Cleveland Browns: Christian Kirksey proving all-around game

Cleveland Browns linebacker Christian Kirksey has a brand new contract extension, and new expectations. Can the versatile linebacker prove his worth?

The Cleveland Browns knew just how valuable Christian Kirksey was to the future of their defense. That’s why they didn’t even wait until his rookie contract expired to offer him a brand new contract extension.

The Browns and Kirksey agreed to a four-year, $38 million deal with a very solid $20 million in guaranteed money, a contract that runs through the 2021 season.

Kirksey was once a three-star prospect out of St. Louis, MO whom the Iowa Hawkeyes developed into a stellar linebacker. He showed his all-around ability, delivering punishing hits, making tackles behind the line of scrimmage, sacking the quarterback, and picking off a few passes.

Kirksey has slowly developed into the same type of linebacker in the pros that he was at Iowa, and as a result, led the Browns in defensive snaps last season with 1,111 plays in total. He added 176 special teams snaps, playing nearly half of the snaps in that phase of the game as well.

The Browns acknowledged Kirksey’s value, and Kirksey talked about his loyalty to the Browns when he signed:

"“I was drafted here, and I have a lot of loyalty to this organization. This organization has been loyal to me. I love my teammates. I love the coaches here. I really believe that Cleveland has something special, and it could be bad for me to just try to play one year and walk away from this. I truly believe in my heart that we will do something good here so that is the reason why I stayed.”Christian Kirksey, Browns Wire"

In addition to being a phenomenal athlete, Kirksey is a smart guy. He’s also proven he’s bought into the long-term vision in Cleveland, and I think this season, we’ll start to see the fruit of the hard work of the new regime.

Kirksey is a critical piece of that, someone who plays a versatile role. This is a guy who has proven himself productive on the field, and also as someone who understands the situation surrounding the history of the Browns.

And he’s not backing down from the challenge.