Adding Za'Darius Smith was a huge win for the Cleveland Browns, even though no one saw this coming. His addition means their starting defensive line will now consist of Myles Garrett, Dalvin Tomlinson, and Smith.
As for the fourth starting spot, it appears Jordan Elliott has the inside track right now but there are other options out there. At this stage of the offseason, the Browns could potentially land someone for a bargain and these three defensive tackles would guarantee they had an elite front four.
Browns target No. 3: Shelby Harris
Although he's listed as a defensive end, Shelby Harris stands in at 6-foot-2 and 290 pounds and would be a great fit as a 3-tech in the Browns defensive line. He's a former seventh-round pick who bounced around a bit early in his career, spending time with the Oakland Raiders, New York Jets, and Dallas Cowboys before signing with the Denver Broncos in 2017.
He then spent the next five seasons in Denver and had 203 tackles with 21.5 sacks. His time with the Broncos ended when he was thrown in as part of the Russell Wilson trade. He then played one season in Seattle, posting 44 tackles and two sacks.
Harris was released following the 2022 campaign, which means he didn't finish the three-year, $27 million deal he signed in 2021.
Despite his recent release, Harris still has plenty in the tank and was graded very high as a run defender by PFF. Cleveland has made a commitment to stopping the run this season and adding Harris to a vastly improving defensive line could really round things out.
Browns target No. 2: Michael Brockers
There was a time when Michael Brockers was one of the best defensive tackles in the NFL. An 11-year veteran, he spent nine seasons with the Los Angeles Rams and was part of their impressive defense that headed to the Super Bowl following the 2018 season.
After recording 395 tackles and 28 sacks for the Rams, he joined the Detroit Lions in 2021. He was a team captain and had 52 tackles that year but missed 11 games in 2022. He was then released in a cap-saving move and Detroit general manager Brad Holmes praised him for his leadership on the way out.
"As one of our team captains in 2022, Brock's veteran voice and presence were instrumental in helping guide and develop our young locker room. He is one of the true professionals of our game and we have the highest respect for him as a man. We wish him and his family well on their next chapter."Lions GM Brad Holmes
At 32 years old and coming off an injury, Brockers is unlikely to break the bank. However, the 6-foot-5, 297-pounder still has something to give. And a team such as Cleveland could be a solid fit since Jim Schwartz rotates defensive linemen as much as he does.
Brockers would be able to work in a rotation with Dalvin Tomlinson, Siaki Ika, Jordan Elliott, or whoever else makes the cut. He could serve as a mentor for the younger players while also filling a hole next to Tomlinson.
Browns target No. 1: Matt Ioannidis
The last player Cleveland should consider is arguably their best option. Matt Ioannidis is a seven-year vet who spent the first six seasons of his career with Washington. During that time, he moved from defensive end in a 3-4 front to a defensive tackle in the 4-3.
No matter what alignment he was in, Ioannidis was a success for Washington. A former fifth-round pick out of Temple, he recorded 212 tackles with 24.5 sacks, and 25 tackles for a loss during that span. His best stretch came in 2018 and 2019 when he recorded 31 tackles and 7.5 sacks followed by 64 tackles and 8.5 sacks.
Despite his numbers, Ioannidis never really got the respect he deserved. Of course, he's typically had big-name players around him that have taken the spotlight and that was still true in 2022 when he played for the Carolina Panthers.
Ioannidis was still a well-rounded player who was given decent grades against both the run and the pass by PFF. His numbers were modest as he had just 37 tackles and one sack. He did, however, record five tackles for a loss, 10 pressures, and nine quarterback hits.
At 29 years of age, Ioannidis still has plenty in the tank and would be a huge upgrade, even if his signing didn't make much noise.