Browns roster: Worst place group on the crew wants assist in free company, NFL draft

The Cleveland Browns had a difficulty stopping the run in 2024. They ended up twenty first within the league in run protection and allowed a mean of 4.5 yards per carry. Meaning what’s typical, after two performs the opposite crew is dealing with a third-and-one.

RELATED: 6 FREE AGENTS BROWNS COULD PURSUE

The Browns’ protection was third worst in dashing touchdowns permitting 22 scores by way of the run. Cleveland allowed probably the most runs of 20+ yards. That’s useless final if you’re maintaining rating. They allowed the second-most runs of 40+ yards. The fifth-longest landing romp of the yr was towards, who? The Browns. The lone shining gentle is Cleveland’s protection was ranked fourth in denying runs for first downs with a low 22.1%.

So, what provides? Why are the Browns so unhealthy towards stopping the run?

The reality, or would you favor to be lied to? The reality is that the defensive sort out group has points, particularly up the center.

This yr, this occurred to this Cleveland protection quite a few occasions. 152 yards towards the Las Vegas Raiders. Baltimore had 124 yards adopted by 220 within the season finale. Washington 215 yards. The New Orleans Saints put up 214 yards. Kansas Metropolis Chiefs had 132 yards.

A part of the issue is the 4-2-5 protection that DC Jim Schwartz would implement now and again as a result of it takes out a valued run-stopper at center linebacker and as a substitute inserts one other defensive again – often one other security. The 2 linebackers that stay are positioned in gaps as a substitute of getting middle accountability which is able to open run lanes.

The opposite concern with a porous center is the gamers themselves.

Center linebacker Jordan Hicks was signed as a monster tackler having 5 consecutive seasons with 100+ tackles together with 150 in 2019. But, he solely performed in 12 video games and recorded 78 complete tackles which transpire to a mean of simply 6.5 tackles per sport.

Subsequent, and most significantly, is the defensive sort out group.

DT Dalvin Tomlinson

Photograph by Scott Taetsch/Getty Photos

In the beginning of the 2023 free company interval, Browns GM Andrew Berry’s huge splash was signing DT Dalvin Tomlinson (6’-3”, 325 kilos) away from the Minnesota Vikings to the tune of $57 million with a four-year deal. He had 49+ tackles in his first 4 years within the league, but has tallied a mere 28 and 26 in his two seasons in Cleveland. Tomlinson did elevate some private stats and had profession highs this previous yr in pressures (20), knockdowns (14), and QB hits (18). However tackles within the run sport are missing.

At a mean annual wage of $14.25 million, for the 2 seasons with the Browns Tomlinson is making $263,888 per sort out. The place is the applying to use for that job? In 2024, he solely had three video games during which he had three tackles whereas for the rest of the schedule, he had fewer. Yeah, marinate on that for a second.

In movie research, Tomlinson, age 30, is seen being pushed out of hurt’s approach commonly. He doesn’t have bull rush. One of many points popping out of school was that he wanted to develop extra pass-rush strikes. That has but to occur. He isn’t an important sack man as a result of he doesn’t get into the offensive backfield that always.

Probably the greatest defensive tackles to be signed by Berry has been Shelby Harris (6’-2”, 288 kilos) who’s 33 years previous. His 2024 stats: 37 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 5 QB hits, 9 pressures, 1.5 sacks, 9 pressures, three knockdowns, and 4 hurries. He performed in simply 14 video games after an elbow damage within the Week 13 sport towards the Chiefs. He signed a two-year deal final yr with a mean of $4.5 million. 2025 is the ultimate yr of the settlement.

Mo Hurst (6’-2”, 290 kilos) has been a gradual participant for the Browns however has been plagued with accidents which have seen him miss video games. When he’s on the sector, he plugs his hole. The issue is he missed 9 video games in 2024, and 4 in 2023. Earlier than coming to Cleveland, he missed 15, six, one, and three video games in his first 4 seasons. In his profession, he has netted solely 116 complete tackles in six seasons.

This previous season, Hurst was on a one-year deal price $1.17 million.

DT Michael Dwumfour

Photograph by Nick Cammett/Diamond Photos by way of Getty Photos

Michael Dwumfour (6’-1”, 296 kilos) got here to Cleveland in 2023 and was a last-day coaching camp lower. He then was a part of three NFL rosters plus had a yr within the UFL earlier than being signed by the Browns for a second stint the place he was positioned on the follow squad and introduced up for one sport with simply 5 snaps. Dwumfour had signed a one-year, $985,000 contract.

RELATED: LIST OF BROWNS FREE AGENTS

Out of those gamers, Hurst is an unrestricted free agent whereas Dwumfour is an exclusive-rights free agent.

Since Berry has taken management over the acquisition of gamers, there have been some huge names which were signed to unravel the DT room.

In 2020, Andrew Billings was plucked from the Cincinnati Bengals to come back in and change into the primary run-stopper. However he was one of many Browns opt-outs in the course of the pandemic, and when he returned the next season, he was grossly obese and out of practice. Malik McDowell was a former second-round choice and choose #35 of the Seattle Seahawks who had gotten in hassle with the regulation and served 11 months in jail. He was having a fairly good season with Cleveland in 2021 with 37 tackles, six QB hits, eight tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and 7 pressures. Within the low season, McDowell was charged with public publicity, assaulting a police officer, and resisting arrest. He was final seen taking part in for an Enviornment crew.

DT Taven Bryan #99

Photograph by Lee Coleman/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photos

Taven Bryan was introduced in in the course of the 2022 low season as a former first-round choose taken with the twenty ninth choose. He began 16 video games with simply 26 tackles and three sacks. Malik Jackson had Professional Bowl {hardware} plus a Tremendous Bowl ring. Quinton Jefferson was a big-name signing however was launched earlier than finishing his first yr in Cleveland.

Rookie assist

In final yr’s draft, DT Michael Corridor, Jr. (6’-3”, 300 kilos) of Ohio State was taken with the 54th choose within the draft, spherical 2. Then in Spherical 7, Jowon Briggs, Jr. (6’-1”, 313 kilos) of Cincinnati was chosen. In contrast to in previous drafts, no undrafted rookie free-agent DTs have been signed.

Corridor has good hustle and may occupy a number of blockers. He does lack closing velocity and is a bit inconsistent with that first step and may be pushed out of site visitors lanes utilizing his physique weight towards him. He has an always-on motor with good energy. Run help is his greatest attribute and the explanation he was drafted plus is a tough employee who by no means takes performs off. After beginning his rookie season on the commissioner’s exempt checklist, within the second half, he performed fairly a bit with 232 snaps and three begins to which he had 14 tackles, three tackles for loss, six QB hits, 11 pressures, 4 knockdowns, six hurries, and one sack.

Dalvin Tomlinson #94 and Jowon Briggs #97

Photograph by Nick Cammett/Diamond Photos by way of Getty Photos

Briggs had a roller-coaster rookie yr. In highschool, he was named his convention Defensive Participant of the 12 months and voted All-State. Briggs had a ton of school gives and began as a freshman. As a senior, he had invitations to the Hula Bowl and the East-West Shrine Bowl.

He was lower by the Browns on the final coaching camp cutdown after which signed to the follow squad. With accidents to each Hurst and Harris, Briggs was introduced as much as the primary roster and performed in six video games. His stats: zero begins, 13 tackles, one sort out for loss, two QB hits, zero sacks, one pressured fumble, two knockdowns, and two pressures. The knock on him is he doesn’t at all times shed blocks shortly sufficient. However he’s a big-bodied rusher with nice upper-body energy.

Exterior assist

What does the free agent market seem like for defensive tackles? Glad you requested.

The highest free agent DT prospect for 2025 is Osa Odighizuwa (6’-2”, 280 kilos) of the Dallas Cowboys. Not an enormous sack man though he did tally 4.5 this previous season, which isn’t his energy. He’s a run stopper plain and easy. He features inside leverage by taking pictures gaps and is profitable at this system. Very aggressive defender with good consciousness to trace the ball and assault. Robust, aggressive, and versatile in that he may be shifted outdoors if wanted.

DT Osa Odighizuwa #97

Photograph by Wesley Hitt/Getty Photos

A former three-time champion highschool wrestler, Odighizuwa, age 26, had 17 begins, and 47 tackles together with 5 for loss, 23 QB hits, 33 pressures, 17 knockdowns, and 10 hurries with simply two missed tackles. All of those stats scream him being disruptive within the offensive backfield.

He was drafted within the third-round whose cap hit final yr was $3.38 million. In 2024, his pass-rush grade was 82.3 whereas his run-defense grade stood at 57.3. He’s quietly one of many extra underrated defenders throughout the NFL.

Milton Williams (6’-3”, 290 kilos) of the Tremendous Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles is rated the second-best DT on this yr’s free agent market. The 25-year-old is taken into account one of many greatest risers on this yr’s free agent market after a sterling efficiency within the Tremendous Bowl. He has critical pass-rush juice and was a rotational DT which suggests he didn’t play each snap so the standard wear-and-tear isn’t a difficulty.

Not a flashy man, however has nice aggression with good consciousness to trace the ball. An excellent tackler, Williams had 24 complete tackles, seven tackles for loss, 10 QB hits, 5 sacks, 4 knockdowns, 12 pressures, two hurries, and three missed tackles in 2024. He performed in all 17 video games however had solely seven begins with 501 snaps, which was 48% of defensive performs.

His run-defense grade was 54.5 whereas his pass-rush grade stood out at 81.2. Taken within the third spherical, his four-year deal is as much as which his cap hit in 2024 was $3.39 million.

DT Levi Onwuzurike #91

Photograph by Christian Petersen/Getty Photos

The third highest-ranked DT this yr is Levi Onwuzurike (6’-3”, 290 kilos) of the Detroit Lions. The 26-year-old was taken in Spherical 2 within the 2021 NFL draft. In highschool, he was named the Defensive Participant of the 12 months for the Dallas space.

Onwuzurike performed in 16 video games with 10 begins and performed 61% of defensive snaps (635). He had 28 complete tackles, one sort out for loss, 13 QB hits, 1.5 sacks, 22 pressures, 11 knockdowns, and eight hurries with two missed tackles. His cap hit was $2.59 million.

He’s explosive for a defensive sort out with good acceleration. He isn’t seen as being overly highly effective or robust so a while within the weight room ought to assist. This previous season his run-defense grade was 65.0 whereas the pass-rush grade was 67.8. He performed 635 snaps which is 61% of defensive downs.

Different free brokers embrace B.J. Hill (Bengals), Calais Campbell (Dolphins), Jarran Reed (Seahawks), Poona Ford (Chargers), Tershawn Wharton (Chiefs), Teair Tart (Chargers), and D.J. Jones (Broncos).

Going ahead

It’s not like Berry hasn’t tried to unravel the defensive sort out place. He has introduced in fairly just a few free brokers, drafted others, and signed a number of rookie free brokers. Most have failed and that is the explanation why this group is the weakest on the crew.

Perrion Winfrey, Tommy Togiai, Josiah Bronson, Glen Logan, Joey Ivie, Sheldon Day, Trysten Hill, Malik Jackson, Tyeler Davison, Andrew Billings, Ben Stille, Jordan Elliott, Justin Zimmer, Malik McDowell, Brandin Bryant, Larry Ogunjobi, Tanzel Sensible, Vincent Taylor, Sheldon Richardson, Roderick Perry, Taven Bryan, Daniel Ekuale, Chris Williams, Ricky Walker, Siaka Ika, Jeffery Whatley, Damion Sq., David Moore, Quinton Jefferson, Jayden Peevy, and Michael Dwumfour.

That’s loads of our bodies which have come by Berea to assist remedy the DT group however moved on. About half of the above checklist is on the roster of one other NFL membership, some are within the UFL, whereas the others are not in soccer.

DT Ralph Holley #99

Photograph by Steve Russell/Toronto Star by way of Getty Photos

Already this low season, Berry inked Ralph Holley (6’-1”, 285 kilos). The 26-year-old had eight sacks for the Toronto Argonauts who received the CFL Gray Cup this yr. Holley started the season on their follow squad and solely began 12 video games, however was a drive as soon as he started taking part in.

This yr’s run-stopping middle beginning core to the protection could possibly be with out Myles Garrett. Most probably Berry will draft one or two pass-rushing defensive ends. Each may begin and compete with Isaiah McGuire, Alex Wright, and Sam Kamara. Chew on that for a second.

Listed below are some DT prospects that align with the place Cleveland drafts this yr in every spherical:

Spherical 1, #2 (personal): Mason Graham (6’-3”, 320 kilos) – Michigan

Spherical 2, #33 (personal): Darius Alexander (6’-4”, 310 kilos) – Toledo

Spherical 3, #67 (personal): Jordan Phillips (6’-3”, 320 kilos) – Maryland

DT Deone Walker

Spherical 3, #94 (Payments from the Amari Cooper commerce): Deone Walker (6’-6”, 345 kilos) – Kentucky

Spherical 4, #103 (personal): Aeneas Peebles (6’-1”, 290 kilos) – Virginia Tech

Spherical 5, #165 (traded to the Vikings as a part of the Za’Darius Smith commerce): C.J. West (6’-2”, 317 kilos) – Indiana

Spherical 6, #181 (personal): Tim Smith (6’-4”, 314 kilos) – Alabama

Spherical 6, #194 (Vikings from the Za’Darius Smith commerce): Junior Tafuna (6’-3”, 308 kilos) – Utah

Spherical 6, #202 (Bears by way of the Dolphins from the Chris Williams commerce): Cam Horsley (6’-4”, 306 kilos) – Boston Faculty

Spherical 6, #216 (Compensatory): Cam’Ron Jackson (6’-6”, 342 kilos) – Florida

Spherical 6, #217 (Compensatory): Ty Robinson (6’-6”, 310 kilos) – Nebraska

Spherical 7, #257 (Compensatory): Tonka Hemingway (6’-3”, 288 kilos) – South Carolina

Most probably on the within will likely be Corridor and Harris except a pure stud is drafted.

Their backups could possibly be Ralph Holley, who has barely performed final yr and is a third-year man, and final yr’s rookie Jowon Briggs. Or Maurice Hurst if he’s re-signed.

Playoff groups are stout towards the run of their inside. The Browns this yr have to get higher at stopping the run and proper now have loads of uncertainty with the inside defensive position.

This has been ongoing for 3 seasons now with little or no continuity. Berry might want to do a number of issues to deal with this group.

Is defensive sort out the worst place group on the Browns? You resolve.