The Cleveland Browns still need one more defensive tackle to solidify the defense.
The Cleveland Browns seem pretty secure with what they’re going into 2023 with, at least on defense. There are question marks for sure. The secondary could be elite, or really bad depending on how the new additions in free agency go. Not to mention Greg Newsome’s status with the team may affect his play, and Denzel Ward could always get hurt, again.
The linebacking corp is fine, assuming everyone returns to form, but another, younger player wouldn’t hurt to have.
The defensive ends are set. They have two studs in Myles Garrett and Za’Darius Smith, with some decent, yet overpaid backups. The defensive tackles could be the best crop of guys they’ve had since Andrew Berry arrived, assuming some fat is trimmed to make room for real talent.
And that, right there, is the one place where the Browns need to still do some work. Everywhere else on the defense is either secured or in the wait-and-see phase of things. Yet, the defensive tackles are pretty much-known commodities at this point. Jordan Elliot isn’t an NFL starter, and Tommy Togiai may make the team due to his salary. Perrion Winfrey was utterly disappointing on and off the field last year and his recent troubles could get him cut.
Frankly, the team could cut those three guys sooner than expected and I don’t think many people will care. The Browns have some talent at the position, Dalvin Tomlinson was signed and has a huge upside. He may be the best player the Browns have had at the position in years. Then there’s rookie Siaki Ika, who has upside but is an unknown commodity.
The team could always re-sign Sheldon Richardson, but that seems like a huge mistake to make. But the Browns need another veteran they can rely on to help make this thing work. Using NFL Trade Rumors’ Top 100 remaining free agents list, we’re going to look at all three of the defensive tackles that they listed and see if there’s one we’d like at the right price.
Akiem Hicks
The Cleveland Browns like size at the defensive tackle position, and right now Akiem Hicks is the best option from the Top 100 list for that. He’s huge and rivals Siaki Ika. While Ika is over 350 lbs, Hicks is a bit off, at just 324 pounds, but still, that’s a sizeable increase over the crop the Browns have had over the last few years.
But is he worth a spot on the team?
Well, during his prime, Hicks was a Pro Bowl-caliber player with a great ability to get after the quarterback from inside, and that was highly useful. Now, however, at 34, he’s not the same athlete he was. In 11 games with Tampa Bay, all of which were starts, he only mustered one sack.
But what about his ability to stop the run? He did fine there, at least according to PFF. The advanced metrics site gave him a score of 65.7, which is respectable.
And truthfully, looking at his work over the last few years, he’s been a good player until this past year. At least according to PFF. Now you could gamble on him, and see if he’s going to return to form and it’s possible he does. But at 34, and with his best years probably behind him, he’s not a guy you invest money in at this point. At least barring injury.
Chris Wormley
Sticking with a more sizeable option for the Cleveland Browns is former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle, Chris Wormley. Wormley has played all over the defensive line, lining up as a defensive end in the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens’ 3-4 defenses. While a different position, technically, they have nearly the same assignments, so Wormley could easily come in and play tackle for the Browns.
He’s got the talent to do big things, when given the chance with the Steelers in 2021, he had seven sacks in 15 games. By no means is he Aaron Donald, but he’s clearly got the ability to generate pressure. We should also note that PFF didn’t give him a strong set of scores for 2021, with just a 59.1 pass-rush grade.
So clearly PFF didn’t see a lot of value in his pass-rush skills. What he seemingly lacks in consistent pass-rushing abilities he makes for by being a very solid run-stopper. He’s not posted a score lower than 69.0 against the run in the last four years, and last year he had a score of 79.0, which is very good.
The Browns had a rough 2022 against the run, so getting some more help to bolster that issue isn’t a bad thing.
He, like the rest of the names on this list, won’t be a long-term option at the position but if he can help the Browns bolster their run defense for 2023, then he can at least hang around for a potential playoff run.
Matt Ioannidis
The idea behind signing a defensive tackle is to make sure that the Cleveland Browns’ front four is as sound as possible. Not just against the pass but against the run as well. For the others on this list, that’s what we’re hoping happens. That if they get signed they come in and bolster the defense, but Matt Ioannidis wouldn’t help in that area.
At least, he hasn’t, historically. No, instead Matt Ioannidis is the perfect player to add even more pass-rushing to the team. Ioannidis has a history of chasing after the quarterback and registering the stats to back that up.
From 2017 to 2019, he had 20.5 sacks combined, all in the Washington Commanders’ 3-4 defense. He can clearly get after the quarterback, and at 6’3, 305 lbs, he’s big enough to block up some gaps in the Wide 9 that Jim Schwartz runs.
He’s not young, like with everyone on this list, he’s pushing 30, but he may be able to take advantage of the situation the Browns find themselves in. With two studs at the ends and a large body next to him, Ioannidis may be able to return to the form he had in 2019.
By no means is he a Pro Bowler, but if he can add another five to seven sacks to the team’s stat line, then the Browns’ pass rush may be good enough to take the team deep into the playoffs.