The Cleveland Browns' problems on offense last year overshadowed their underwhelming and underachieving defense. They wound up finishing 23rd in the NFL in defensive efficiency, three spots lower in the rankings than their offense.
In turn, Cleveland's new regime was busy this offseason, making upgrades on the margins to buttress a young core while using all three of its Day 2 draft picks on defense, as well.
So are the Browns better, worse or the same?
After addressing the same question about the offense last week, here's a position-by-position breakdown of the defense:
Defensive line
Additions: Andrew Billings (free agent), Adrian Clayborn (free agent), Jordan Elliott (third-round pick), Jeffery Whatley (undrafted free agent), George Obinna (undrafted free agent)
Losses: Bryan Cox Jr. (Bills), Brandin Bryant (unsigned)
Returners: Myles Garrett, Olivier Vernon, Larry Ogunjobi, Sheldon Richardson, Chad Thomas, Justin Zimmer, Daniel Ekuale, Eli Ankou, Trevon Young, Porter Gustin, Robert McCray
Better, worse or the same? Better.
Presumably having Garrett for an entire season automatically makes this group better. Garrett, who has since been reinstated, was suspended for the season on Nov. 14 for his helmet swing on Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph, and the defense never recovered.
The Browns, however, were active all offseason trying to get Garrett more help. They landed Clayborn, who quietly has been one of the most effective pass-rushers in the NFL. In fact, according to NFL Next Gen Stats, Clayborn ranks second in the league over the past two seasons in QB pressure rate, trailing only Garrett.
"The guys we have, guys we added in the draft and free agency, I feel really good," said defensive coordinator Joe Woods. "I've been part of teams, going back to Denver and San Francisco (last year), where everything started up front. With the guys that we have on our defense right now, I feel like we can really do some things, in the run game and in the pass game."
Linebackers
Additions: B.J. Goodson (free agent), Jacob Phillips (third-round pick), Solomon Ajayi (undrafted free agent)
Losses: Joe Schobert (Jaguars), Christian Kirksey (Packers), Adarius Taylor (unsigned)
Returners: Mack Wilson, Sione Takitaki, Willie Harvey, Tae Davis, Jermaine Grace, Montrel Meander
Better, worse or the same? Worse.
The Browns understandably declined to compete with Jacksonville's five-year, $53.75 million offer to Schobert. And the only way they were keeping Kirksey after another injury-riddled season was if he restructured his deal for less money, which he didn't (in fact, he got another $4 million guaranteed from Green Bay).
That means the Browns will be relying on second-year linebackers Wilson and Takitaki to pick up much of the slack. And although it's a positional reset that could result in some immediate growing pains, the new regime seems to believe in the young duo long term.
"They're both athletic. They have cover skills. They have range. They play with a nasty demeanor," Woods said. "Both of those guys just look like what we want in a linebacker. Athletic, play physical and run to the ball. I think they are a natural fit. They're just both young guys who need to keep gaining experience."
Cornerbacks
Additions: Donovan Olumba (free agent), Kevin Johnson (free agent), A.J. Green (undrafted free agent), Jameson Houston (undrafted free agent)
Losses: T.J. Carrie (Colts)
Returners: Denzel Ward, Greedy Williams, Terrance Mitchell, Tavierre Thomas, Robert Jackson, Donnie Lewis Jr.
Better, worse or the same? The same.
Ward and Williams are back to man the starting corner jobs, after hamstring injuries hampered both last year. They need to play better than they did in 2019, and better health should help them do just that.
The big change is the arrival of Johnson, who replaces Carrie as the team's likely nickelback. Johnson is an underrated tackler, which makes him a solid fit in Woods' scheme.
Safeties
Additions: Karl Joseph (free agent), Andrew Sendejo (free agent), Grant Delpit (second-round pick), Jovante Moffatt (undrafted free agent), Elijah Benton (undrafted free agent)
Losses: Damarious Randall (Raiders), Juston Burris (Panthers), Morgan Burnett (unsigned)
Returners: Sheldrick Redwine, J.T. Hassell
Better, worse or the same? Better.
Due to a series of injuries and off-the-field incidents, safety was a revolving door for the Browns last year, prompting new general manager Andrew Berry to completely overhaul the position.
Veterans Joseph and Sendejo, who both signed one-year deals, should stabilize this position. But Redwine and Delpit, who had first-round ability yet fell to the second after struggling to tackle his final season at LSU, are the future.
"Grant is a very talented player," Woods said. "When you look at his tape, he has the ability to play down in the box, and he has the ability to play in the post. We can play him in the dime. He can match up in the slot and man coverage. He is the ideal type of athlete that I look forward to getting in the secondary. The size and the speed, to me, he possesses it all.
"Obviously, everybody has talked about it, and he has heard about it from everybody about the tackling issues. The one thing is I know he can tackle. We just need him to be more consistent. That is something we'll work on. He is eager, and he is ready to go."