The Cleveland Browns have added another quality defensive lineman in Shelby Harris. This move was needed in a room filled with bodies but thin with a proven track record and durability.
Cleveland's defense needed a capable player up front, especially in the middle of the line. Shelby Harris is a perfect fit on a one-year deal worth up to $5.2 million. Quality value was the name of the game with this signing.
Harris brings another veteran presence to the starting unit. So why is so so important that the Browns made this move?
Injury history and inexperience
As stated previously, Andrew Berry brought in a lot of bodies to help improve the defensive tackle room. The problem is some of those bodies have had injury issues, and others are still growing.
Dalvin Tomlinson was the only sure thing in that room, and while a great signing can't do it all alone. In 2022 Tomlinson was on the field for 62 percent of the Minnesota Vikings' defensive snaps over 13 games.
That's the highest percentage he has played in his career, per Pro Football Reference. If you take the numbers over his career, he has played an average of 57 percent of the time. That means 43 percent of the time, the Browns need someone else capable on the field. The options were Tommy Togiai, Jordan Elliott, Maurice Hurst, Trysten Hill, and Siaki Ika. There are a lot of questions with that group.
Trysten Hill has been on the sidelines with an injury already. Maurice Hurst has had trouble staying on the field for most of his career. Togiai, Elliott, and Ika are all young with much to prove.
At this point, there is no guarantee that Elliott or Togiai even make the team. Adding Harris places another option in the mix that has been durable, playing at least 55 percent of the defensive snaps over the last four years. He has also played in and started 57 of a possible 65 games. Having Harris and Tomlinson with a sprinkle of Myles Garrett and Za'Darius Smith inside allows the Browns to have a capable player on the field nearly the entire game each game.
Run Stuffing and a little more
Harris also gives the Browns another big body in the middle that excels at stopping the run. Over his career, Harris has been known for his ability to stuff the run.
Last year with the Seattle Seahawks, he posted the highest run grade of his career and was top 10 in run defense and run-stop percentage per Pro Football Focus.
"Harris didn’t quite show the pass-rush upside that he did during his years with the Broncos, but his first season in Seattle did allow him to post his best run-defense grade (76.9) since 2018. Among interior defensive linemen who played at least 50% of their team’s run defense snaps, Harris ranked top 10 in run-defense grade and run-stop percentage (9.4%)."By Jonathon Macri Feb 21, 2023
Most of that "pass rush upside" Harris showed early in his career was more about cleaning up than making his own opportunities. That's fine because he is on a line that will allow him to muddy the pocket and block off run lanes creating sacks for himself and others.
What the Browns need from Harris is to keep his missed tackle rate under ten percent as he has his entire career and make a few splash plays here and there.
Cleveland has Garrett, Smith, Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, and even Tomlinson to help create pressure and rack up sacks. All Harris needs to do is go out there and be himself. Clog up the middle for the linebackers, drop a few running backs to the ground, and finish off a few sacks. If Harris can do all of that, this defense can be successful.
Jim Schwartz
The main reason the Browns needed to sign Shelby Harris was defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. The bread and butter of what Schwartz does to be successful starts on the defensive line. If that is what Schwartz does best, then give him as much talent to work with as possible to get the best results.
Adding Harris does that.
Harris has talent and a non-stop motor. Jim Schwartz is known for maximizing the talent of his lineman and is a fiery coach. Is it a match made in heaven? Maybe. Even if it isn't heavenly, and Harris has a career year or something crazy, it does not matter. The Browns' defense and coach Schwartz have another guy they can count on to come out and consistently hold his own against anyone in the NFL.
Shelby Harris brings veteran help at a position the Browns still needed depth. He can stop the run at a very high level. He adds to the talent pool that Jim Schwartz gets to play chess with every Sunday.
And last but not least, his salary doesn't break the bank. It looks like this Cleveland front office and coaching staff have an all-around win in the 31-year-old veteran Harris.