Cleveland Browns: Five biggest 2021 free agent impact additions

4. DT Shelby Harris

A requirement of a base dime defense is a strong defensive line, which is something the Browns certainly did not have in 2020. Andrew Billings opted out, which left a massive void at 1-tech, a void that was not suitably filled by Larry Ogunjobi. This neutered the performance of Sheldon Richardson at 3-tech as well. Both players could be playing elsewhere in 2021, and even if one (or both) are retained, the team needs to add more talent at DT.

Shelby Harris has been one of the league’s best interior lineman over the past three seasons, yet he made less than $4.5 million over that span. It will be interesting to see what his true market is this offseason, especially with the salary cap decrease. He would be an objective upgrade over Richardson, and likely would not cost as much. If the Denver Broncos let him test the open market, the Browns should be all over Harris.

He’d provide a true disruptive presence inside, and playing next to a true space-eating 1-tech in Billings and an elite EDGE in Myles Garrett should give Harris plenty of 1-on-1 reps, which he wins at a high clip. If the Browns can add a quality EDGE opposite of Garrett (foreshadowing), opposing quarterbacks won’t have as much time to throw, which will help out the secondary in a huge way.