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Sabermetric value analysis of Cleveland Browns defensive players

By Elliot Kennel

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - AUGUST 17: Sheldon Richardson #98 of the Cleveland Browns watches action during a preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on August 17, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - AUGUST 17: Sheldon Richardson #98 of the Cleveland Browns watches action during a preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on August 17, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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DENVER, CO – DECEMBER 15: Running back Phillip Lindsay #30 of the Denver Broncos is wrapped up by defensive end Myles Garrett #95 of the Cleveland Browns on a first quarter ruch attempt at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on December 15, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – DECEMBER 15: Running back Phillip Lindsay #30 of the Denver Broncos is wrapped up by defensive end Myles Garrett #95 of the Cleveland Browns on a first quarter ruch attempt at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on December 15, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /

Analysis and Commentary

The value numbers look bad at the player level, which is what we should expect given the team is currently 2-4 with one of the highest active payrolls in the NFL (at this instant in time there is very little difference between the Browns, San Francisco 49ers and New York Jets, all of whom are right around $188 million for 2019 active salaries).

General manager John Dorsey has to be concerned about Sheldon Richardson, who according to PFF, is playing like a backup caliber player. $9.7 million of salary cap space went into his pay envelope. Similarly, the Haslam’s have to be asking why they are laying out big money for T.J. Carrie and Damarious Randall. If football players were stocks, the Haslam’s would be furious at their broker.

Christian Kirksey is on injured reserve and probably will not come back this year to up his grade.  Very likely he will have to take a pay cut because Mack Wilson can do his job at a lower cost.  That is just going to look bad on the balance sheet.

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Denzel Ward’s numbers look dismal, but we should wait for him to get healthy before getting too concerned about his PFF grade.

On the other hand, the Browns are getting good performance from Joe Schobert and Myles Garrett, though not necessarily at the All-Pro level. Olivier Vernon is probably not the third best defensive end in football, but the Browns knew that going in. Colonel Sanders used to offer a huge breakfast before he started Kentucky Fried Chicken, priced at $1.70, which was very pricey in the 1950s. The menu read, “Not worth it – but mighty good.” So Vernon is mighty good too, and we will leave it at that.

It’s early, but Greedy Williams has looked mighty good as well, and way worth it for a second round draft choice. If Ward ever gets healthy, the Browns may still get well in a hurry.

Overall, the bottom line is that the Browns’ talent on defense is coming up short and they have overpaid for several mediocre talents. At the same time, they have some players who have exceeded expectations, so it is not a total disaster.

This is reflected in the Browns’ losing record and their tendency to give up major yardage. They are especially struggling to stop the run.

The numbers show that they have made investments that appear to be poor choices. It is not too late to turn it around, but the indicators suggest that this team is not going to be the 1985 Bears.

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