Report: Browns cut OLB Paul Kruger as they make their way to 75 players

The Cleveland Browns didn’t wait to pull off their first big shocking cut of the summer. According to multiple local reports (first by Mary Kay Cabot of the Plain Dealer), the team is cutting starting outside linebacker Paul Kruger.

Kruger is coming off of a contentious season in which he was asked to drop back into coverage more by former defensive coordinator Jim O’Neil. After having a career-best 11 sacks in 2014, he had only 2.5 sacks in 2015, often motoring toward the right tackle to no avail.

This preseason, Kruger was not doing anything of note from a pass-rushing perspective and had a big whiff on an open-field tackle two weeks ago. It was one of those things where I thought, “I don’t think he’ll be cut, but with the way he’s playing, he looks like a below average player.”

For more details on the cap savings the Browns will get by cutting Kruger, and which players will fulfill his role in the starting lineup, check out our live blog / roster cuts tracker.

Kruger also posted the following statement on his release: