Cleveland Browns Will Upgrade Defense in Free Agency and NFL Draft

The Cleveland Browns finally got back on the winning track in 2020, with the team winning 11 regular-season games, losing only 5, upsetting their most hated rivals the Pittsburgh Steelers 48-37 in a playoff game, and almost pulling off the upset versus the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Browns also fielded one of the best rushing teams in the league. Behind a massive offensive line, Nick Chub and Kareem Hunt tore up opposing defenses. Cleveland ran for 148.4 yards per, ranking third in the category.

Football rules in Ohio, which is why even though the Buckeyes will field a contender for the March Madness Tournament, Ohio sports fans are eagerly awaiting the March 15 start of the new NFL season.

For once, Browns fans have something to think about that makes them smile. Cleveland is a good football team, and this is shown by their odds for the upcoming season with both mainstream and sites using pay per head software.

The offense is borderline outstanding. It averaged 25.5 points each game, fourteenth in the NFL.

The gridiron organization won’t spend draft picks or free agent money on the offense. The Cleveland Browns’ defense, though, could use some help.

Cleveland will look to acquire a DE to play on the other end of Myles Garrett

The Browns’ most important goal? Add a defensive end who could help alleviate pressure on Myles Garrett. Adding a top-notch defensive end, the Browns could run stunts along the defensive line, keeping opposing offenses off-balance.

The top free agent defensive end on the market, J.J. Watt, already found a new home. JJ could sign with the Arizona Cardinals before March 15 because Houston released the future hall of fame player.

With Watt in AZ, the Browns could go after Leonard Williams, the New York Giants’ star end. But Dave Gettleman, the Giants’ GM, will likely franchise Williams.

One defensive-end that won’t cost nearly as much as Williams, but has a ton of upside, is New Orleans Saints player Trey Hendrickson. The 26-year-old had 13.5 sacks last season.

Singing Hendrickson makes a ton of sense. Trey turned into a monster defensive-end because he played on the other side of the line opposite Cam Jordan.

Jordan produced 7.5 sacks. Offensive coordinators figured out how to contain the Saints’ top defensive-end, which allowed Hendrickson to dominate.

The same scenario could play out in Cleveland. Sign Trey Hendrickson and then watch teams scramble to figure out how to contain both Hendrickson and Garrett from sacking their quarterback.

Browns will go for best defensive player available with 26^th pick

Because Cleveland has a late pick in the first round, they’ll likely draft the best defensive player available. That player could be anybody from TCU safety Trevor Moehrig, Miami edge Gregory Rousseau, Washington Huskies edge Joe Tyron, or Alabama defensive lineman Christian Barmore.

We hope the Browns find their defensive end or edge rusher via free agency. Williams, if Gettleman doesn’t franchise him, or Hendrickson would be best, but other ends like Melvin Ingram, Romeo Okwara, and Carl Lawson should also be available.

Lawson is interesting because he plays for the Cincinnati Bengals. Taking away a top player from a division rival is always a good move.

If the Browns do shore up their defensive line via free agency, they’ll concentrate on drafting a safety. But Cleveland may not have the luxury with pick 26.

An essential rule entering the NFL Draft is that you never reach in the first round. Even if you require a cornerback, you don’t take the top-rated cornerback on the board if you believe that cornerback has third-round talent.

Cleveland will make the right NFL Draft decision

No matter who the Browns select in the first round, the Dawg Pound should be happy. Since 2017, Cleveland’s drafts have rocked.

Myles Garrett may be the best defensive player in the league. Baker Mayfield has become one of the better starting quarterbacks in the NFL. Cornerback Denzel Ward is a starter. Left tackle Jedrick Willis, the 2020 first-round pick, is also a starter.

Of Cleveland’s six first-round picks since 2017, four are starters. Only Jabril Peppers and David Njoku don’t start for the Browns. Peppers plays for Buffalo, and Njoku has suffered injuries throughout his career.

Heading into free agency and the NFL Draft, Cleveland Browns fans have reason to be bullish on the team’s chances of winning Super Bowl LV. The Browns’ odds have already fallen. If the Browns sign a top DE in the coming weeks, expect their odds to plummet further.

Sports betting’s popularity in the United States is on the rise. If you want to back the Browns, make sure to look for a pay per head agent that uses bookie software.

Individual bookmakers have more flexibility. They can offer better odds on the Cleveland Browns to win the 2021 Super Bowl, which means if your favorite NFL team takes the Vince Lombardi Trophy next season, you make more for being a fan.