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Cleveland Browns: 4 defensive tackle solutions

By Eddie McDonald

Dec 26, 2021; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) and Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson (90) in action at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 26, 2021; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) and Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson (90) in action at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports /
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Cleveland Browns
Mar 5, 2022; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Connecticut defensive lineman Travis Jones (DL14) goes through drills during the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

The Cleveland Browns have a huge hole on the defensive line and there are four viable solutions to filling that hole in the offseason.

The Cleveland Browns are legitimate Super Bowl contenders after trading for Deshaun Watson, but the roster still needs to be filled out. Over the next few weeks, we will see how this roster further develops under the guidance of general manager Andrew Berry with the draft and additional free agent signings.

The Browns need to get better at stopping the run and so far they have a lot of uncertainty on the defensive line, primarily the tackle and nose guard positions. There are not a ton of free-agent options, but there are still pieces out there that can help this team.

Berry might not be looking to sign free agents until after the draft, which will then limit the potential landing spots of guys looking for new homes. That would also mean they can get a couple of those options at likely more of a bargain than what they could prior to the draft. The deals do not have to be long-term or big-time money, so the draft can really help that.

Cleveland Browns solution at defensive tackle No. 4

NFL Draft

There is almost a zero percent chance that Berry doesn’t address the defensive line position in the upcoming NFL Draft. The Browns don’t have a first-round pick this year as they traded three of them for the services of Watson. That doesn’t mean that the team can’t find great value with the picks they do have.

As of right now, the Browns are slated to pick 44th overall and there are a number of options that the team could explore. The general consensus is that the team will draft either a wide receiver or a defensive lineman. Last year we saw Berry trade up and take linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah in what many consider the steal of the draft.

The trio of Travis Jones (UConn), Perrion Winfrey (Oklahoma), and Devante Wyatt (Georgia) are all guys that could fall to the Browns at 44. You really can’t go wrong with either of those prospects as they could all very well be Day 1 starters or good rotational pieces. Depth is very vital in the NFL, especially when it comes to the defensive line.

Now, if the Browns do decide to go receiver with their first pick, that certainly does not mean that they will not draft a defensive lineman. They also have picks 78 and 99 and that could be where Berry decides to strike.

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