Potential free agents in Super Bowl the Cleveland Browns should target

Chiefs defensive tackle Mike Pennel

Mike Pennel was a free agent for a portion of the 2019 season before the Kansas City Chiefs signed him in October. Although he was merely a role player for the Chiefs, he would fill a role the Browns desperately needed help with in 2019.

Pennel played in eight games for the Chiefs, making 24 combined tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, and two quarterback hits. After not starting for the Chiefs in the regular season, Pennel has started both of the Chiefs playoff games, making six combined tackles.

At six-foot-four and 330 pounds, Pennel is a big presence in the middle of the defensive line. He is stout against the run and takes up multiple tackles, allowing the Kansas City linebackers to flow to the football at the point of attack.

Despite signing Sheldon Richardson last offseason and Larry Ogunjobi coming off a career year in 2018, the Browns defensive line lacked the big, physical presence up the middle. Ogunjobi and Richardson struggled to take up multiple blockers, allowing the offensive line to get to the second level and impede the Browns linebackers.

Ogunjobi and Richardson are solid starting defensive tackles, but the Browns need a run stuffing defensive tackle to rotate in. Pennel is not an every down defensive tackle, but would be the big presence in the middle of the defensive line the Browns need. He would be a cheap depth option of for the Browns, but would fill an underrated need for Cleveland’s defense.