Demario Davis made an impression on the Browns last season. And not just with his concussion-causing hit of quarterback Josh McCown in the season opener.
The Browns are looking for an upgrade at inside linebacker and brought Davis in Tuesday for a free agent visit, a league source confirmed to The Chronicle-Telegram.
Demario Davis
Davis, 27, has played all 64 games in his four-year career, including 48 starts the last three seasons.
He was a third-round pick out of Arkansas State (No. 77 overall) in 2012 and has 349 tackles, an interception, eight passes defensed and 6.5 sacks.
The Jets decided not to re-sign Davis (6-foot-2, 239 pounds) and allowed him to become a free agent.
He lost playing time toward the end of the year and reportedly struggled in pass coverage.
Davis turned McCown into a helicopter blade on the Browns’ first drive of the season.
McCown took off through a huge opening on third-and-goal from the 14, dived for the goal line from about the 3, was hit by safety Calvin Pryor and the ball came loose at about the 1. Davis then stuck his helmet into the ear hole of McCown’s, spinning him around in midair. McCown was diagnosed with a concussion, done for the day and missed the next week.
The Browns have been mostly idle during the first week of free agency but have made it clear they want to improve at inside linebacker, which should help their traditionally porous run defense — they ranked last in 2014 and 30th last season. The Browns signed former Texans inside linebacker Justin Tuggle last week.
Craig Robertson started 34 games for the Browns over the last three years but was allowed to hit the market and has reportedly taken a couple of visits. Karlos Dansby has been effective in his two years in Cleveland but is 34 years old and could be released as the Browns enter what appears to be a full-blown rebuilding phase.
Christian Kirksey, a third-round pick in 2014, is expected to become a full-time starter. He has started 13 of 32 games, totaling 144 tackles.
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