Ranking and grading every defensive linemen on the Cleveland Browns ahead of training camp

It’s time to break down the defensive line of the Cleveland Browns.

The rookies of the Cleveland Browns and other NFL teams are reporting to camp this week, starting off a painfully long waiting process that will last to the start of the season in nearly two months’ time. We’ve been using this time to break down the positions of the Browns, starting with the receivers, tight ends, running backs, quarterbacks, and most recently the offensive line.

Now it’s time for the defense. I thought about doing the tackles and ends separately but I did the offensive line together, so I’ll do the defensive line together as well. Tomorrow will be the linebackers, the secondary will be on Thursday with special teams and coaching finishing us off on Friday.

With that said, the Browns’ defensive line is anchored by a future Hall of Famer, and…that’s about it. There’s a lot of potentials, especially at the tackle positions, but as they say; potential gets you fired.

Now, onto the boilerplate stuff; if you’re new, the below will help you understand the grading better and if you’re not, you can skip the rest and move on to the defensive tackles’ gradings and rankings.

The below grades are intended for individual talent evaluations only. Letter grades are given “+” or “-” to determine exactly where they rank among others in that grade. For instance, an A- is a Pro Bowler, an “A” is your top-of-the-class, All-Pro type, while an “A+” is for your guys playing at a Hall of Fame level.

• INC – Given to expected practice squad players with little-to-no tape on them
• F –expected to be out of the league before the end of his rookie contract
• D – practice squad guy
• C – could get minutes as a backup
• B – starter
• A – among the league’s best

Positional grades are more optics related. In that regard here’s how that would break down;

• F – Position is a determinate to the team and talent is needed.
• D – Not a very talented group/too many unknowns.
• C – League average, can win with them but will also lose with them.
• B- A strength on the team.
• A – Among the league’s very best.

I want to stress these aren’t season-ending grades or evaluations. Depending on seasonal production, I expect some of these grades to go up or down. This is merely establishing a baseline for expectations.