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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
Nov 21, 2021; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi (65) against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

Cleveland Browns defensive tackle solution No. 3

A reunion

Players and teams reunite all the time in the world of professional sports and that could be a solution for the Browns to explore. Right now, there are two former Browns who could return back to The Land after spending the past year away

Those two players are Sheldon Richardson and Larry Ogunjobi.

Richardson spent 2019 and 2020 with the Browns and was a pretty reliable player. He played in all 32 games with 31 starts. In that time frame, he racked up 126 tackles (78 solo, nine for loss), 16 quarterback hits, 7.5 sacks, seven pass deflections, and four forced fumbles.

The Browns cut Richardson as a cap casualty a season ago and had hoped to re-sign him after the draft, but Richardson decided to test the market and return to the Vikings. This is where the draft can hurt your chances at a free agent; there is only so much money that can be spent after the draft and Richardson didn’t just want the scraps. Maybe a year apart will do the two parties some good.

Ogunjobi was drafted by the Browns in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Browns. He played in 60 of 64 games in his time with Cleveland and put up solid numbers. He recorded 180 tackles (108 solo, 29 for loss), 37 quarterback hits, 14.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and a pass deflection. He signed a one-year deal with the rival Bengals last year and had a career-high seven sacks.

He was set to join the Chicago Bears on a three-year, $40.5 million deal with $26.35 guaranteed. Unfortunately for Ogunjobi, he failed a physical, which sent the Bears in a different direction. He suffered a foot injury in the Bengals playoff game against the Raiders, so that very well could be a factor in the failed physical. It’s not out of the realm of possibility that he decides to return to Cleveland once the draft is wrapped up, but it won’t be at  the price the Bears were going to spend

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