The Cleveland Browns finally got two of their defensive pillars back on the field this week. Star linebacker Carson Schwesinger missed most of training camp with a minor injury, and defensive tackle Maliek Collins returned from a season-ending quad injury.
Mike Rutenberg's unit definitely needed some good news after losing Alex Wright for the season, and getting the reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year and one of their most disruptive interior defenders back is certainly a significant boost.
However, the Browns' lack of defensive depth has been exposed through two preseason games, and adding pass rusher Derek Barnett to fill in for Wright might not be enough. As stacked as the starting unit is, the Browns might still need to make some moves.
The Browns' defensive depth is nearing crisis status
Things have gotten so bad with Wright gone that defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. has taken reps as an edge rusher. Barnett should give the team some solid depth behind Isaiah McGuire but, again, they're one injury away from a crisis. Undrafted rookie Logan Fano, the older brother of Browns first-round draft pick Spencer Fano, might make the roster simply because of numbers.
Mason Graham and Collins are slated to start at defensive tackle, with the aforementioned Hall and Kalia Davis rotating. Adin Huntington is more of a rotational guy who can cover multiple spots, but he's not a full-time player yet.
Things aren't much better in the secondary. The Browns have one of the most underrated safety rooms in the league, with Ronnie Hickman, Grant Delpit, and Emmanuel McNeil-Warren leading the way. But they're extremely thin at cornerback.
Denzel Ward and Tyson Campbell are slated to start on the boundary, with Myles Harden locked in as the starting nickel. Given his strong training camp in New Orleans, letting Martin Emerson Jr. walk is starting to feel like a mistake.
Undrafted free agent Michael Coats Jr. has been a nice training camp discovery and was making a legitimate push for the No. 3 boundary spot, but he left Tuesday's practice with a lower body injury. Tre Avery and D'Angelo Ross are the other top candidates to make the roster as defensive backs, but neither really moves the needle on defense.
For what it's worth, the Browns should be all set at linebacker with Schwesinger, Quincy Williams, Easton Mascarenas-Arnold, Justin Jefferson, Winston Reid, and Nathaniel Watson all in the mix. Still, defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg is facing a big challenge to keep the foot on the gas after Jim Schwartz's departure.
Unsurprisingly, there aren't many high-end upgrades available at this point in the offseason. Veterans like Kyle Van Noy, Kenny Moore, Adoree' Jackson, or Larry Ogunjobi might be worth considering. At this point, adding from the waiver wire or trade market might be the most realistic scenario.
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