In 2024, the Cleveland Browns’ defensive line will appear different.
Regrettably, each NFL club experiences significant adjustments year due to age and the salary cap. While the core group may remain constant for a while, the supporting cast, which is frequently the most crucial, is always changing. The defensive line was one of the Cleveland Browns’ main “fill-in” areas this season. Myles Garrett is undoubtedly a key component, but the others are still up in the air.
For general manager Andrew Berry, Dalvin Tomlinson and Ogbo Okoronkwo seem like better long-term options, but it’s important to keep in mind that Tomlinson, who turns 30 in two months, is probably nearing the end of his playing days. While promising defensive end prospect Alex Wright has shown glimpses of brilliance, Siaki Ika, who will be required for production in 2024, had a lackluster 2023 in terms of both snap count and performance.
The key players that will not be present in 2024 are Jordan Elliot, Maurice Hurst, Shelby Harris, and Za’Darius Smith, who had a strong season on the interior defensive line.
Garrett cannot do everything by himself, as we have seen, and we witnessed what happened to the pass rush when he was out at the conclusion of the season due to a shoulder issue. Due to the injury and the fact that Laremy Tunsil is a top-tier NFL lineman, the Browns were unable to apply any pressure during the playoff game, which gave CJ Stroud the opportunity to exploit the secondary.
Smith making a comeback in 2024 wouldn’t bother me, but the price needs to be appropriate. Though I have nothing against choosing another pass rusher in the hopes of finding something better, defensive end is a position that needs to be addressed in free agency if this defense wants to have an advantage over opponents come football season if they are not selected in the first round.
Alongside Tomlinson at defensive tackle this season, Harris, Hurst, and Elliott all performed admirably, and their worth could have outpaced Berry’s willingness to pay for the position in 2024. Hurst, who has had injury struggles throughout his career, did manage to play most of the season, but going ahead, I think he still poses a concern.
It’s simple to claim that you selected Ika in the third round of last year in hopes that he would be able to cover this enormous hole, but given what I’ve seen in 2023, I find it difficult to believe that he will be prepared to play. He cannot play in passing situations due to his weight, and he has demonstrated little ability to maintain his equilibrium.
