The linebackers in 2020 had some issues. B.J. Goodson was the starting middle linebacker who had signed on with a one-year deal. He subsequently led the Browns’ defense in tackles, but wasn’t re-signed. He is currently unemployed.
The other linebackers were holdovers from the previous season with Mack Wilson, Sione Takitaki, Tae Davis and Elijah Lee. Then GM Andrew Berry inked Malcolm Smith in free agency plus drafted Jacob Phillips in the third-round of the NFL draft.
But DC Joe Woods doesn’t use the 4-3 as much as was expected. Instead, he employed the 4-2-5 for over 67% of defensive snaps.