Grading the Cleveland Browns signings of Maurice Hurst, Juan Thornhill and Trysten Hill

DT Trysten Hill

Since being drafted in 2019 by the Dallas Cowboys, Trysten Hill has had a rough NFL career. According to PFF, 2021 was arguably his best year all around. He struggled before that campaign, and his play wouldn’t improve much after ’21. In 2022 the DT-needy Cowboys released him due to inconsistent play. The Cowboys had a lot of defensive linemen, but not a lot they fully trusted. They’d try to trade Hill but couldn’t find a trade partner, for obvious reasons. He’d finish the year with the Arizona Cardinals and things didn’t get much better for him in the performance department.

His best qualities come in the pass-rushing department, a theme for all defensive linemen that Andrew Berry has signed so far in 2023. Will he be able to improve the Browns’ front four all-around play? Maybe, but I wouldn’t hold my breath.

Hill’s poor play isn’t his only issue, as he also has a history of dirty plays. He appeared to twist Chris Carson’s knee intentionally in a game against Seattle and then delivered a helmet-to-helmet shot to Russell Wilson. Not long after that game, he would get into a fistfight with then-Raiders offensive linemen John Simpson after the game had ended.

On top of all that, Hill also comes in with a rebuilt right knee, having torn his ACL. He also has a history of not being able to stay on the field before or after said knee injury. 2022 was the first time he broke 10 games played in one season.

He’s not a huge get for the Browns by any means, and while he’ll provide some depth, his biggest attribute for him is that he’s better than who the Browns currently have at the position. Which isn’t hard to be. The Browns now have six defensive tackles altogether, with Hill, Maurice Hurst, Delvin Tomlinson, Tommy Togiai, Jordan Elliot, and Perrion Winfrey.

Someone’s getting cut eventually.

Grade: D+