Dawgs By Nature
Cleveland’s defensive tackle situation is not pretty, so they may be interested in some short-term veteran help.
The quarterback situation is receiving most of the attention this offseason, but it is not the only area plaguing the Cleveland Browns.
Defensive tackle is also a problem area as age is slowly catching up with Dalvin Tomlinson and Shelby Harris, injuries have hit Maurice Hurst and Michael Hall Jr., while Michael Dwumfour, Ralph Holley, and Sam Kamara have been interchangeable parts at the end of the roster.
It would not be a long-term fix, but if the Browns are interested in a one-year stopgap, they may take a look at veteran free agent Sebastian Joseph-Day.
Name: Sebastian Joseph-Day
Position: Defensive tackle
Height/Weight: 6-foot-4, 310 pounds
Age: 29
2024 Team: Tennessee Titans
2024 stats: 17 games, 12 starts, 44 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 6 quarterback hits
Career stats: 88 games, 80 starts, 273 tackles, 24 tackles for loss, 13.5 sacks, 37 quarterback hits
PFF Grade: 70.3 overall, 52.3 pass rush, 77.9 run defense
2024 contract: One-year deal with the Titans worth $4 million
Fit with the Browns
Joseph-Day has been durable having played in at least 16 games in every season but one in his NFL career. While not the strongest against the pass, he is dependable against the run and his PFF run defense grade would have made him by the far best among Cleveland’s interior defenders had he been on the roster in 2024.
Browns player signing could impact
Joseph-Day would slide into the defensive tackle rotation and could take one of the veteran spots currently held by Dalvin Tomlinson or Shelby Harris. Or simply replace one of the end-of-the-roster players like Michael Dwumfour, Ralph Holley, or Sam Kamara.
How the signing could impact the NFL Draft
Even if the Browns make a move in free agency to sign a defensive tackle, they should still draft one to build some better depth to protect against the inevitable injuries at the position.
Priority: Medium. The Browns need to put some thought into the position, but you can’t fix every hole on the roster so it will be interesting to watch how general manager Andrew Berry approaches the problem in the coming weeks.
Projected contract (via Over the Cap): $4.4 million per year
What do you think about Sebastian Joseph-Day for the Browns? Who are some other defensive tackles the team should be considering in free agency?
