With the addition of Dalvin Tomlinson, the Cleveland Browns know they should already have a stronger interior defensive line in 2023. They also wanted to add depth, which is why they signed Maurice Hurst and Trysten Hill.
However, Hurst has had a lot of injury concerns and Hill is far from a lock to make the team given some of the issues he had early in his career with the Dallas Cowboys. This is why the Browns would be wise to see what it would cost to bring in one more veteran through free agency.
With that being said, here are three players who could come in and make a major impact.
Browns DT target No. 3: Poona Ford
Originally undrafted out of Texas in 2018, Poona Ford had to fight his way onto the Seattle Seahawks roster as an undersized defensive tackle. At just 5-foot-11, Ford had a solid career with the Longhorns but his height and shorter arms scared NFL teams.
He wound up in a perfect spot as he spent the next four seasons with Seattle and was a starter by his second year in the league. Overall, he had 181 tackles and 7.5 sacks for the Seahawks. Despite those numbers, he hasn't generated much interest on the open market.
Perhaps his size still worries teams or maybe it was the dip in efficiency he had according to PFF. Whatever it is, Ford has plenty of experience and could help a defensive tackle-needy team such as Cleveland. And at this point, he likely wouldn't break the bank.
Browns DT target No. 2: Matt Ioannidis
Matt Ioannidis was a mainstay in the Washington defense for six seasons. He moved around as he lined up as a defensive end in their 3-4 front and also spent time playing both defensive tackle positions.
He had a very good stretch of football in 2018 and 2019 when he recorded 7.5 and 8.5 sacks respectively. Since those two years, that number has dropped off but he's remained a very reliable starter.
This past season, Ioannidis joined the Carolina Panthers and had 37 tackles and one sack in 13 games. His numbers weren't breathtaking but he was able to hold his own in run defense and did still have 10 quarterback pressures on the season.
What's even more impressive is how good he is once he gets his hands on the ball carrier. Since 2018, Pro Football Reference has had him with just nine missed tackles. His highest percentage of missed tackles in a single year according to them was last year when he was 7.5 percent after missing three tackles.
Signing Ioannidis wouldn't be a splashy move and some would completely overlook it due to his name not being highly recognizable. Even so, it would be a smart move since they would land a versatile player who won't get bullied in the run game and can provide some pressure up the middle as well.
Browns DT target No. 1: A'Shawn Robinson
When looking at Dalvin Tomlinson, most people see a nose tackle. He definitely looks the part at 6-foot-3 and 324 pounds and is more than capable of lining up in the 1-tech position. However, he's coming off a very strong stretch with the Minnesota Vikings where he spent two seasons playing the 3-tech.
With that being the case, he should be able to line up there for the Browns as well and adding another big-bodied defensive tackle who could destroy the opposing ground game would help make that work. That's exactly what they would get if they were to bring in Tomlinson's former Alabama teammate, A'Shawn Robinson.
Robinson is a massive player at 6-foot-4 and 330-pounds who was taken in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft — just one year before Tomlinson went in the second round as well. He spent four seasons with the Detroit Lions before heading to the Los Angeles Rams where he played for three years and won a Super Bowl following the 2021 campaign.
While in Los Angeles, he was overshadowed by Aaron Donald, who is easily the best defensive tackle in the league. But that doesn't mean Robinson wasn't great.
In fact, he was their premier run defender and had 67 tackles in 2021. When he was on the field, opposing teams would often abandon the run, knowing it was impossible to get past No. 94.
Should the Browns really want to eliminate their issues in stopping the run, they should reunite Tomlinson and Robinson. Add them to a line with Myles Garrett and Ogbo Okoronkwo and their front four could be the best in the entire NFL.