Browns roster: Worst position group on the team needs help in free agency, NFL draft

Lack of talent is a major issue for the Browns roster

The Cleveland Browns had an issue stopping the run in 2024. They ended up 21^st in the league in run defense and allowed an average of 4.5 yards per carry. That means what is typical, after two plays the other team is facing a third-and-one.

RELATED: 6 FREE AGENTS BROWNS COULD PURSUE

The Browns’ defense was third worst in rushing touchdowns allowing 22 scores via the run. Cleveland allowed the most runs of 20+ yards. That’s dead last if you are keeping score. They allowed the second-most runs of 40+ yards. The fifth-longest touchdown romp of the year was against, who? The Browns. The lone shining light is Cleveland’s defense was ranked fourth in denying runs for first downs with a low 22.1%.

So, what gives? Why are the Browns so bad against stopping the run?

The truth, or would you prefer to be lied to? The actuality is that the defensive tackle group has issues, especially up the middle.

This year, this happened to this Cleveland defense numerous times. 152 yards against the Las Vegas Raiders. Baltimore had 124 yards followed by 220 in the season finale. Washington 215 yards. The New Orleans Saints put up 214 yards. Kansas City Chiefs had 132 yards.

Part of the problem is the 4-2-5 defense that DC Jim Schwartz would implement on occasion because it takes out a valued run-stopper at middle linebacker and instead inserts another defensive back – usually another safety. The two linebackers that remain are positioned in gaps instead of having center responsibility which will open run lanes.

The other issue with a porous middle is the players themselves.

Middle linebacker Jordan Hicks was signed as a monster tackler having five consecutive seasons with 100+ tackles including 150 in 2019. Yet, he only played in 12 games and recorded 78 total tackles which transpire to an average of just 6.5 tackles per game.

Next, and most importantly, is the defensive tackle group.

At the beginning of the 2023 free agency period, Browns GM Andrew Berry’s big splash was signing DT Dalvin Tomlinson (6’-3”, 325 pounds) away from the Minnesota Vikings to the tune of $57 million with a four-year deal. He had 49+ tackles in his first four years in the league, yet has tallied a mere 28 and 26 in his two seasons in Cleveland. Tomlinson did elevate some personal stats and had career highs this past year in pressures (20), knockdowns (14), and QB hits (18). But tackles in the run game are lacking.

At an average annual salary of $14.25 million, for the two seasons with the Browns Tomlinson is making $263,888 per tackle. Where is the application to apply for that job? In 2024, he only had three games in which he had three tackles while for the remainder of the schedule, he had fewer. Yeah, marinate on that for a second.

In film study, Tomlinson, age 30, is seen being pushed out of harm’s way regularly. He does not have a good bull rush. One of the issues coming out of college was that he needed to develop more pass-rush moves. That has yet to happen. He is not a great sack guy because he doesn’t get into the offensive backfield that often.

One of the best defensive tackles to be signed by Berry has been Shelby Harris (6’-2”, 288 pounds) who is 33 years old. His 2024 stats: 37 tackles, five tackles for loss, five QB hits, nine pressures, 1.5 sacks, nine pressures, three knockdowns, and four hurries. He played in just 14 games after an elbow injury in the Week 13 game against the Chiefs. He signed a two-year deal last year with an average of $4.5 million. 2025 is the final year of the agreement.

Mo Hurst (6’-2”, 290 pounds) has been a steady player for the Browns but has been plagued with injuries that have seen him miss games. When he is on the field, he plugs his gap. The problem is he missed nine games in 2024, and four in 2023. Before coming to Cleveland, he missed 15, six, one, and three games in his first four seasons. In his career, he has netted only 116 total tackles in six seasons.

This past season, Hurst was on a one-year deal worth $1.17 million.

Michael Dwumfour (6’-1”, 296 pounds) came to Cleveland in 2023 and was a last-day training camp cut. He then was part of three NFL rosters plus had a year in the UFL before being signed by the Browns for a second stint where he was placed on the practice squad and brought up for one game with just five snaps. Dwumfour had signed a one-year, $985,000 contract.

RELATED: LIST OF BROWNS FREE AGENTS

Out of these players, Hurst is an unrestricted free agent while Dwumfour is an exclusive-rights free agent.

Since Berry has taken control over the acquisition of players, there have been some big names that have been signed to solve the DT room.

In 2020, Andrew Billings was plucked from the Cincinnati Bengals to come in and become the main run-stopper. But he was one of the Browns opt-outs during the pandemic, and when he returned the following season, he was grossly overweight and out of shape. Malik McDowell was a former second-round selection and pick #35 of the Seattle Seahawks who had gotten in trouble with the law and served 11 months in jail. He was having a pretty good season with Cleveland in 2021 with 37 tackles, six QB hits, eight tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and seven pressures. In the off-season, McDowell was charged with public exposure, assaulting a police officer, and resisting arrest. He was last seen playing for an Arena team.

Taven Bryan was brought in during the 2022 off-season as a former first-round pick taken with the 29^th pick. He started 16 games with just 26 tackles and three sacks. Malik Jackson had Pro Bowl hardware plus a Super Bowl ring. Quinton Jefferson was a big-name signing but was released before completing his first year in Cleveland.

Rookie help

In last year’s draft, DT Michael Hall, Jr. (6’-3”, 300 pounds) of Ohio State was taken with the 54^th pick in the draft, round 2. Then in Round 7, Jowon Briggs, Jr. (6’-1”, 313 pounds) of Cincinnati was selected. Unlike in past drafts, no undrafted rookie free-agent DTs were signed.

Hall has good hustle and can occupy multiple blockers. He does lack closing speed and is a bit inconsistent with that first step and can be pushed out of traffic lanes using his body weight against him. He has an always-on motor with good power. Run support is his best attribute and the reason he was drafted plus is a hard worker who never takes plays off. After starting his rookie season on the commissioner’s exempt list, in the second half, he played quite a bit with 232 snaps and three starts to which he had 14 tackles, three tackles for loss, six QB hits, 11 pressures, four knockdowns, six hurries, and one sack.

Briggs had a roller-coaster rookie year. In high school, he was named his conference Defensive Player of the Year and voted All-State. Briggs had a ton of college offers and started as a freshman. As a senior, he had invites to the Hula Bowl and the East-West Shrine Bowl.

He was cut by the Browns on the last training camp cutdown and then signed to the practice squad. With injuries to both Hurst and Harris, Briggs was brought up to the main roster and played in six games. His stats: zero starts, 13 tackles, one tackle for loss, two QB hits, zero sacks, one forced fumble, two knockdowns, and two pressures. The knock on him is he doesn’t always shed blocks quickly enough. But he is a big-bodied rusher with great upper-body strength.

Outside help

What does the free agent market look like for defensive tackles? Glad you asked.

The top free agent DT prospect for 2025 is Osa Odighizuwa (6’-2”, 280 pounds) of the Dallas Cowboys. Not a huge sack guy although he did tally 4.5 this past season, which isn’t his strength. He is a run stopper plain and simple. He gains inside leverage by shooting gaps and is successful at this technique. Very aggressive defender with good awareness to track the ball and attack. Tough, competitive, and versatile in that he can be shifted outside if needed.

A former three-time champion high school wrestler, Odighizuwa, age 26, had 17 starts, and 47 tackles including five for loss, 23 QB hits, 33 pressures, 17 knockdowns, and 10 hurries with just two missed tackles. All of these stats scream him being disruptive in the offensive backfield.

He was drafted in the third-round whose cap hit last year was $3.38 million. In 2024, his pass-rush grade was 82.3 while his run-defense grade stood at 57.3. He is quietly one of the more underrated defenders across the NFL.

Milton Williams (6’-3”, 290 pounds) of the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles is rated the second-best DT in this year’s free agent market. The 25-year-old is considered one of the biggest risers in this year’s free agent market after a sterling performance in the Super Bowl. He has serious pass-rush juice and was a rotational DT which means he did not play every snap so the usual wear-and-tear isn’t an issue.

Not a flashy guy, but has great aggression with good awareness to track the ball. A very good tackler, Williams had 24 total tackles, seven tackles for loss, 10 QB hits, five sacks, four knockdowns, 12 pressures, two hurries, and three missed tackles in 2024. He played in all 17 games but had only seven starts with 501 snaps, which was 48% of defensive plays.

His run-defense grade was 54.5 while his pass-rush grade stood out at 81.2. Taken in the third round, his four-year deal is up to which his cap hit in 2024 was $3.39 million.

The third highest-ranked DT this year is Levi Onwuzurike (6’-3”, 290 pounds) of the Detroit Lions. The 26-year-old was taken in Round 2 in the 2021 NFL draft. In high school, he was named the Defensive Player of the Year for the Dallas area.

Onwuzurike played in 16 games with 10 starts and played 61% of defensive snaps (635). He had 28 total tackles, one tackle 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 is explosive for a defensive tackle with good acceleration. He isn’t seen as being overly powerful or strong so some time in the weight room should help. This past season his run-defense grade was 65.0 while the pass-rush grade was 67.8. He played 635 snaps which is 61% of defensive downs.

Other free agents include 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 forward

It is not like Berry hasn’t tried to solve the defensive tackle position. He has brought in quite a few free agents, drafted others, and signed several rookie free agents. Most have failed and this is the reason why this group is the weakest on the team.

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 Smart, Vincent Taylor, Sheldon Richardson, Roderick Perry, Taven Bryan, Daniel Ekuale, Chris Williams, Ricky Walker, Siaka Ika, Jeffery Whatley, Damion Square, David Moore, Quinton Jefferson, Jayden Peevy, and Michael Dwumfour.

That is a lot of bodies that have come through Berea to help solve the DT group but moved on. About half of the above list is on the roster of another NFL club, some are in the UFL, while the others are no longer in football.

Already this off-season, Berry inked Ralph Holley (6’-1”, 285 pounds). The 26-year-old had eight sacks for the Toronto Argonauts who won the CFL Grey Cup this year. Holley began the season on their practice squad and only started 12 games, but was a force once he began playing.

This year’s run-stopping center starting core to the defense could be without Myles Garrett. Most likely Berry will draft one or two pass-rushing defensive ends. Both could start and compete with Isaiah McGuire, Alex Wright, and Sam Kamara. Chew on that for a second.

---

Here are some DT prospects that align with where Cleveland drafts this year in each round:

Round 1, #2 (own): Mason Graham (6’-3”, 320 pounds) – Michigan

Round 2, #33 (own): Darius Alexander (6’-4”, 310 pounds) – Toledo

Round 3, #67 (own): Jordan Phillips (6’-3”, 320 pounds) – Maryland

Round 3, #94 (Bills from the Amari Cooper trade): Deone Walker (6’-6”, 345 pounds) – Kentucky

Round 4, #103 (own): Aeneas Peebles (6’-1”, 290 pounds) – Virginia Tech

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

Round 6, #181 (own): Tim Smith (6’-4”, 314 pounds) – Alabama

Round 6, #194 (Vikings from the Za’Darius Smith trade): Junior Tafuna (6’-3”, 308 pounds) – Utah

Round 6, #202 (Bears via the Dolphins from the Chris Williams trade): Cam Horsley (6’-4”, 306 pounds) – Boston College

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

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

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

---

Most likely on the inside will be Hall and Harris unless a pure stud is drafted.

Their backups could be Ralph Holley, who has barely played last year and is a third-year guy, and last year’s rookie Jowon Briggs. Or Maurice Hurst if he is re-signed.

Playoff teams are stout against the run in their interior. The Browns this year need to get better at stopping the run and right now have a lot of uncertainty with the interior defensive line.

This has been ongoing for three seasons now with very little continuity. Berry will need to do several things to address this group.

Is defensive tackle the worst position group on the Browns? You decide.