the Browns will reward their top linebacker. Looming as an extension candidate for a bit now, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is no longer in a contract year.

The Browns came to terms with the fourth-year linebacker on a three-year deal worth up to $39M, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports. Owusu-Koramoah secured $25M guaranteed on this deal, making him one of the league’s highest-paid off-ball LBs.

Cleveland has Myles Garrett, Dalvin Tomlinson, Denzel Ward, and Grant Delpit on lucrative second contracts, and the team is also finding room to re-sign Za’Darius Smith this offseason. Linebacker had housed lower-end contracts on this payroll, but after the Browns led the NFL in pass defense in Jim Schwartz‘s first season as DC, they are rewarding a three-down linebacker. The former second-round pick is now signed through the 2027 season.

Owusu-Koramoah, 24, appeared on Cleveland’s extension radar this offseason. The Notre Dame alum has emerged as the team’s central presence on its defensive second level, as various other pieces have come and gone around him in recent years.

While the “up to” phrase is notable here, Owusu-Koramoah receiving $25M guaranteed places him fifth among off-ball LBs — behind only Roquan Smith, Tremaine Edmunds, Fred Warner and Matt Milano. The Browns have surpassed the Eagles with 13 $10M-per-year players (h/t Grand Central Sports Management’s Brad Spielberger), moving into the NFL lead.

Named a Pro Bowler as an alternate last season, Owusu-Koramoah played a lead role in the Browns’ defense, igniting under Schwartz. Despite operating primarily as a non-rush linebacker (though he is an effective blitzer), Owusu-Koramoah registered 20 tackles for loss. Not only did that pace all traditional linebackers by five, but the total ranked fourth across the NFL. The speedy defender totaled 101 tackles, 3.5 sacks, two interceptions and a forced fumble in a breakthrough third season. Pro Football Focus slotted Owusu-Koramoah 18th among ILBs in 2023.

This is not the best period to excel as a traditional linebacker, as the market has cooled a bit. Perennial Pro Bowler C.J. Mosley and Jaguars tackling machine Foye Oluokun took pay cuts (in exchange for increased guarantees) this offseason, leaving only six players earning more than $11M at this position. Owusu-Koramoah becoming No. 7 would reflect the Browns’ belief he can thrive in this scheme for years.

More impressively, last year’s emergence came after a 2022 Lisfranc injury. The Browns saw promising work from JOK over his first two seasons as injuries piled up at the position, with four forced fumbles coming from 2021-22. Losing Sione Takitaki in free agency, the Browns are aiming to pair their LB centerpiece with veteran Jordan Hicks. Wednesday morning’s agreement firmly places Owusu-Koramoah as a pillar alongside the above-referenced D-linemen and DBs in a suddenly strong defense.