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The Cleveland Browns made a surprising move when they released starting defensive tackle Davlin Tomlinson before the league year. The Browns signed veteran defensive tackle Maliek Collins to replace Tomlinson in their lineup. However, the team will still enter the NFL draft with defensive tackle as a position of weakness.
The Browns need to beef up the interior of their defensive line. Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz spent most of his career turning the physically largest players on the field into stars. Schwartz lets his defensive tackles inflict havoc on offensive lines. The Browns’ defensive interior is lacking size. Schwartz needs to find his next wrecking ball.
The 2025 NFL draft has one of the deepest defensive tackle classes in recent memory. The group is chock-full of game-breaking one-techniques and three-techniques who can rush the passer. The Browns should exploit the strong class by finding Tomlinson’s replacement. The Browns must find another star to fortify their defensive trenches. The team has a lot of options to choose from. Here are my five favorite defensive tackle prospects for the Browns.
Kenneth Grant is one part of one of the best defensive tackle duos in college football history. The 6-foot-3, 342-pound tackle played next to Mason Graham. While Graham got most of the hype and awards, Grant was essential to the Michigan Wolverines' National Championship. Grant has recorded 12 tackles for loss and 6-and-a-half sacks over the past two seasons. He is projected to go in the first round of the NFL draft.
Grant’s size is the first thing to stand out about him. His body nearly takes up two gaps on the line of scrimmage. Grant is strong and utilizes his size well as he fights for leverage and gap control. He’s one of the best run stuffers in the draft. Grant is an explosive player with frightening speed. He can hawk down ball carriers up the field and can disrupt the line of scrimmage in a step.
Grant is one of the top defensive tackle prospects in the draft. He should go in the top half of round one, but he could slip due to perceived limitations. Grant wasn’t asked to deploy his talents a lot at Michigan. The Wolverines preferred Graham as their game-wrecker in the interior. Teams could want a more proven disruptor in the first round. If Grant falls to pick 33, the Browns should turn in the draft card on the first night of day one.
Tyleik Williams anchored Ohio State’s defensive line for the past four seasons. The 6-foot-2, 337-pound defensive tackle was a wrecking ball for the Buckeyes. He wreaked havoc in the opponent's backfield. He had eight tackles for loss and three and a half sacks last season. Williams is an incredibly powerful player with great speed for his size. He is projected to go in the first or second round.
Williams would be a great addition to the Cleveland Browns. He has years of chemistry, starting next to Michael Hall Jr. in college. Williams would provide the Browns with a promising one-technique who can stonewall double teams and cap pockets, and be powerful enough to cave in offensive lines.
Williams would be an expensive replacement for Tomlinson. The Browns would need to select him early in the second round. However, Williams would be a great long-term investment in the trenches.
Alfred Collins is a space-eater from the University of Texas. The 6-foot-5, 332-pound monster in the middle has been one of the premier run defenders in college football. Collins has one of the largest wingspans in NFL history, with 85 inches. His size and strength allow him to control multiple gaps in the run game. Collins never produced a lot in his five years of college football. He recorded 18 tackles for loss and seven sacks in his career. Collins projects as a day-two pick due to his limited pass-rushing abilities.
Collins would be a good addition to a Browns team desperate to stop the run. The Browns have never found a way to limit the best rushing attacks in the NFL. Collins could provide the Browns value on early downs as he develops into a pass rusher. Collins could be an affordable option to replace Tomlinson. The Browns have three selections between the 67th and 104th picks. Collins would be a great option for them in that range.
Jamaree Caldwell is one of the most entertaining prospects in the NFL draft. Caldwell is built like a bowling ball, standing at 6-foot-2 and 342 pounds. Caldwell has been overlooked as part of a good University of Oregon defensive line. The senior transferred to Oregon for his final season. Caldwell had a productive season for the Ducks, recording five tackles for loss. He is projected to be selected on day three of the draft.
Caldwell’s agility stands out the most in the film. He can bend corners, squeeze through gaps, loop around linemen, and drop into coverage. His movement abilities are exceptional for his size. Caldwell is a powerful player and can eat up double teams with ease. Caldwell didn’t have a lot of opportunities to rush the passer in Oregon. However, he showed he could get after the quarterback earlier in his career.
Caldwell was built to play in the AFC North. He has the power and agility that AFC North nose tackles are known for. My pro comparison for him is Michael Pierce. Caldwell will likely go early on day three. If the Browns haven’t addressed the defensive line through their first four picks, they must spend their fourth-round pick on Caldwell. The defensive tackle won’t be available in the sixth round.
Jay Toia is one of the most underrated prospects in the NFL draft. The 6-foot-1 339-pound nose tackle was the anchor for the UCLA Bruins. Toia is a stout run defender with the power to push back the line of scrimmage. Toia had a modest career for the Bruins. He registered nine tackles for loss, and three sacks in his four years. Toia is projected to go on day three of the NFL draft.
Toia is a raw prospect without a ton of refinement in his techniques. Toia is learning how to hand fight properly. He allows blockers to get into his chest quickly. Toia is a powerful athlete with limited speed. When he plays with proper technique, he looks like a professional athlete. However, he’s far too inconsistent of a player for teams to draft him early.
Toia would be a good fit for the Browns. The team has done a good job of grooming defensive linemen throughout their rookie contracts. Toia is a strong defensive tackle with above-average agility. He is a promising prospect in the interior. However, it could take him years to reach his full potential as a run stuffer. Toia will likely go near the end of the draft. The Browns should take a swing on him if they haven’t addressed defensive tackle by the sixth round.
This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: Browns: Dalvin Tomlinson replacements in the 2025 NFL draft
Continue reading...
The Browns need to beef up the interior of their defensive line. Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz spent most of his career turning the physically largest players on the field into stars. Schwartz lets his defensive tackles inflict havoc on offensive lines. The Browns’ defensive interior is lacking size. Schwartz needs to find his next wrecking ball.
The 2025 NFL draft has one of the deepest defensive tackle classes in recent memory. The group is chock-full of game-breaking one-techniques and three-techniques who can rush the passer. The Browns should exploit the strong class by finding Tomlinson’s replacement. The Browns must find another star to fortify their defensive trenches. The team has a lot of options to choose from. Here are my five favorite defensive tackle prospects for the Browns.
Kenneth Grant, Michigan
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Kenneth Grant is one part of one of the best defensive tackle duos in college football history. The 6-foot-3, 342-pound tackle played next to Mason Graham. While Graham got most of the hype and awards, Grant was essential to the Michigan Wolverines' National Championship. Grant has recorded 12 tackles for loss and 6-and-a-half sacks over the past two seasons. He is projected to go in the first round of the NFL draft.
Grant’s size is the first thing to stand out about him. His body nearly takes up two gaps on the line of scrimmage. Grant is strong and utilizes his size well as he fights for leverage and gap control. He’s one of the best run stuffers in the draft. Grant is an explosive player with frightening speed. He can hawk down ball carriers up the field and can disrupt the line of scrimmage in a step.
Grant is one of the top defensive tackle prospects in the draft. He should go in the top half of round one, but he could slip due to perceived limitations. Grant wasn’t asked to deploy his talents a lot at Michigan. The Wolverines preferred Graham as their game-wrecker in the interior. Teams could want a more proven disruptor in the first round. If Grant falls to pick 33, the Browns should turn in the draft card on the first night of day one.
Tyleik Williams, Ohio State
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Tyleik Williams anchored Ohio State’s defensive line for the past four seasons. The 6-foot-2, 337-pound defensive tackle was a wrecking ball for the Buckeyes. He wreaked havoc in the opponent's backfield. He had eight tackles for loss and three and a half sacks last season. Williams is an incredibly powerful player with great speed for his size. He is projected to go in the first or second round.
Williams would be a great addition to the Cleveland Browns. He has years of chemistry, starting next to Michael Hall Jr. in college. Williams would provide the Browns with a promising one-technique who can stonewall double teams and cap pockets, and be powerful enough to cave in offensive lines.
Williams would be an expensive replacement for Tomlinson. The Browns would need to select him early in the second round. However, Williams would be a great long-term investment in the trenches.
Alfred Collins, Texas
You must be registered for see images
Alfred Collins is a space-eater from the University of Texas. The 6-foot-5, 332-pound monster in the middle has been one of the premier run defenders in college football. Collins has one of the largest wingspans in NFL history, with 85 inches. His size and strength allow him to control multiple gaps in the run game. Collins never produced a lot in his five years of college football. He recorded 18 tackles for loss and seven sacks in his career. Collins projects as a day-two pick due to his limited pass-rushing abilities.
Collins would be a good addition to a Browns team desperate to stop the run. The Browns have never found a way to limit the best rushing attacks in the NFL. Collins could provide the Browns value on early downs as he develops into a pass rusher. Collins could be an affordable option to replace Tomlinson. The Browns have three selections between the 67th and 104th picks. Collins would be a great option for them in that range.
Jamaree Caldwell, Oregon
You must be registered for see images attach
Jamaree Caldwell is one of the most entertaining prospects in the NFL draft. Caldwell is built like a bowling ball, standing at 6-foot-2 and 342 pounds. Caldwell has been overlooked as part of a good University of Oregon defensive line. The senior transferred to Oregon for his final season. Caldwell had a productive season for the Ducks, recording five tackles for loss. He is projected to be selected on day three of the draft.
Caldwell’s agility stands out the most in the film. He can bend corners, squeeze through gaps, loop around linemen, and drop into coverage. His movement abilities are exceptional for his size. Caldwell is a powerful player and can eat up double teams with ease. Caldwell didn’t have a lot of opportunities to rush the passer in Oregon. However, he showed he could get after the quarterback earlier in his career.
Caldwell was built to play in the AFC North. He has the power and agility that AFC North nose tackles are known for. My pro comparison for him is Michael Pierce. Caldwell will likely go early on day three. If the Browns haven’t addressed the defensive line through their first four picks, they must spend their fourth-round pick on Caldwell. The defensive tackle won’t be available in the sixth round.
Jay Toia, UCLA
You must be registered for see images
Jay Toia is one of the most underrated prospects in the NFL draft. The 6-foot-1 339-pound nose tackle was the anchor for the UCLA Bruins. Toia is a stout run defender with the power to push back the line of scrimmage. Toia had a modest career for the Bruins. He registered nine tackles for loss, and three sacks in his four years. Toia is projected to go on day three of the NFL draft.
Toia is a raw prospect without a ton of refinement in his techniques. Toia is learning how to hand fight properly. He allows blockers to get into his chest quickly. Toia is a powerful athlete with limited speed. When he plays with proper technique, he looks like a professional athlete. However, he’s far too inconsistent of a player for teams to draft him early.
Toia would be a good fit for the Browns. The team has done a good job of grooming defensive linemen throughout their rookie contracts. Toia is a strong defensive tackle with above-average agility. He is a promising prospect in the interior. However, it could take him years to reach his full potential as a run stuffer. Toia will likely go near the end of the draft. The Browns should take a swing on him if they haven’t addressed defensive tackle by the sixth round.
This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: Browns: Dalvin Tomlinson replacements in the 2025 NFL draft
Continue reading...
