Who are the potential 2024 free agents on defense the Cleveland Browns may target?

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Who are the potential 2024 free agents on defense the Cleveland Browns may target?

Chris Easterling, Akron Beacon Journal · Akron Beacon Journal

Sun, Mar 10, 2024 ·

6 min read

Christian Wilkins sweepstakes, Maurice Hurst II familiarity options at defensive tackle

Cincinnati Bengals' DJ Reader reacts during the first half against the Cleveland Browns on Dec. 11, 2022, in Cincinnati.

Shelby Harris

Maurice Hurst II

DaQuan Jones

D.J. Reader

Christian Wilkins

The first two names on the list — Harrisand Hurst— are two of the Browns' own free agents, and may be two of their higher-priority targets. Hurst, in particular, may be one they work hard to bring back, even if it's not in the initial wave of deals getting made. If the Browns believe they're better served allocating money toward bigger-ticket items at other positions, then it wouldn't be a terrible strategy to try to run back the defensive tackle rotations from a year ago. That's where Harris and Hurst, and even a Jordan Elliott , could work. … Joneshas injury concerns and is 32. Those kind of signings, though, have been where general manager Andrew Berry has seen some of his best success in free agency. When healthy, Jones can get after the passer, a must in a Jim Schwartz-coordinated defense. The former Buffalo Bill may be worth the dice roll to add to the tackle group. … Injuries have been the biggest obstacle the last two years for Readerin Cincinnati . However, when he's been healthy he's been a game-wrecker. Those injuries are what may stunt his market a bit. Reader will be 30 next season, but he'll just be turning that age. … The class of the defensive tackle crop is Wilkins. The 28-year-old who is coming off a career year with nine sacks and 23 quarterback hits. The four-year, $98-million contract — with $75.5 million guaranteed — the Baltimore Ravens gave Justin Madubuike on Friday and the five-year deal the Kansas City Chiefs gave Chris Jones late Saturday evening, with $95 million guaranteed over the first three years, could only make Wilkins and his representatives smile. He may turn into this year's Javon Hargraves, a Browns target whose price tag climbed too high for them to sign.

Defensive ends include stealing Jonathan Greenard from Houston , re-signing Za'Darius Smith

Autrymay be one of the oldest on this list at 34. However, the Tennessee Titans defensive lineman would be familiar with Schwartz due to the two years the latter was a senior defensive assistant before coming to Cleveland . Autry has the versatility to move around the line, playing both tackle and end. He also has the ability to get to the quarterback, as evidenced by the 11.5 sacks he posted a year ago. … Buffalo's salary-cap pain could be Cleveland's gain with Epenesa. The 25-year would certainly be a player the Bills would like to hang onto if they could, but they've had to already slash a number of veterans in the last week as quarterback Josh Allen 's extension kicks in. Espenesa has had 13 combined sacks in a part-time role the last two seasons. Are there more snaps, and money, available to him in Cleveland? … Greenardis another one whose biggest struggle is availability. He's missed 19 games over his first four seasons with the Houston Texans . However, when Greenard's on the field he's been a game-changer. He had 12.5 sacks and 48 pressures for the Texans last season. Could the market drive up the price on him? It's possible. The Browns, though, have a connection with him after they hired away Jacques Cesaire, his position coach with the Texans, to be their new defensive line coach. … Smithwas an unexpected addition last offseason for the Browns, when they acquired him in a trade with the Minnesota Vikings . The Pro Bowler performed well, even if the sack totals (5.5) were not up to his normal standard. Smith still was a menace to quarterbacks coming off the opposite edge from Myles Garrett . The Browns would love to replicate that next season. Will Smith, though, find the big deal he's looking for to prevent that from happening? … Youngcould be another former high draft pick whose star has fallen a bit the Browns may be willing to take a chance on. The former Ohio State standout had 7.5 sacks last season between the Washington Commanders and San Francisco 49ers , but seemed to find new life with the NFC champions. Those 49ers run a scheme that is at least cousins with the scheme Schwartz runs with the Browns. If Young were to get out of the Bay Area and truly out to market, a roll of the dice would be a definite risk worth taking.

Running it back with Sione Takitaki and/or Anthony Walker Jr. at linebacker

Cleveland Browns linebacker Sione Takitaki (44) reacts during the second half against the San Francisco 49ers on Oct. 15, 2023, in Cleveland.

Jerome Baker

Sione Takitaki

Anthony Walker Jr.

Linebacker has always ranked low on the positional importance scale in Schwartz's scheme, a high-impact linebacker like Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah notwithstanding. So, while Cleveland native and former Miami Dolphin Bakeris on this list, it seems like dedicating that kind of money to the position may not be high up on the priority list. That said, if they could make the money work, that would certainly make for a nice story, and even provide a quality player on the defense. … The reality of the situation, though, makes almost a certainty that at least one of Takitaki or Walker would be brought back. Both players are well-respected in the locker room and, at the very least, consummate pros on the field at their positions. While both have dealt with significant injuries in the last two seasons, the fact each of Walker's seasons ended on injured reserve may lead to a separation. The emphasis is on "may," because there's also no question the defense has had its struggles when he's not on the field.

Bring back Rodney McLeod for one more season at safety

Oct 15, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings (15) runs the ball as Cleveland Browns safety Rodney McLeod (26) tackles him from behind during the second quarter at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

Rodney McLeod

McLeod is on this list for much the same reason Takitaki and Walker were on the linebacker list, although it may or may not be as likely to happen as one or both of those. The veteran safety is 33 right now, and will be 34 by next season. Even with Grant Delpit and Juan Thornhill healthy — at least the Browns hope — next season, they still need a third safety. D'Anthony Bell could be an option there after the way he played while Delpit, Thornhill and McLeod were all injured in December, but it still feels like another veteran safety would make sense. McLeod was very highly regarded by both Schwartz and his teammates for what he brought to the defense, even after his season-ending biceps injury. It may be worth a chance if the deal is right and another option doesn't emerge.

Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ