5 free agent defensive linemen that Cleveland Browns need to target in 2022
By John Suchan
The Cleveland Browns have a lot to figure out this offseason including trying to sign a few defensive tackles in the free agency market.
With the news of the Cleveland Browns defensive tackle Malik McDowell having personal issues off the football field this past week down in Florida, it was another reminder that the Browns need to really focus on that part of the team more during this offseason either via free agency or the NFL draft. McDowell will likely not be part of the Browns future going forward — in fact, his career in the NFL is probably over too after the Browns tried to give him an opportunity this past season.
There are a couple of other defensive linemen that likely won’t be returning either in Malik Jackson and Sheldon Day. Both players are free agents and that leaves the Browns with two defensive tackles in Jordan Elliott and Tommy Togiai probably returning.
One issue the defense dealt with this past season was shutting down the run by their opponents. It wasn’t awful, as the team ranked in the middle of the pack as they were 13th against the run. But if they want to reach the playoffs again, they’re going to have to be even better.
Cleveland will have to reboot again on the defensive side of the ball. They’ll have Myles Garrett back on the outside of the defensive line and seem to want to find a way to re-sign Jadeveon Clowney, another talented free agent. Takk McKinley is also a free agent and he suffered a season-ending injury so his return to the team next year seems unlikely.
There is a very healthy list of free-agent defensive tackles that will be available. Who the Browns target will be interesting to track? The team needs to upgrade over who they had in there this past season. Several highly paid tackles will be free to sign elsewhere. While there are also cheaper players for the team to go after. Let’s take a look at a few possible options.