#71: Christian Kirksey, LB, Iowa

[Goldin Brown]

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2014/05/christian_kirksey_iowa_linebac.html

BEREA, Ohio – In an age of spread offenses, Mike Pettine places a premium on fleet-footed defenders.

“I’ve always been one I’d rather have smaller guys that are faster,” the Browns coach said at the NFL Scouting Combine in February. “Sometimes, the best place where that shows up is with your linebacker corps, you look for run-and-hit guys who can go sideline to sideline.”

It might explain the Browns’ decision to select 6-foot-1, 233-pound linebacker Christian Kirksey in the third round (No. 71 overall) of the 2014 NFL Draft.

Despite his lean frame, the Iowa product registered 140 tackles and 2.5 sacks to earn all-Big Ten honorable mention last season. He also ran a 4.52 in the 40 at his pro day.

“I trust in my skills and I trust that I can get the job done,” Kirksey said in a conference call. “I think I’m very athletic and fast enough to play in a defense like the Browns.”

The club chose Kirksey six picks ahead of Wisconsin’s Chris Borland, an inside linebacker who won Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors. Borland, who’s known more for his production than measurables, went to the San Francisco 49ers at No. 77.

Some analysts did not have Kirksey, a two-year Iowa captain, coming off the board until the fifth round. His lack of strength sometimes caused him to get swallowed up at the line of scrimmage on pass rushes, a problem Barkevious Mingo encountered last season.

“I think adding strength and bulk is among the easier things to do at this level,” Pettine said Friday night. “It’s hard to get them significantly faster. We’d rather take the better athlete, the faster guy and trust in our strength program.”

Kirksey saw time at all the linebacker positions with the Hawkeyes. The St. Louis native said he expects to play inside with the Browns...

 

[ajz20]

http://www.blackheartgoldpants.com/...ll-christian-kirksey-tight-end-nfl-draft-2014


Good Read!

 

[Soda]

Can't believe the Browns drafted John Hughes!

 

[AZ_]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Browns have reached a $3.04 million deal with third-round linebacker Chris Kirksey that includes a $662,500 signing bonus</p>&mdash; Aaron Wilson (@RavensInsider) <a href="https://twitter.com/RavensInsider/statuses/474577537176436736">June 5, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Triplethreat]

Amazing what this guy has turned out to be.

https://instagram.com/p/BO3Xx4dhWEP/

Finished 3rd in the entire NFL in tackles with 148.

 

[Dinner Bell Mel]

Amazing what this guy has turned out to be.

https://instagram.com/p/BO3Xx4dhWEP/

Finished 3rd in the entire NFL in tackles with 148.

It's almost like you shouldn't judge the value of a draft pick after his rookie year.

cc: Cleveland Media
Jason La Canfora

 

[Triplethreat]

It's almost like you shouldn't judge the value of a draft pick after his rookie year.

cc: Cleveland Media
Jason La Canfora

We certainly are not shy of building blocks on the defensive side of the football between Kirksey, Shelton and Ogbah.

Possibly add Garrett to the mix and the secondary will be the spot with the biggest holes on that side. A lot of potential.

 

[Los216]

Is he the most underrated LB in the NFL right now?

 

[macbdog]

Is he the most underrated LB in the NFL right now?

Yes. Browns fans should start a petition effort to get him into the Pro Bowl. Don't listen to the folks that will try and day that he got most of those tackles because well someone had to tackle the ballcarrier after they got to the 2nd level every down.

 

[Triplethreat]

https://instagram.com/p/BUr7AnVlDXV/

Don't know how to embed but..

 

[Soda]

Awesome. He, too, must hate Cleveland.

 

[dark2332]

Awesome. He, too, must hate Cleveland.

Glad we were able to retain/reward a 24 year-old stud about to start making Pro Bowls as a natural WILL, who could also play the MIKE...

Yeah, I love it. It's a tad higher than I thought it'd be ($38 million versus more like $32-34) but shit, this had to happen. He's a leader and cornerstone piece.

 

[AZ_]

Guys seem to be buying in.

Has the culture changed, even if the record hasn't, under Hue?

 

[FrontPageNews]

Guys seem to be buying in.

Has the culture changed, even if the record hasn't, under Hue?

Money tends to get guys to want to stay.


A bit much for one year of production but if he keeps it up he's worth it. Hopefully he plays as well at olb.

 

[Randolphkeys]

Credit to Versachi Brown and the front office. Ray Farmer was horrific at retaining talent that actually wanted to stay with the Browns. The franchise has delivered about as successful an offseason you could expect from one that has struggled for so long.