4 Panthers the Cleveland Browns should trade for amid fire sale

3. Matt Ioannidis, Defensive Tackle

As good as Andrew Berry has been as general manager for the Browns, he’s been guilty of neglecting one very important position, defensive tackle. While it’s true that he’s been adding several mid-round picks — including Jordan Elliott, Tommy Togiai, and Perrion Winfrey — Berry hasn’t shown any urgency when those players continue to underwhelm.

After Malik McDowell and Malik Jackson manned the starting spots in 2021, the Browns were banking on a leap from Elliott and added Taven Bryan in free agency. So far, Elliott has just 11 tackles and Bryan has seven. Of course, stats don’t always tell the whole story as D-tackles can be successful even if they’re simply occupying blockers, or keeping the offensive line from getting a huge push in the run game.

Having said that, this isn’t the case at all in Cleveland. Bryan, Elliott, Togiai, and Winfrey have all been bullied in the run game. It’s so bad that PFF has Bryan graded at 90th overall at the position with Winfrey at 103, Elliott at 113, and Togiai at 116 — for some reference, there are 117 defensive tackles graded by PFF.

That’s why they should kick the tires on veteran Matt Ioannidis who is ranked 24th by the same analytical site. Ioannidis is in his seventh season in the NFL after spending six years in Washington where he was a criminally underrated player

He’s recorded 190 tackles with 24.5 sacks in his career and is known for his stout run defense. He would be an instant upgrade in the middle and would help the Browns slow down the opposing running backs, which has been a major concern through six games.