Browns Add Veteran Linebacker Jordan Hicks On Two-Year Deal

The Browns spent the majority of Monday's legal tampering window focusing on the defensive side of the ball as they added veteran linebacker Jordan Hicks on a two-year deal.

Defense has been the focus for the Browns on the opening day of legal tampering in the NFL.

Cleveland wasted no time bolstering their linebacker room after seeing Anthony Walker Jr. sign with his hometown team Miami earlier in the day on Monday. Vikings free agent Jordan Hicks reportedly inked a deal with the club for two years and $8 million. The move won't be official until Wednesday at 4 p.m. when the new league year officially begins.

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The Hicks singing comes at the perfect time for the Browns as news of LB Sionne Takitaki signing with New England broke shortly after the Hicks deal was reported. Hicks immediately helps fill a massive void for Cleveland at inside linebacker, where he's played for the majority of his career. 

The eight-year veteran comes with plenty of familiarity with Jim Schwartz defense as well, having played in his 4-3 system with Philadelphia from 2016-2018. Hicks was a member of the memorable Super Bowl LII winning Eagles squad that took down Tom Brady and the Patriots 41-33. Unfortunately, Hicks was not part of the team's postseason run after an Achillies injury ended his season prematurely.

Since leaving Philly the 31-year-old spent three seasons with Arizona before spending the 2023 campaign with the Vikings. He's finished with at least 75 tackles in each of the last four seasons and has registered seven sacks in each of the last two combined. Last year, Hicks also had an interception and 10 defensed passes as well. 

For a portion of the 2023 season, Hicks wound up on the IR after developing compartment syndrome in his shin after sustaining a hit to his leg against the New Orleans Saints. Hicks was rushed to the hospital after losing feeling and strength in his leg and quickly began surgery. He suffered no permanent damage from the procedure and returned to the field six weeks later after missing four games.

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Hicks no stranger to Ohio either having grown up in West Chester and attending Lakota West high school.

Earlier in the day, Cleveland re-upped with defensive end Za'Darius Smith and DT Maurice Hurst, bringing each of the defensive line mates back on short-term deals.

Follow along with all the Browns offseason moves with our Free Agency Tracker.