NFL free agency: Get to know new Browns DT Ralph Holley

Franchise is in need of DT talent, Ralph Holley has some upside coming out of the CFL

The Cleveland Browns have one area, among many, that is in great need of improvement: defensive tackle. Whether through NFL free agency, the NFL draft or both, new interior defenders will help.

This past season, teams were able to run up the middle. Part of that issue was that the defense ran the 4-2-5 quite a bit. This shifted the middle linebacker to the side and placed the other backer between the guard and tackle when each play began.

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This formed an alleyway in the center. To solve this, it was up to both defensive tackles to protect the middle of the defense.

Dalvin Tomlinson was one starter and became the only DT to remain healthy for the year. However, Tomlinson was continually pushed and shoved out of harm’s way. The other starter that began the season was Shelby Harris who started 13 games. His stats for the year were 37 total tackles, 1.5 sacks, five QB hits, one forced fumble, one batted pass, nine pressures, three knockdowns, and four hurries. Harris ended up on IR.

Maurice Hurst was slated as the main backup but only played eight games with two starts. He had an ankle injury in Week 1 against the Dallas Cowboys and was placed on IR. In the middle of October, he was activated. He finished the season with 16 total tackles, a half sack, one QB hit, and one pressure. Because of an arrest on domestic violence charges, rookie Michael Hall, Jr. was placed on the commissioner’s exempt list to start the season. He started six games with 14 total tackles, one sack, three tackles for loss, six QB hits, 11 pressures, four knockdowns, and six hurries.

Other players who got snaps at defensive tackles included Jowon Briggs, Quinton Jefferson, T.Y. McGill, and Michael Dwumfour.

Going forward, it is unclear if any of these players will return except for Hall. Tomlinson is still under contract having signed a four-year $57 million deal in March of 2023. That does not mean the Browns will keep him because of his low production. Harris has one year left with a cap hit of $2.778 million. Hurst was on a one-year deal worth $3.2 million.

Because of the state of the defensive tackle room, recently GM Andrew Berry signed a new guy for the room: Ralph Holley, Jr. of the Grey Cup Champions Toronto Argonauts.

Who is he? What does he bring to the Browns?

Beginnings

Holley (6’-1”, 285 pounds) grew up in West Bloomfield, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. He attended St. Mary’s Preparatory High School in nearby Orchard Lake, Michigan which is a northern suburb of Detroit. St. Mary’s is a Catholic school.

He played basketball, and football, and participated in track. He ran a 5.35 in the 40 which is expected for a big kid weighing at the time 270 pounds. His vertical jump was 28.4”. In track, he was a Two Time State Champion in the shot put.

At the end of his senior season, he was rated a three-star recruit. He was part of three State Championships while at St. Mary’s. He was named to the Detroit Free-Press First Team All-Area Team and voted to the Top-25 Detroit Area Team.

Holley was offered scholarships from Ball State, Bowling Green, Central Michigan, Kent State, Miami (OH), and chose to play at Western Michigan. Holley had an uncle who played college football at Western Kentucky University.

As a freshman, he played instead of being redshirted and appeared in five games. In his sophomore season, he played in the first two games and then became the starter for the remaining 11 contests. In his playing time, he had seven sacks along with 10 tackles for loss. He was the MAC West Defensive Player of the Week one week and named Academic All-MAC.

In his junior year, he started all 13 games. Holley totaled 38 total tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, and one QB pressure. As a senior, the pandemic shortened the season to just six games which Holley started all six. He led the team with 9.0 tackles for loss while totaling 29 tackles and three sacks. His Pro Football Focus was 90.6 in the pass-rushing category.

His college career totals: 35 starts, 50 games played, 138 total tackles, 45.5 tackles for loss, 20.5 sacks, five batted passes, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery. He was invited to play in the Hula Bowl.

On to pro football

The 2022 NFL draft and went. Holley did not hear his name called. He was also omitted from the Canadian Football League draft. He was invited to attend Chicago Bears rookie minicamp in early May and was one of 36 unsigned rookies to attend taking part on a tryout basis, hoping to earn a contract. After the three-day event, Holley wasn’t signed to a training camp contract.

His Western Michigan teammate DE Eric Assoua was drafted in the fourth round of the USFL draft, but Holley wasn’t selected in this league either. However, he was signed by the Philadelphia Stars. His stats for the 2022 USFL season were four starts with nine total tackles, one sack, and no other stats.

In 2023 he again played for the starts. He had three starts with three total tackles and was ranked the #25 athlete along the defensive line.

After the 2023 USFL season had concluded, the Argonauts signed him but he didn’t play. However, the Argos retained his rights and he was invited to 2024 training camp.

This past season, Holley began the season on Toronto’s practice roster before injuries landed him on the active roster and then the starting lineup. He played in 16 games with 13 starts. He was part of a defensive front that terrorized the league. Toronto’s defense led the CFL with 48 sacks.

Holley excelled at getting to the quarterback with nine sacks playing at nose tackle.

The Montreal Alouettes had the CFL’s best record with a 12-5-1 record with Toronto taking second place at 10-8-0. In the playoffs, Toronto defeated the Ottawa Redblacks 58-38 and then Montreal in the Division Finals 30-28.

This set up the Argos against the Western Division champion Winnipeg Blue Bombers (11-7-0) in the 111^th Grey Cup. Winnipeg held a 10-9 halftime lead. In the second half, Toronto had a punt return for a touchdown plus a pick-six that added to four touchdowns to win 41-24.

So, Holley has won six championships: three in high school football, two in high school track, and one in professional football.

After the Grey Cup win, Holley was still under contract with Toronto for the 2025 season. However, he was able to sign with an NFL club this offseason through the clause provided in all CFL player agreements.

On January 6, Holley worked out for the Minnesota Vikings. The following day he was in New Orleans for a workout with the Saints. He also had workouts with the Atlanta Falcons, Tennessee Titans, Cincinnati Bengals, and Pittsburgh Steelers.

On Monday, January 13, he signed with the Browns.

It’s not like signing a guy from another league is new. In 2022, the Browns signed DE Chris Odom who was the USFL’s Defensive Player of the Year who played for the Houston Gamblers and wreaked total havoc on opposing offensive lines in that league. In training camp, he became injured when he tore his ACL and spent the entire season on IR. He was later released and never played a single game for Cleveland.

One attribute about Holley is that he is a very intelligent person. He finally had a great season to prove he belongs in this league and will bring his game to training camp.

One thing is certain: the defensive line group needs all the help it can get.