Cleveland Browns defensive tackle shaping up to be a dawgfight

Andrew Berry and the Cleveland Browns entire front office have worked to improve a porous defensive unit. Including beefing up defensive tackle.

Defensive tackle was hit or miss for most of 2020  for the Cleveland Browns after Andrew Billings opted out, forcing rookies and lesser talents into the rotation. Sheldon Richardson was the most consistent force in 2020 but is now a Viking.

Larry Ogunjobi did his usual tease with the talent but never consistently performed, which has plagued his NFL career. Also, he is now a Bengal. So the Browns are starting from scratch, hoping to hit on a tandem that works, and have brought in enough bodies to fill two NFL defensive tackle rooms.

Here are a few guys you may want to keep an eye on when training camp arrives.

Andrew Billings

Andrew Billings was signed during the 2020 offseason to a one-year deal but chose to opt-out. The hope was the former three-year starter with the Bengals would add significant depth behind Richardson and Ogunjobi, maybe even push for a starting spot. Instead, COVID came along and changed everything, including moving his contract to 2021.

Billings has come into mandatory minicamp looking bigger than he has in the past after the year off. Obviously, this creates natural questions regarding his football shape, ability to be as effective as before, and possible injury concerns. Defensive coordinator Joe Woods brought up the question regarding football shape but followed with why Billings could be ready and their plans for him.

If Billings can get back into football shape as quickly as everyone seems to think, he could be a force stopping the run.

Still, after a year off, he is a wild card regarding health and the ability to bounce back from the year off.