Ranking and grading each Browns player from the 2020 NFL Draft
By Chad Porto
![Cleveland Browns Donovan Peoples-Jones (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) Cleveland Browns Donovan Peoples-Jones (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/00ea51720543362d7e3e6892e5c5595f46ca51d2d8fb3cf7509f9332299d86dc.jpg)
7. DT Jordan Elliott – No. 90
- Drafted: Round 3, Pick 88
- 2020 PFF: 55.3
- 2020 Stats: 16 games, one start, 15 combined tackles
- 2021 PFF: 42.2
- 2021 Stats: 16 games, three starts, 0.5 sacks, 26 combined tackles
- Grade: F
- Career Stats: 32 games, four starts, 41 combined tackles, 0.5 sacks, four QB hits
Jordan Elliott was expected by many in the fandom and the media to push for a starter’s spot by his second year. When he came in, he was behind Sheldon Richardson and Larry Ogunjobi. The Cleveland Browns opted not to re-sign either man and decided to revamp their defensive tackles for the 2021 season.
Malik’s Jackson and McDowell and Andrew Billings were expected to compete with Elliott for playing time. The problem is that McDowell and Jackson edged out both Billings and Elliott to start the year, limiting Elliott’s time on the field, with him only cracking 50% of the defensive snaps five times in 2021.
Due to injuries and inefficient play from the core-four, the Browns released Billings, signed Sheldon Day, and promoted Tommy Togiai. While Day played well enough, Togiai struggled, which was mostly expected as he was seen as a project pick. Elliot wasn’t. They had nearly identical seasons according to PFF.
For Togiai it’s excusable, as he’s a rookie, for Elliot it wasn’t, as he declined significantly from his rookie to sophomore year. That’s bad enough, but he wasn’t exactly good as a rookie either. While you really don’t know the final product until year four, it looks like Elliot could soon be playing elsewhere.