4 ‘cheap’ free agent defensive linemen Cleveland Browns could consider
By Josh Brown
1. Trey Hendrickson
The Saints drafted Trey Hendrickson in the third round of their ridiculously good 2017 draft out of Flordia Atlantic. Hendrickson played sparingly during his first two years in the NFL, appearing in only 17 total games. Over the last two years, Hendrickson has done nothing but get better.
Per Pro Football Reference, in 2019, Hendrickson had 17 pressures and 4.5 sacks in just 404 snaps over 13 games with three starts. He also had nine quarterback knockdowns, four tackles for loss, and a forced fumble. In 2020 Hendrickson became the starter playing in 15 games.
He ended the season with 33 pressures, 25 QB hits, 13.5 sacks, 12 QB knockdowns, and one forced fumble. Hendrickson’s run defense left something to be desired in 2020, but he was much better in his prior two years. At only 26, he has a chance to get back to stopping the run and still grow as a pass rusher.
Hendrickson might be the exact kind of player analytics was built for as he is a young veteran that has produced and still has room to grow. Unless someone goes crazy and overpays Hendrickson, the front office should be all over him as the bookend for Garrett. This front office group wants talent that can grow together when spending on longer-term deals.
Next. Browns pick-a-player, AFC South. dark
The shoe fits, and this should be a no-brainer for them to at least send feelers out on what it would cost to put the young man in orange and brown.
Contract Prediction: Four years, $48 million, $20-23 million guaranteed.