Browns LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah’s approach to contract talks should have fans feeling at ease
Last season was a special one for the defense of the Cleveland Browns and it featured a breakout player that ended up being a Pro Bowler. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah took a leap in 2024 and has become one of the better linebackers in the NFL. When you’re among the best at your position, you are going […]
Last season was a special one for the defense of the Cleveland Browns and it featured a breakout player that ended up being a Pro Bowler.
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah took a leap in 2024 and has become one of the better linebackers in the NFL. When you’re among the best at your position, you are going to be paid like it at some point.
JOK has been with the Browns for three seasons and as a former second-round pick, he does not have a fifth-year option. With that being said, he is due for a new contract at any point ahead of the next free agency cycle.
But when it comes to worrying about his future earnings, Owusu-Koramoah is not all that involved and instead has an approach that should make everyone feel at ease about the situation.
“I mean, my agents really handle those things. If they, you know, are negotiating, they’ll contact me and they’ll, you know, give you certain prices and things like that. Like, ‘Hey, look, what are you looking for?’ But I don’t give much thought to it. It’s really about ball,” said the Pro Bowl linebacker on Tuesday.
Last season, the former Notre Dame product made 101 tackles and 20 of those were for a loss. Add in 3.5 sacks, a pair of interceptions, and a forced fumble, and it was a successful season for the breakout linebacker.
“Well, it’s about compartmentalization. There’s a time for it, and then there’s a time to focus on football. You know, there’s a difference. You know, you may go home, and maybe six o’clock at night, you’re done studying, and then, okay, you may get some time to it, but there’s always a time and place for everything.”
The Pittsburgh Steelers made Patrick Queen the fifth highest-paid linebacker at $13 million a year in free agency and that number sticks out as a spot that JOK will likely try to reach. Baltimore Ravens gave linebacker Roquan Smith $20 million a year to be the highest-paid linebacker and that is a mark that the Browns surely won’t touch. Plus, JOK is not to that All-Pro level of play to this point in his career.
“I mean, it’s good to kind of get the acknowledgment, you know, Pro Bowl and everything. But, I mean, I think there’s a higher level to it, and whenever there’s a high level, you know, there can’t be this satisfying attitude, right? I think for me it’s more so there’s a lot more to do,” explained Cleveland’s top linebacker. “There’s a lot more to conquer and to persevere through you know, I haven’t necessarily gotten the amount of tackles that I want. I haven’t gotten the amount of TFLs that I want. I haven’t gotten the amount of interceptions that I want. And, you know, when I have Dalvin (Tomlinson) in front of me, you know, it’s very hard to see the quarterback but, you know, he will get there at some point.”
If Owusu-Koramoah can take another jump in 2024, he will leap into the All-Pro status and the Browns will have to give him an even heftier amount.
Browns WR Amari Cooper sends message to the team on first day of mandatory minicamp by not being present
Not an ideal development.
