4 defensive sleepers Cleveland Browns should sign in 2021 free agency

Which defensive sleepers could the Cleveland Browns target in 2021 free agency?

NFL free agency is a weird time since they allow players and teams to negotiate in a weird legal tampering period which begins on March 15 this year, but players cannot technically sign until March 17. Whether it happens during the odd window or actual free agency, it’s a safe bet to assume the Cleveland Browns will be active this offseason in signing players.

They might not go out and make the splash they did in 2020 when they signed Austin Hooper and Jack Conklin, but they do need to improve their roster and general manager Andrew Berry proved he’s not afraid to go after the guys he wants.

With that being said, here we look at three defensive players the Browns could sign this offseason — but instead of looking for the home run signing, we identify four sleepers they could target.

4. Rakeem Nunez-Roches – DT

Larry Ogunjobi is set to hit the open market and signs are indicating that Cleveland won’t be fighting hard to retain him. Of course, this could be proven incorrect but right now, it’s a safe bet to assume the Browns will be in the market for a defensive tackle.

That could lead them to kick the tires on Rakeem Nunez-Roches who is fresh off a Super Bowl win with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. A former sixth-round pick out of Southern Miss, Nunez-Roches was with the Kansas City Chiefs from 2015 through 2017 before joining the Bucs.

He spent the past three seasons in Tampa as part of a strong rotation but started 11 games this past season. His stats won’t blow you away — he had 31 tackles overall with the Bucs — but he was coming on in 2020 with 20 tackles and three quarterback pressures.

Where Nunez-Roches stood out though, was as a run stuffer. The Browns could use someone who can hold up against the rush and while they hope Andrew Billings is that guy, he hasn’t played in a year and adding depth such as Nunez-Roches wouldn’t be a bad idea whatsoever.