Joe Schobert: No contract offer from the Browns yet ‘but in my perfect world, I’d be in Cleveland’

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Browns linebacker Joe Schobert is in the midst of arguably his best season in Cleveland, and he’s hoping it’s not his last.

In the final year of his rookie contract, Schobert is due to become an unrestricted free agent in March unless the Browns extend him first.

“I let my agent handle all this kind of stuff, but my understanding is we haven’t gotten any offers so can’t really build on it from there,’’ he said.

If he has his druthers, however, he’ll remain with the Browns and finish what he started when he was drafted in the fourth round of the 2016 draft out of Wisconsin.

“My No. 1 priority is to play the season out and do the best of my abilities and control what I can control,’’ said Schobert, the Browns starting middle linebacker. “I can’t really control what’s going on, what’s being said upstairs to my agent and them. I trust my agent. He’s going to do what’s best for me. I trust the Browns are going to do what’s best for the organization. In my perfect world, yeah, I’d be in Cleveland.’’

On Saturday, the Panthers reached a four-year, $54 million extension with linebacker Shaq Thompson, including $28 million guaranteed.

“My agent texted me after that contract came out,’’ Schobert said. “Obviously playing as a linebacker in the NFL you like to see stuff like that especially when you’re in that similar situation but it’s a different scenario, different teams.’’

Schobert, playing at a Pro Bowl clip, leads the Browns and the AFC with 103 tackles, and is tied for seventh in the NFL. A former high school part-time receiver, he’s also added a career-high four interceptions to his repertoire this season, grabbing two in back-to-back games this season to become the sixth linebacker in NFL history to accomplish the feat, and the first since Cato June in 2005.

With Pro Bowl fan voting underway, Schobert is hoping for a return to the game he played in in 2017 and missed out on in 2018 despite another good year.

“Going to the Pro Bowl was great,’’ he said. “It was a paid vacation. Had a lot of fun down there with he family, always want to go back any opportunity I can so obviously voting is going on. It’s a social vote, fans vote. I’ve tried to push for me and other guys on defense for the Browns to get there because it was a great experience. I’d want anybody who deserves it to be there to be able to experience it. I guess you’ve got to see what happens. Can’t get too caught up in it though.’’

Schobert acknowledged he’s having one of his best years, if not the best.

“Over the course of the season, my body’s held up great, mentally prepare the same way every week and been playing at a similar level,’’ he said.

He’s hoping to keep it going here.