Browns: 4 defensive tackles the Browns can sign to bolster depth
By Chad Porto
Jurrell Casey
He went to five-straight Pro Bowls as a 3-4 defensive end and has a season of 10+ tackles as a traditional three-tackle. So why is Jurrell Casey still a free agent despite being a 2019 Pro Bowler? Injuries. Casey only played three games for the Broncos, after spending his entire career with the Titans. A torn biceps wrecked his year, and he was having a solid one. PFF gave his 2020 campaign a 74.4 for those three games. Clearly, he still had something left.
A torn biceps is also not that hard to come back from compared to that of a back, neck, or leg injury. So Casey should be able to return to form. There’s a risk with signing a 31-year-old player, sure, but that risk is offset with two simple thoughts.
The first, he’s still pretty good.
While the second makes even more sense; you don’t need him to be the focal point of the team defense. He’s an extra player. A nice tack-on that the Browns could get to help bolster the team. If he returns to form, then that’s just gravy. If he just plays well enough to warrant being part of the rotation? Great, he’s exactly what many thought he would be at this stage in his career.
No one should ask him to be the Myles Garrett-type on the line. What they need is someone who can simply do the job.