BEREA, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Those who were hoping the Browns were going to spend money at defensive tackle this offseason were disappointed.
Turns out, a youth movement in the middle of the defensive line was the plan all along.
“I think we’re at a position where we’re trying to develop young players along with some free agents,” defensive coordinator Joe Woods said Friday morning prior to the third practice of training camp. “And certain times within the team you’re going to have those moments where you’re developing young guys at the position so for us this year, we have some youth at the defensive tackle position but they’re talented.”
Jordan Elliott and Taven Bryan are the most experienced players at the position.
“Yeah, we do have a young room there in the interior but guys who we are excited about,” head coach Kevin Stefanski said. “We talked about Jordan Elliott [Thursday] as a guy who I think going into his third year it really seems to be clicking for him just with how he has handled this offseason. There are a bunch of young guys who I am excited to get some reps. It is all new so they are going to make some mistakes, like we talked about earlier, but it is about not making the same mistake twice.”
Bryan has 63 games with 17 starts over four years while with the Jaguars under his belt. He had a pair of sacks, eight QB hits and four tackles for loss last season. Elliott appeared in 16 games with three starts last year for the Browns where he was credited with a half sack, four QB hits and a batted pass.
“He looks great. I think he feels great. Excited about what he has,” Stefanski said f Elliott on Thursday. “He has given us some really good moments in his first couple of seasons. I think he is ready to take on that bigger role. I think he is excited about it. Just the way he has attacked this offseason showed me that he is trending in the right direction.”
Perrion Winfrey, their charismatic fourth-round pick, will get an opportunity to earn significant playing time as a rookie.
Another fourth-round pick, Tommy Togiai, who had half a sack, a pass breakup and QB hit and 16 tackles in limited time over six games as a rookie in 2021, will also have the chance to earn rotation time along with Sheldon Day, who has started three games over his six-year career.
Like Stefanski, Woods expects some growing pains.
“Along the way they’re probably going to make some mistakes as they’re growing into the position and learning it but I think that’s just the process we’re going to have to go through this year,” Woods said.