5 early under the radar defensive targets Cleveland Browns should consider

Since taking over as the Cleveland Browns general manager in 2020, Andrew Berry has done an excellent job of filling out the team’s roster. His diligence in ensuring every position has competition resulted in an 11-6 campaign despite one injury after another.

Of course, the big moves he makes get all the attention — like finding out Joe Flacco can still sling it. But oftentimes, it’s the unnoticed moves that make the difference. Adding Maurice Hurst, Shelby Harris, or even Ethan Pocic in recent years hardly made any waves but all have been excellent signings. With that being the case, here’s an early look at five under-the-radar free agents Berry could consider to fill out the 53-man roster this year.

5. Javon Kinlaw, Defensive Tackle

Ahead of the 2020 NFL Draft, the San Francisco 49ers traded DeForest Buckner to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for a first-round pick. They then used the 14th overall selection on Javon Kinlaw, a promising defensive tackle from South Carolina.

Kinlaw was expected to step in for Buckner but after four seasons, he has yet to become a full-time starter. He is, however, coming off his best statistical season with 25 tackles and 3.5 sacks. For his career, he now has 70 tackles and 5.0 sacks.

It’s a far cry from what was expected out of him and there’s almost no scenario where it makes sense for the 49ers to keep him. Instead, he will likely test the open market and could be a candidate for a one-year deal in Cleveland. A fresh start could be exactly what he needs and coming over without the expectations of being a team’s top pick could help him settle into a pass-rushing role off the bench.

4. Isaiah Simmons, Linebacker

It was hard to find anyone who wasn’t a believer in Isaiah Simmons when he entered the 2020 NFL Draft. The Clemson product came in at 6-4 and 238 pounds making him an ideal-sized linebacker in the pros. But he was also fast enough and strong enough in coverage that he could line up as a safety in certain packages.

Simmons wound up being the eighth overall pick that year as the Arizona Cardinals hoped to build their defense around him. That didn’t happen with Arizona initially struggling to figure out where he fit. They moved him from safety to linebacker and his performance suffered.

Eventually, they moved on and sent him to the New York Giants in 2023. He had 50 tackles, a sack, and an interception for the Giants but wasn’t considered a difference-maker. Still, he continued to prove he can have success in the right system. And Cleveland could offer him that.

Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz has already gotten more out of Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah than any other coach has. JOK, who came in with a similar skill set and background as Simmons, has flourished in his attacking role. Perhaps adding Simmons would give them one more player who can be disruptive due to their speed but is also able to perform in coverage.

Cleveland would still do well to bring back a run-stuffing linebacker such as Sione Takitaki but envisioning packages with JOK and Simmons is exciting. Especially in third-and-long situations.

3. A.J. Epenesa, EDGE

Cleveland boasts one of the best — if not the best — defensive ends in the game in Myles Garrett. The former first-overall pick from 2017 has developed into a force on the edge and already has the most sacks in franchise history. And he still has plenty of time left in his career to add to that total.

As for his running mate, the Browns have been alternating players across from Garrett for years. They had Olivier Vernon for a couple of seasons and then brought in Jadeveon Clowney in 2021 and re-signed him to another one-year deal in 2022.

When that relationship soured, they traded for Za’Darius Smith and signed Ogbo Okoronkwo. Smith is a free agent and while Okoronkwo had a great season, he’s more of a pass-rushing specialist than a true defensive end. That’s why it would make sense to target someone such as A.J. Epenesa from the Buffalo Bills.

A second-round pick from Iowa, Epenesa had just 2.5 sacks over his first two seasons in the league. He’s since turned it around with 6.5 in 2022 and 2023. He’s also known for holding his own against the run, which was a specialty for the 6-6, 260-pounder in college. Cleveland could try and lure him away from Buffalo and if so, using him and Okoronkwo across from Garrett could be a winning combination.

2. Ashtyn Davis, Safety

Another 2020 draft pick, Ashtyn Davis was selected by the New York Jets in the third round out of California. He was seen as a solid deep coverage safety prospect and has developed well over the past four seasons in New York. Even so, he has yet to secure a full-time starting job — appearing in 54 games with 21 starts.

This past season, he put up some impressive numbers with three interceptions and eight pass defenses despite starting just five of 17 games. He also secured his highest grade ever from PFF and had a respectable 77.9 coverage grade. Although, he's also never been shy about throwing his weight around.

Cleveland has made it a point to build up a strong corps of safeties as they entered the season with Grant Delpit, Juan Thornhill, and Rodney McLeod. Injuries forced them to lean on Ronnie Hickman and D’Anthony Bell also and each stepped up when needed.

Looking ahead to 2024, all of those mentioned with the exception of McLeod will be back. I’m an effort to replace him, the Browns could see about adding Davis, who would be an option to play on known passing downs.

An additional benefit to Davis is his ability to serve as a return man. He hasn’t been used in this role since 2020 but returned kicks at Cal and had some success. Cleveland could still look for a return specialist but as we’ve seen over the past couple of years, having a Plan B (or even Plan C) is never a bad idea.

1. Dorance Armstrong, EDGE

A.J. Epenesa isn’t the only defensive end scheduled for free agency who could help Cleveland bolster their line. Another option would be Dorance Armstrong, who is a criminally underrated pass rusher for the Dallas Cowboys.

On a roster with Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence, and Dante Fowler, it can be easy to look past the former fourth round pick from Kansas. That shouldn’t be the case though since he’s been a consistent force for several years now.

Armstrong recorded five sacks in 2021 and was re-signed to a two-year deal in 2022 after Dallas lost out on their Randy Gregory extension. The Cowboys were originally mocked for losing Gregory and suggesting Armstrong could adequately replace him, but that's exactly what happened. While Gregory was out in Denver after 10 games with just 3.0 sacks, Armstrong racked up 8.5 in 2022 and 7.5 this year.

The Cowboys would surely like to bring him back but they also have players such as Sam Williams waiting in the wings for more snaps. If this leads to Armstrong hitting the open market, he would be another player worth kicking the tires on. He’s decent against the run and has been steadily improving throughout his career at rushing the passer. Pairing him with Myles Garrett could be a huge win for Cleveland.

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