As previously discussed on Gridiron Heroics, the Cleveland Browns have a linebacker dilemma brewing on their hands. While Devin Bush Jr. may face a suspension with a pre-trial hearing on August 15, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah will miss the entire 2025 season to recover from his neck injury, and Jordan Hicks suddenly announced his retirement on Friday. The Browns will hold a competition for the starting LB2 and LB3 spots between five players, including a former undrafted free agent.
Also Read: Cleveland Browns See Key Defensive Starter Suddenly Retire
Cleveland Browns’ LB played a significant role in 2024
After missing Weeks 2-5 with a hip injury, Mohamoud Diabate played a significant role for the remainder of his second season, starting 11 of the final 12 games due to injuries. He recorded 70 tackles, five TFLs, and three pass deflections in 13 games, 11 starts, and 581 defensive snaps, the second-most at the position on the team. Diabate also posted 29 stops, eight pressures, and a 77.7 passer rating allowed in coverage, per PFF.
He looks to pick up where he left off and will compete for the two starting linebacker spots.
Cleveland Browns’ former UDFA poised for important role in Year 3
So far, Mohamoud Diabate has received first-team reps with the starting defense to open training camp. According to Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN, with Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah out for the season and Jordan Hicks’ sudden retirement, the former undrafted free agent is at the top of the Browns’ depth chart. It remains to be seen whether Diabate will serve as the second or third linebacker on defense, which could be the difference between him playing a third of the snaps or every play.
Big LB change for the Browns this offseason. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is out for the year with a neck injury and now Hicks retires, leaving Cleveland without its top-two starters from 2024.
Devin Bush, Mohamoud Diabate and Carson Schwesinger are at the top of the depth chart now. https://t.co/YmHc0u91TL
— Daniel Oyefusi (@DanielOyefusi) July 25, 2025
Mohamoud Diabate has impressed their linebackers coach
“The first offseason you got to get in the best shape of your life, and now you know it,” Jason Tarver said, via Mark Inabinett of AOL.com. “And your second one, now you know how to do it, and he’s gotten in even better shape. His explosive numbers are through the roof. He’s running; he barely looks like he gets tired. He’s impressive as heck.
“And now he’s playing all three positions. So when he came in last year, what we do is we give him a home first – one position out of the backers. We’ll all know it all eventually. He had his one position, and when he went in the game, that’s where he played. Now he’s playing the other ones, so he’s done a good job. Like, he had a couple of plays where he’s on the edge of the defense yesterday that he’d never done before, and they were perfect. So very excited with where he’s going.”
