3 drafted players on defense playing for their Cleveland Browns future

These are the three Cleveland Browns that Andrew Berry needs to let go of.

The Cleveland Browns are one bad ref call away from being 1-3. The defense is among the worst in the league, even when healthy. The team has struggled to make plays against the worst offenses in the entire league. Baker Mayfield has struggled all year but took the Browns to task. Joe Flacco looked 10 years younger against the Browns, while the Pittsburgh Steelers actually put up points against the Browns.

Then the Atlanta Falcons beat the Browns by running the ball for most of the second half. Starting around three minutes left to go in the third quarter, the Falcons threw just three times, scoring 13 unanswered points to take the lead.

This wouldn’t have happened if the Cleveland Browns didn’t perpetually let go fo guys who could help them and opt not to invest in the defense in free agency. Somehow Andrew Berry thought just signing Jadeveon Clowney, an inconsistent and injury-prone player was all he needed to do to make this defense better.

Berry did finally cut one of his mistakes, Richard LeCounte, but he’s just one of many that need to go. These are the three of the other worst drafted decisions that he needs to rectify by 2023 if he wants to keep his job.

Three players drafted by the Cleveland Browns who need to go

Tommy Togiai

I liked this pick a lot. Boy, has he been a bust? Tommy Togiai was never a starter at Ohio State and didn’t really even play that much compared to other players taken in the 2021 NFL Draft. he’s among the worst players in the league against the run and is the lowest-graded player the Cleveland Browns have to offer. His inability to provide any relief against the Atlanta Falcons sealed the deal for him. If he were a 7th-round pick or even an undrafted free agent, maybe you hold onto him, keep him on the practice squad and bring him in later down the line. That’s not who he is and as a 4th round player, if you’re not playing well after two years, it’s time to move on and find someone who can.

Jacob Phillips

Joining Togiai in the “players who need to go” pile is Jacob Phillips. A third-round linebacker from LSU who has underperformed for going on three years now. Togiai was a project taken way too high, Phillips was a top-tier linebacker that many thought the Browns were able to “steal” by getting him when they did. He’s lost in space when he’s out there, and constantly over-pursue. Now, part of it isn’t on him. The defensive line is supposed to act as pseudo blockers, gobbling up gaps and pre-occupying the linemen in order for linebackers to make plays. The problem is, Phillips struggles even when the defensive line doesn’t.

Jordan Elliot

As mentioned above, the Browns are struggling right now because they are preoccupied with seeing what these young players can do, as opposed to getting players who can actually play the game. Jordan Elliot, as with the other two names on this team, has no business being on this team, let alone starting. The Browns are constantly passing up veteran talent who can produce in favor of cheaper, more inferior talents. Elliot gets moved off the ball like he’s on ice skates, and can’t make an impact on the opposing running game to save his life. Unlike the other two, Elliot is a slightly below-average pass-rusher, which is more than I can say for Togiai and Phillips.