Former Browns linebacker Mohamoud Diabate is signing with the Tennessee Titans.
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Former Browns linebacker Mohamoud Diabate is signing with the Tennessee Titans.
The Cleveland Browns are losing one of their homegrown linebackers.
Mohamoud Diabate, who spent three seasons carving out a role in Cleveland’s defense, has agreed to terms with the Tennessee Titans, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. The Browns chose not to tender Diabate as a restricted free agent, putting him on the open market.
Diabate appeared in 46 games and made 18 starts across three seasons with Cleveland. He posted 49 tackles with a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in 2025, playing in a reduced role after the emergence of rookie Carson Schwesinger. The 24-year-old joins a Tennessee defense overhauled by new head coach Robert Saleh.
For Diabate, it’s a legitimate opportunity to expand a role that had been shrinking in Cleveland.
Browns Defense in Transition Under Rutenberg
Diabate’s departure is just one piece of a broader defensive shift in Cleveland. Jim Schwartz resigned after being passed over for the head coaching job in favor of Todd Monken, leaving a significant void at the top of a unit that ranked fourth in the NFL in total defense last season. The Browns moved quickly to fill it, hiring former Atlanta Falcons defensive passing game coordinator Mike Rutenberg.
Rutenberg wasted no time setting the tone at his introductory press conference.
“It’s always going to be style over scheme no matter what,” Rutenberg said. “How hard we play, playing for each other, how fast we play and how violent we play.”
The attacking 4-3 system Schwartz built isn’t going anywhere. Rutenberg — who spent time under Saleh running similar defensive fronts — was chosen in large part because he already knew the playbook. He also has a staff that largely stayed intact despite Schwartz’s departure.
“It’s very lucky. I’ve been fortunate to have some previous relationships with some of the guys on the staff,” Rutenberg said.
Browns Set at Linebacker
On paper, Cleveland’s linebacker room is in good shape heading into 2026. Schwesinger is entrenched as the centerpiece after winning Defensive Rookie of the Year honors, leading the Browns with 156 tackles.
Alongside him is a familiar face for Rutenberg. The Browns signed Quincy Williams in free agency following the departure of Devin Bush. Rutenberg was Williams’ former position coach with the Jets and made the call to bring him aboard.
“That’s my dog. He’s like my brother,” Williams said. “First thing before we talk about football, the biggest thing is (Rutenberg) cares about the heart. The biggest thing, what I do off the field affects what I do on the field.”
Williams was a first-team All-Pro in 2023, posting 139 tackles, two sacks, two forced fumbles, one interception and 10 pass breakups in what remains the best season of his career. His 2025 was a step back, with Williams notching 83 tackles in 13 games.
The greater uncertainty hanging over the room concerns Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. The former Pro Bowler has not played since suffering a severe neck injury in a collision with Derrick Henry in October 2024. It is now considered “doubtful at best” that the 26-year-old will ever return to the field, per Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com.
“We are dealing with Jeremiah from month to month,” GM Andrew Berry said at the combine. “I’m not necessarily overly optimistic, but there isn’t a hard deadline where we have to make some type of binding decision.”
Owusu-Koramoah remains under contract through 2027 with $11 million guaranteed this season.