Meet newest Cleveland Browns starting D-Lineman Andrew Billings

Big Andrew Billings is an upgrade at defensive tackle for the Cleveland Browns

Lest anyone forget, defensive tackle Andrew Billings is coming off the Covid-19 Opt-Out Reserve List to play for the Cleveland Browns in 2021. He has 37 NFL starts on his resume, plus a guaranteed contract and is the odds-on favorite to take the field with the first unit for the opening game in 2021.

He’s an immediate upgrade over last year’s starter, Larry Ogunjobi, who is an Unrestricted Free Agent, and second-year man Jordan Elliott who showed promise last season but not star quality at this point in his development.

Billings is 6-foot-1, 328-pounds and was a fourth-round pick out of Baylor by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2017. He had been projected as a first-round pick in some drafts but unexpectedly slid in that draft, probably because of concerns about a knee injury that eventually required surgery. He came back strong, however, and had three solid seasons for the Bengals before signing with Cleveland. Billings ranked 93rd in the Pro Football Talk Top 100 Free Agents last season.

However, Billings wound up on the Covid-19 opt-out list. As you will recall, last summer players had the option of skipping the 2020 season if they had Covid concerns. Billings has asthma and was at higher risk than the average person.

He made his very personal decision based on what was known at the time, and based on  the advice from his physicians, both for himself and his family and household. There’s no point in second guessing that decision.

The main point is that he is back for 2021 and belatedly deserves a fresh welcome to the Dawg Pound. The Browns have $3.5 million invested in him, so they expect him to be a major contributor if not the outright starter.

Billings will be a major asset by entering the rotation at defensive tackle. His natural position is the 4-3 DT, but he is big enough and stout enough to play 3-4 nose tackle in a three-man front. He has the reputation of being a run-stuffer, with 80 tackles, 49 solos and 14 tackles-for-loss in three seasons, but only 3.5 sacks.

Last season Jordan Elliott did not record any tackles for loss, nor did he register a sack in his rookie campaign. Hence, we may see a lot of Billings, especially in early downs this season. Elliott will have to show evidence of developing his game to earn game snaps.

We will have to wait until summer camp to see how the Browns want to line up this season, but as a guess, the Browns might want Billings to play on the left side with Myles Garrett. Sheldon Richardson may shift to the right side  on the grounds that Billings’ run-stopping skills are better utilized on the left side, and Richardson probably has better pass rushing skills.

The defense know that Myles Garrett will be double-teamed, so which side would do they want  the double team on? Last season they were able to spring Olivier Vernon loose several times on the right side because defenses were too chicken to double team him with Garrett on the left.

However, that double team situation results in extra bodies on Garrett’s side on running plays also, which is another argument for keeping Garrett on the left with Billings there to help handle extra blockers who may show up. Richardson on the right side, the quarterback’s blind side, may be more apt to penetrate the non-double-teamed side of the line with Gustin or whoever the Browns wind up with at the other end spot. Almost everyone believes the Browns will prioritize defensive end this off-season due to the unfortunate Achilles tendon injury suffered by Vernon.

Drafting a defensive tackle or signing the right free agent makes a lot of sense but this is not a desperate situation. This is especially true because the 2021 Undrafted Free Agent (UDFA) pool will be one of the strongest in history due to so many players who were not properly evaluated due to the college football season being in shambles in 2020. Currently the Browns have three known quantities in Richardson, Billings and Elliott.

They would like to have four defensive tackles on the roster to open the season, but they do not necessarily need to resolve this issue prior to the opening of training camp. They may identify a player once they get to camp.

The Browns are already in better shape than last year because of the addition of Andrew Billings.  Welcome to the Dawg Pound, sir.