The Cleveland Browns will be looking to upgrade the defensive tackle position during the offseason and here are the top five names they can target.
One of the most glaring holes on the Cleveland Browns roster is the defensive line, primarily the defensive tackle position. Last year, the team struggled to stop the run or get pressure on opposing quarterbacks, outside of Myles Garret, of course.
In the coming weeks, general manager Andrew Berry will be looking to upgrade the interior of the defensive line through free agency. This class has a lot of potential candidates for the Browns to sign to help sure up stuffing the run and generating pressures.
New defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz is known for his teams getting pressure on quarterbacks and that is something that Cleveland desperately needs to improve on in 2023.
Daron Payne of the Washington Commanders would be on this list, but he will likely be the recipient of the franchise tag. Even if he were to become a free agent, Cleveland would likely avoid him due to his high asking price. Now, that doesn't mean Berry won't clear cap space and sign a player who commands a higher salary.
Here are the five free agent defensive tackles the Browns could target.
No. 5: Matt Ioannidis, Carolina Panthers
This isn't a flashy name or a guy at the top of most free agent lists, but Matt Ioannidis would be an ideal target for the Browns.
The seven-year veteran out of Temple spent the first six seasons with Washington before calling Carolina home last season. In 13 games with the Panthers in 2022, Ioannidis compiled 37 tackles, 10 pressures, nine quarterback hits, a sack, pass deflection, and a forced fumble.
The Browns wouldn't have to break the bank and would be a relatively cheap option to sign Ioannidis, who was my No. 1 defensive tackle to target ahead of the trade deadline. Cleveland needs veteran guys who can help stuff the run and apply pressure to the quarterback and this is an ideal candidate.
No. 4: Sheldon Rankins, New York Jets
Sheldon Rankins would be another seven-year veteran who wouldn't command a lot of money when free agency begins, which could be the route that Andrew Berry might want to explore.
The former 12th overall pick of the 2016 NFL Draft has been a serviceable pro in his career and would be a guy who can come in and help sure up the defensive line of the Browns. He was drafted by New Orleans, where he spent the first five years of his professional career. He spent the last two seasons with the Jets.
In 2022, Rankins had 43 tackles (25 solo, four for a loss), 11 pressures, seven quarterback hits, and three sacks. The pressures would open up more space for Myles Garrett to thrive alongside, so this would be another smart move by Berry and the Browns.
Last year, Cleveland struggled when it came to leadership on the defensive side of the ball. There was too much finger-pointing and not enough unity. A player like Rankins, much like Ioannidis, could be a guy who can come in and help both on the field and off.
Plus, if Berry elects to sign guys like Rankins and other cheaper options, it would open up more room to get better at another position, maybe even a speedy wide receiver.
No. 3: Dre'Mont Jones, Denver Broncos
Now we are getting into the portion of the list that the Browns might want to avoid, but time will ultimately tell. Dre'Mont Jones had a good 2022 season and has turned to be a quality four-year veteran for the Broncos.
Denver has a decision to make on whether to tag Jones, get a new deal worked out, or let him walk in free ageny. The tag would be roughly $19 million, so a new deal would be the better option in this scenario.
That is where the Browns might look at his asking price and decide to back off, but should Berry work some cap magic, it would be highly beneficial to see if he can land Jones in Cleveland.
In 13 games in 2022, Jones had 47 tackles (24 solo, nine for a loss), 16 pressures, and 6.5 sacks, which tied a career-best. In his first four professional seasons, Jones has a whopping 16 pressures and 22 sacks. That would be a dream come true for the Browns at the defensive tackle position.
This could be a sound investment should Berry and the Browns go this route as Jones is only 26-years old and is ascending in the NFL.
No. 2: Dalvin Tomlinson, Minnesota Vikings
On March 15, the contact of Dalvin Tomlinson will likely be voided, therefore making him a free agent and a guy that should be near the top of the Browns' wishlist of free agents.
Tomlinson was drafted in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft out of Alabama by the New York Giants, where he would spend the first four years of his career. He then signed with the Vikings on a two-year, $21 million deal.
The Vikings raced out to one of the NFL's best records, but it did not matter as the Vikings bowed out of the playoffs early. Regardless, Tomlinson had a good season for Minnesota compiling 42 tackles (20 solo, three for a loss) 14 pressures, 2.5 sacks, a forced and recovered fumble.
Stop me if you've heard this before, but Tomlinson could help on the field and in the locker room with his veteran presence. He knows what it takes to win in the regular season, something the Browns need to focus more on in 2023.
A former Minnesota Viking becoming a Cleveland Brown. Hmm. Wouldn't that be something? That couldn't possibly work out, could it?
Dalvin Tomlinson would be such a huge get for Andrew Berry to help fix the defensive line.
No. 1: Javon Hargrave, Philadelphia Eagles.
Javon Hargrave is the big defensive tackle fish in the free agency pond and he will certainly have many suitors, despite a likely high price tag.
Pro Football Focus has Hargrave as the No. 1 free agent defensive tackle and for good reason. He has shown he can do whatever is asked of him regardless of the defensive scheme.
In 2022, Hargrave had a hand in the Eagles having the most sacks in the NFL as well as making a trip to the Super Bowl. He totaled a career-high 11 sacks, and had an impressive 60 tackles (37 solo, 10 for a loss) and 18 pressures while playing in all 17 regular season games and all of the playoff games.
Despite just turning 30 years old, Hargrave proved that he can still produce at an elite level. His seven years in the league, along with his Super Bowl run would be a good thing to have inside Barea come the summertime.
Hargrave has spent his entire NFL career in the state of Pennsylvania, playing his first four years in Pittsburgh before ending up in Philly for the last three. Maybe Berry could find a way to land this big fish in a deal that makes sense for both parties by having him move a little west.
While it isn't likely Hargrave will come to the Browns, they surely have to at least inquire about his services. If they can't land him, it does not spell doom.