3 Bills the Cleveland Browns should look at in free agency

DT Justin Zimmer – 2021 PFF 63.6

Justin Zimmer and Harrison Phillips are both expiring defensive tackles, but are also both vastly different types of players. Phillips is a reliable, play-making type guy, while Zimmer is a solid starter or potential rotational backup. They offer vastly different levels of need, though the Cleveland Browns do have a need for both types of players.

You can’t just sign great talent and have them sit on the bench or be rotational guys. Financially it wouldn’t make sense and let’s be real, there are egos at play. Zimmer is, at best, a third defensive tackle on a good team. That’s not a knock, teams need third defensive tackles to rotate into games.

That’s what Zimmer is, and that’s what the Browns would need him to be. If you get Zimmer, you’ll need to go get some other guys to actually start. If the Browns sign Zimmer and break camp with him as the starter, then the team really didn’t do their due diligence to improve the position.

That doesn’t mean he’s not worth giving a shot to, it just means don’t hang your hopes on him alone.