B.J. Goodson knew exactly what he was signing up for when he decided to join the Browns on a one-year deal in March.
Goodson, a four-year veteran, obviously would receive a chance to start with Cleveland and create an opportunity for a longer stay with the Browns beyond 2020.
He was also cognizant that, at age 26, he'll be the oldest and most experienced linebacker the Browns have on their roster.
That means he needs to be a mentor, regardless of the amount of playing time he'll receive.
"To get these guys better, including myself," Goodson said Thursday in a Zoom call with local reporters. It was a quick answer, too. Goodson didn't hesitate to put his mentorship role first when he was asked about his goals for next season.
"It's for us to be the best linebacking core across the league," he said. "That's my job, and that's why they brought me here. I'm looking forward to that and the talent."
The Browns linebackers have plenty of work to do if they want to attain that goal, but there's no shortage of promise. The group also includes 2019 draft picks Mack Wilson and Sione Takitaki and Jacob Phillips, a 2020 third-round pick. Each of them have a shot to be a Week 1 starter, but the youth is evident — the oldest player of the trio is Takitaki, and he's only 24.
Rounding out the group is Tae Davis, Montrel Meander, Willie Harvey and Jermaine Grace. Davis and Grace have a combined 51 games of experience, while Meander and Harvey have two games, both from Harvey last season.
Check out photos of linebacker B.J. Goodson
Green Bay Packers middle linebacker B.J. Goodson (93) looks on from the sidelines during the national anthem prior to an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2019, in Green Bay, Wis. The Eagles defeated the Packers, 34-27. (Ryan Kang via AP)
Clemson linebacker B J Goodson runs the 40 yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine, Sunday, Feb. 28, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Green Bay Packers middle linebacker B.J. Goodson (93) celebrates during the NFL NFC Championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020, in Santa Clara, Calif. The 49ers defeated the Packers, 37-20. (Ryan Kang via AP)
Green Bay Packers linebacker B.J. Goodson (93) urges the crowd to make noise prior to a kickoff during an NFL divisional playoff football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2020, in Green Bay, Wis. The Packers defeated the Seahawks 28-23. (Joe Robbins via AP)
New York Giants linebackers Keion Adams (45) and B.J. Goodson (93) walk into the stadium before a NFL preseason football game against the New England Patriots, Thursday Aug. 29, 2019 in Foxborough, Mass. The Giants defeated the Patriots 31-29. (Damian Strohmeyer via AP)
Green Bay Packers middle linebacker B.J. Goodson (93) waits on the snap during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
New York Giants linebacker B.J. Goodson talks to reporters during the team's NFL football organized team activities, Tuesday, May 29, 2018, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
New York Giants middle linebacker B.J. Goodson (93) runs during an NFL preseason football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019 in Cincinnati. The Giants defeated the Bengals 25-23. (Scott Boehm via AP)
New York Giants middle linebacker B.J. Goodson (93) waits to come onto the field before an NFL football game Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Giants linebacker B.J. Goodson (93) leaves the locker room before a week 16 NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday December 23, 2018 in Indianapolis. (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants linebacker B.J. Goodson (93) runs in pursuit during a week 4 NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Monday, Oct 3, 2016, in Minneapolis. The Vikings won 24-10. (Scott Boehm via AP)
Clemson's B.J. Goodson grabs the face mask of Alabama's Derrick Henry during the first half of the NCAA college football playoff championship game Monday, Jan. 11, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Boston College quarterback Tyler Murphy (2) scrambles out of the pocket as he is chased by Clemson linebacker B.J. Goodson (44) during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 18, 2014, in Boston. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)
New York Giants linebacker B.J. Goodson (93) celebrates a sack along with defensive linemen Damon Harrison Sr. (98), defensive lineman B.J. Hill (95) and defensive lineman Dalvin Tomlinson (94) during an NFL football game against the Houston Texans on Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018 in Houston. (Greg Trott via AP)
New York Giants outside linebacker B.J. Goodson (93) reaches for Cleveland Browns strong safety Ibraheim Campbell (24) during an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 27, 2016, in Cleveland. The Giants won 27-13. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Clemson linebacker B J Goodson runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine on Sunday, Feb. 28, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Clemson linebacker B J Goodson runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine on Sunday, Feb. 28, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
FILE - In this Nov. 14, 2015, file photo, Clemson’s B.J. Goodson tries to blocks a pass thrown by Syracuse’s Zack Mahoney in the third quarter of an NCAA college football game in Syracuse, N.Y. Clemson had lost eight starters off last year's No. 1 defense in the country. But the Tigers weren't too worried knowing linebackers B.J. Goodson and Ben Boulware were returning. (AP Photo/Nick Lisi, File)
Notre Dame's Will Fuller slices through the field while pressured by Clemson's B.J. Goodson during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015, in Clemson, S.C. Clemson won 24-22. (AP Photo/Richard Shiro)
It's one of the youngest linebacker rooms in the NFL, and from an experience perspective, Goodson is at the top of the totem pole. In 52 career games, he's made 160 tackles and two interceptions. Last season, he played in 15 games with the Green Bay Packers and recorded 37 tackles.
Goodson knows it won't just be linebackers coach Jason Tarver in charge of guiding the group. Tarver needs Goodson, too, and Goodson is ready to help in any way he can.
"That leadership role is something that you just inherit," Goodson said. "It is something that I am definitely looking forward to being an addition there for those guys."
The middle linebacker spot is Goodson's preferred position. It's where his skills have shined best in his career thus far, and it's also where he can be most effective as a communicator and mentor to the young talent around him at the position.
If Goodson is the starting middle linebacker in Week 1, he'll likely have two other linebackers around him as part of defensive coordinator Joe Woods' 4-3 scheme. The Mike position requires a leader — they're typically in charge of lining up teammates in the box — and that's why Goodson prefers it over the outside spots.
"It is where I see myself playing," he said. "I love the middle linebacker spot. To be able to call it and to be able to be on both sides on multiple plays, I love playing in the middle."
Goodson's role in the defense, however, is not solidified. He still has to earn a starting position, and there's a chance that one of the young players stands out in training camp and becomes the Week 1 starter.
That won't faze Goodson, though. He said the only competition he views is with himself. He's intricate in breaking his own game down and finding ways to get better.
"I compete with myself. That is my biggest opponent," Goodson said. "I compete with myself every single day. I know guys use that and say that a lot. The way that I visualize the game mentally and the way that I prepare for the game mentally, I go at myself a lot and dig into myself a lot."
For the next year, though, Goodson is also ready to dig into the other linebackers in the room.
Being a mentor isn't something Goodson, a fourth-round pick in 2016, has needed to do before, but he knew it was a requirement when he signed his name on a new contract at the beginning of the offseason.
There's a lot of work left, but Goodson's focus is sharp, and his goals are high.
"It was just a great opportunity here in Cleveland," Goodson said. "I definitely wanted to be here. The opportunity is a great one. That is just kind of how I saw that."
