Mohamoud Diabate and Browns Big Picture
Mohamoud Diabate has put himself in the conversation to make the Cleveland Browns opening day roster as a linebacker. He's also an indication that the process the Browns have adapted in building their roster, highlighted in the 2023 NFL Draft, is an effective one.
At 6'3 1/2" 225 pounds, the undrafted rookie out of Utah doesn't offer much size, which may disappoint some critics who have clamored for giant linebackers from days of yore the past two seasons, but Diabate has excellent athleticism, which is something the Browns have prioritized at that position. Range and coverage ability are increasingly mandatory to play that position, but Diabate also plays smart, makes quick decisions and gets to the football. Along with the ability to contribute on special teams, he has garnered attention.
It also has him in a battle for the final linebacker spot potentially with Tony Fields II entering his third year, who has many of the same characteristics.
Diabate has been impressive, but a major reason he's been able to make an impact is the same reason the entire linebacker room has looked good so far in the preseason. The upgrades to the defensive line have allowed them to take on fewer blocks, play faster and makes tackles going downhill.
Whether Diabate makes the roster or not, he's a prime why the Browns don't need to spend major draft resources or money to find linebackers to play in this defense. The Browns added Diabate and fellow undrafted rookie linebacker Charlie Thomas III after the draft was over. Diabate has a strong case to make a roster, be it with the Browns or elsewhere while Thomas looks like he could end up on the Browns practice squad.
One could simply call it luck that the Browns were able to add those two after the draft, but the Browns did a good job engineering the draft in a way that provided an appealing situation for the best undrafted players at that position to consider Cleveland.
Andrew Berry's fourth draft may yield quality players, but it was certainly an example of a good process. Not picking until the third round, Berry used picks on wide receiver, defensive tackle, defensive end, offensive tackle, quarterback, corner and center. Of those, only defensive tackle and center aren't considered premium positions.
Linebacker, running back and strong safety are traditionally not considered premium positions. Not only did the Browns avoid drafting those positions, they left spots on the end of their depth chart open that would appeal to both agents and undrafted rookies.
As a result, the Browns signed Hassan Hall at running back, Ronnie Hickman and Tanner McAllister at safety in addition to Diabate and Thomas at linebacker. The Browns gave them a path to make the roster and a couple of them may get there.
Hickman, who has three preseason interceptions and Diabate both could end up making the roster. It's allowing the Browns to maximize their value in the draft beyond their picks.
The Browns are employing undrafted rookies as part of their draft strategy to fill holes. The Browns get players they want to compete for spots while also still having another means to acquiring help should they fall short. Currently, it's reasonable to question if the Browns have their third running back for the regular season. Whether through a trade or simply claiming someone on cutdown day, the Browns would still have opportunities to find someone else to fill out that position group if they feel an upgrade is available.
The way Cedric Tillman, Dawand Jones, Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Luke Wypler have excelled in the preseason, this year's draft already looks promising. If Hickman and Diabate make the roster, it looks that much stronger. That's not even including Austin Watkins Jr., though not a rookie, is another player who could make the team while requiring practically nothing to acquire.
None of this is to suggest that the Browns should never draft a running back or linebacker, but it does encourage the Browns to use premium picks on premium positions. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, a second round pick is poised to have a great year. Even if he's outstanding the next two seasons, a great linebacker is never going to be worth as much as a great quarterback, wide receiver, offensive tackle corner or defensive lineman. And if JOK is great, the Browns may not want to pony up the money necessary on a second contract, preferring to use that money on a premium position.
Linebacker and running back are correlative positions. The better the respective lines in front of them are, the more impactful they can be. With a front that includes Myles Garrett, Za'Darius Smith, Dalvin Tomlinson and Shelby Harris, the linebackers are going to be better than they were in 2022.
There are only a few transformative players at running back and linebacker in the league and the Browns have one of them in Nick Chubb. But unless they find a linebacker on the level of Bobby Wagner, Fred Warner or Lavonte David, the smart play is to invest both money and draft picks into the defensive line, creating ideal conditions for linebackers to thrive.
It helps the Browns have an excellent linebackers coach in Jason Tarver. He's been ablet to get production of that position in the worst of circumstances. Last year, the Browns had half a dozen linebackers end up on injured reserve and the Browns were able to find guys walking the street to come in and contribute.
The Browns should continue to focus draft picks on premium positions so long as the value is there and engineer the roster so that undrafted rookies want to come to Cleveland. A year after D'Anthony Bell made the team as an undrafted free agent, the Browns had no fewer than five players with legitimate chances to earn a roster spot.
This year's draft appears to have been a watershed moment for Andrew Berry in terms of process. It doesn't guarantee that they will hit on picks with so many variables attached, but if they continue to operate the draft the same way, the picks they hit on should be more impactful and the draft as a whole should produce more potential players.
Mohamoud Diabate still has a final preseason game and a few more weeks of practice to make closing arguments on a formidable case for a roster spot with the Browns. Impact plays such as the safety and forced fumble against the Philadelphia Eagles certainly bolster his argument, but Diabate needs to improve his consistency as a tackler, making the plays the Browns (or any team) need him to make.
The fact there is a decision to make with Diabate, a player getting attention for the right reasons, means the Browns linebacker room should be a solid one heading into the 2023 season.
