Cleveland Browns: 14 defensive line targets in free agency
By Sam Penix
14 free agent defensive lineman for the Cleveland Browns to target
2021 NFL free agency kicks off in less than two weeks, and the Cleveland Browns have holes to fill all throughout the roster. The defensive line in particular could look very different, and there are plenty of solid players available on the market, including these 14.
14. Leonard Williams – New York Giants – 26
Leonard Williams fell to the sixth overall selection in 2015, and was a fine player over four-and-a-half seasons with the New York Jets before being dealt to the Giants. He isn’t an elite interior disruptor, but he’s good enough in that area and is a solid run defender.
He played on the $16.1 million franchise tag in 2020 and will likely be out of Cleveland’s price range. That is, unless he were willing to take a cheap short-term deal in order to hit the market again after the cap skyrockets.
13. Kawann Short – Carolina Panthers -32
From 2013 to 2018, Short was one of the league’s best interior defenders, but has played in only five games over the past two seasons. He’s now 32 years old, and while his best days are behind him, he likely still has something left in the tank, provided he is able to stay on the field. He shouldn’t cost too much given his age and recent injury history, and if he can avoid further issues, could be a very nice rotational piece.
12. Jurrell Casey – Denver Broncos – 31
Another premier player of the 2000s, Casey was traded from the Tennessee Titans to the Broncos before last season but suffered a torn biceps in Week 3 which ended his season. He can still be a quality contributor, just not at the $13 million he was owed in 2021.