Cleveland Browns Lose 127-Tackle LB in Free Agency
Cleveland Browns GM Andy Berry and head coach Todd Monken have just lost an important chess piece from their impressive defensive unit that ran riot last year.
A few hours ago, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported on X (formerly Twitter) that the Tennessee Titans have agreed to a deal with linebacker Mohamoud Diabate. His salary has not yet been disclosed.
The Cleveland Browns did not serve the player a tender to be an RFA. Diabate thus signed as an undrafted free agent with the Tennessee Titans.
The Alabama native played three seasons at Huntington Bank Field. Throughout his career, Diabate played 46 games and made 127 tackles, of which 60 were solo. Diabate also had one forced fumble and recovered two of them.
For the Browns, they lose depth in that LB room. And, not to forget, they had an impressive showing on defense last year, allowing only 379 points in the regular season.
This made the Browns one of the top-5 defenses in the 2025 season, ranking fourth in yards allowed and third in passing defense, allowing an average of 167.2 yards per game.
Given the stats, it would have been prudent for the Browns to keep the services of Diabate. But the team's decision to let him go raises questions about the Browns' defensive makeup in the upcoming season.
What Was the Reason the Browns Did Not Retain the Linebacker?
Though the linebacker has seen a steady rise throughout his career, that rise took a hit in the 2025 season because of the emergence of Carson Schwesinger.
In the 2025 season, Diabate still appeared in all 17 games but had very little to show for it. The linebacker posted 49 tackles and forced one fumble, and when you compare those numbers to Schwesinger, it is night and day.
Carson Schwesinger played 16 games and put up 156 tackles, of which 67 were solo tackles. The linebacker also had 2.5 sacks and two interceptions.
This saw Diabate take a back seat and be used as a rotational player. This eventually meant that the Browns did not tender him and were willing to let him leave for free.
The linebacker will now find a new home with the Tennessee Titans.
What do you think about the Browns letting Diabate go and the Tennessee Titans picking him up? Let us know in the comments.
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