Despite his age, Al Woods may be a nice fit for the Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns could use Al Woods, even if he’s a bit older.

The Cleveland Browns need someone in the front four of their defense who can collapse a line and stop a running back from getting easy yards. Despite the signing of Dalvin Tomlinson, the Browns don’t have that. Not just at defensive tackle, they don’t have that guy anywhere on their defensive line. They don’t have one guy who you can point to and say “I know he’ll get behind the line of scrimmage and tackle a running back.”

They need that guy and they might get him in the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft. They also might get him in free agnet Al Woods, a defensive tackle known for his run-defense prowess. The most recent former Seattle Seahawk player has been around the league with stops in Tampa Bay, Seattle, Pittsburgh, Tennesee, Indianapolis, and once again Seattle.

Never one for gaudy stats, Woods became a vaunted and sought-after piece of various defenses due to his ability to stop the run. While he’s only started 78 games in his career, he’s played in 155 and usually puts up great grades against the run according to PFF.

There’s just one problem, his 2022 was average at best and he’s turning 36. So does Woods make sense for the Browns in 2023 despite his age and probable declining play?

Al Woods would fit well with the Cleveland Browns

The Browns lack a player of Woods’ talents, and while he’s far from the perfect player to sign, he does fill a hole in the Browns’ defense that no one else has been able to historically. Sure, someone might step up in 2023 and buck expectations, but that’s not a smart philosophy to have. The Browns need someone with some historical relevance in the area of blocking up gaps.

Woods can do that and while he’s as old as some coaches in the NFL and nearly as old as the Browns’ newest coach, Raymond Ventrone, the Browns aren’t looking for long-term solutions. They have a two, maybe a three year window to win.

Woods could, in theory, help them do just that. Sure, he’s old, but Woods is known for the one thing the Browns need out of its front-four and even if he isn’t what he was, he’s probably better than what the Browns have already. So why not give him a shot?