Cleveland Browns: 4 Undrafted free agents from 2019 that can be starters

Defensive End Porter Gustin

Porter Gustin is a guy who at first glance might grade out as a 3-4 outside linebacker at 6-foot-5 267 he is smaller than average for a defensive end. He was used by the Browns as a situational defensive end.

Normally this fan would rail about the Browns always getting 3-4 players and trying to convert them to 4-3, but here is what is different about Gustin: according to Pro Football Focus, he had the top tackling grade among all of the Browns linemen. He also had seven QB pressures in six games and 225 snaps.

That has to be respected on a Browns team that really struggled against the run last year. His PFF grade was higher than Larry Ogunjobi’s, though of course, Ogunjobi had many more snaps. Defensive Coordinator Joe Woods will have to think through the depth chart at this position.

Gustin was, in fact, an outside linebacker for the University of Southern California, playing four years on the varsity. 2017 and 2018 were injury-riddled, however. According to the USC website, he had two screws inserted in a broken toe in 2017. 2016 was Gustin’s best year. He finished second on the team in tackles including 13 tackles for a loss.

Moving a 3-4 outside linebacker to a defensive end is not this fan’s favorite move. However, this kid may be the rule-breaker, as he actually performed better against the run and grades higher than the incumbent. He’s going to continue to see extensive action and could challenge Larry Ogunjobi and Sheldon Richardson for a starting job.