There was no single unit in Cleveland that received more attention and player personnel resources in the 2023 offseason than the Browns defensive line. In 2022, the Cleveland Browns ranked near the bottom of the league in both sacks and rushing defense. This, is despite having some very talented defenders, including generational talent edge rusher Myles Garrett.
But even a superman like Garrett can’t do it all alone. To that end, the Browns defensive line had a lot of new faces this season. DT Dalvin Tomlinson was brought in on a four-year deal from the Minnesota Vikings. Edge rusher Za’Darius Smith followed. Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, another edge rusher, came in from Houston. DT Shelby Harris signed just before the start of training camp.
Evaluating the Cleveland Browns Defensive Line
This overhaul was brought about by the arrival of new defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. Schwartz took a talented but massively underperforming group and shaped them into one of the NFL’s best units. The Browns defensive line paced a unit that finished No. 1 in overall yards allowed, nearly 400 less than the next closest team. They were also clutch on third down, allowing a league-best 29% of plays to be converted.
But the defense also struggled in some odd situations. The defense often disappeared on the road, allowing more than double the points vs what was scored in Cleveland. Confoundingly, the team also allowed a league-worst 71.4% of drives that reached the red zone to score a touchdown.
Defensive Player of the Year: Myles Garrett
The king of the Browns defensive line is unquestionably edge rusher Myles Garrett. Garrett has been a tremendous force to be reckoned with in the NFL ever since the Cleveland Browns took him No. 1 overall in 2017. He’s racked up a slew of awards for his performance this season, including the coveted Defensive Player of the Year award.
It’s a testament to how dominant Garrett was in the first three months of the season that he’s been nominated for/won so many postseason awards. Garrett was a dominant force early in the season. By the Browns 10th game, he had amassed an astounding 13 sacks. But he was a shell of himself after a shoulder injury against the Denver Broncos. Garrett would only get one more sack for the remainder of the season.
Part of the theory of acquiring so many new defensive linemen was for Schwartz to develop a rotation that would spell Garrett. The Browns defensive line wanted Garrett as fresh as possible in key situations. But Garrett’s snap percentage actually went up in 2023. Like virtually every other Cleveland Brown, Garrett’s impact was reduced over the season with nagging injuries.
Other Browns Defensive Line Pass Rushers
The men who were supposed to help spell Garrett were Smith and Okoronkwo. Both had solid seasons, but it’s difficult to spell the injured edge rusher when you’re constantly injured yourself. Smith played in most games but was shaken up and missed snaps in many of them. Smith picked up a solid 5.5 sacks but fell short of the 10 or so the Browns defensive line expected of him. Still, as Garrett’s effectiveness waned, Smith’s picked up. Three of his 5.5 sacks came in games where Garrett didn’t get any. Smith is a free agent this coming offseason. The Browns probably would like to bring him back, but not at his nearly $12 million salary. Will another team pay him that price? Hard to say. He’ll be 32 by the time the season starts, he may take a reduced amount to try and get a ring in Cleveland.
Smith was something of a late offseason boon for the Browns defensive line, joining the group in May. Before that, the team planned to use Okoronkwo opposite Garrett. Okoronkwo was effective as well off the bench, grabbing 4.5 sacks and 10.5 stuffs. He spent most of December on injured reserve, and without him and Garrett not at 100%, the defense suffered significantly. Okoronkwo, however, is signed through the 2025 season at a relatively cap-friendly deal.
Inside on the Browns Defensive Line
Perhaps the biggest offseason move Cleveland made in 2023 was adding DT Dalvin Tomlinson to the Browns defensive line. Tomlinson is a huge man, standing 6-3 and weighing 325 lbs. He was brought in with the hopes of plugging the big rushing leak in the Cleveland defense. Those results were an unquestioned success, as Cleveland jumped from No. 25 to No. 11 in the NFL against the rush. Tomlinson played in nearly every game, anchoring the run defense and even adding three sacks.
It was opposite Tomlinson where the Browns defensive line had its biggest issue. Cleveland is stubbornly stuck with fourth-year tackle Jordan Elliott long past the point of reason. Elliott, a third-round pick in 2020, started well as a reserve as a rookie. But he quickly fell off a cliff as his playing time increased. His efficiency grades, according to PFF, have been mediocre, and specifically horrible against the run. They improved a little in 2023 but not enough for Cleveland to bring him back for starter money in 2024.
Meanwhile, the player who has earned a new contract is Shelby Harris. Harris was added right before camp as a last-minute replacement. But he quickly became a favorite in the Browns defensive line room and backed that up with solid play on the field. Where Elliott had a 46.6 overall efficiency with 45.6 against the run, Harris graded 70.5 and 68.4, respectively. Harris, who will be 33 before next season, is a little long in the tooth but a much better fit for Schwartz’s defense. He should come at a cap-friendly number.
What’s Next for the Browns Defensive Line
The Cleveland Browns should make resigning Harris a priority. That would give them a solid starting four, even if Smith doesn’t come back. If Smith can be resigned at a decent number, Cleveland would do well to bring him back as well.
Elliott should be let go. In his place, the Browns defensive line needs to continue to develop tackle Siaki Ika. Ika is a beast, weighing 358 pounds. He looked somewhat out of condition when he played sparingly in 2023. With a full offseason in the Browns facility in Berea, the team should focus on bringing Ika’s weight down a little and developing his agility. The remainder of the bench looks much like Ika – a talent that requires further development and played sparingly in 2023.
The rotation can further be augmented with more players like Harris. There are always overlooked veterans in free agency who have another year or two left. The Browns defensive line went a little too young in 2023 with its bench players. More experience will deliver more consistent results, and maybe get Garrett the rest he needs to be the most effective in the team’s biggest moments.
Main Photo: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
