Analysing The Cleveland Browns' Defense In 2024
By Andy Davies
The Cleveland Browns are in one arguably the toughest divisions in the NFL, with a genuine case for all four teams winning it.
Cleveland’s defense is seen as the core reason why the Browns can win the AFC North. But is this enough for them to win the division?
Here is a further look at the Browns defense going into the 2024 season.
A stellar pass defense
The Browns has established themselves as one of the best defensive teams around since Kevin Stefanski was appointed head coach in 2020.
They allowed the ninth least rushing yards in Stefanski’s first year in charge and have been in the top five pass defenses in the three seasons that have followed. This includes being the top spot for pass defense and total yards allowed per game in 2023. Whether this is Denzel Ward, Grant Delpit or Greg Newsome, this is easily one of the best secondaries in the NFL.
The scariest thing is that their best player on defense in Myles Garrett, is not even responsible for the lack of passing yards due to his position as a defensive end.
Garrett made in 88.5 career sacks with 14 in 2023 as he earned the Defensive Player of the Year award. He and the Browns managed to have the 11th best run defense in the league last year and alongside Dalvin Tomlinson, Shelby Harris and Za’Darius Smith, this is a defensive line that can cause problems once again in the NFL.
Operating a 4-3 defensive scheme, this is a team that likes to blitz and with Smith and Garrett on the edge, this is a defense that can trouble anyone on their day and certainly help guide this team to a division berth. However, there is one glaring issue that could get in their way.
Could Deshaun Watson hinder the Browns’ season?
If this was the Deshaun Watson between the years of 2018, 2019 and 2020, then the Browns would be one of the favourites for the Super Bowl.
With weapons such as Amari Cooper and David Njoku, as well as a brilliant offensive line featuring Jedrick Wills, Joel Bitonio, Wyatt Teller and Jack Conklin, this is an offense that is the dream for any quarterback to work with.
Whether this has been due to injury or league suspension, Watson has only started 12 games in two seasons in a Browns jersey, in which he has only thrown for 14 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He ran for 17 touchdowns whilst with the Houston Texans, including seven in 2019. He has recorded just two in total for Cleveland.
Watson has failed to deliver despite over $200 million in guaranteed money and multiple first round picks given up. The Browns may feel they have no other option than to take the hit and release him.
A division filled with excellent defense
The Browns have an excellent defense, but so does the rest of the division.
Whilst they probably have the weakest defense of the four, the Cincinnati Bengals still have Trey Hendrickson, the hometown kid Sam Hubbard, offseason addition Geno Stone and a fantastic schemist in defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo.
The Pittsburgh Steelers will always be competitive with Mike Tomlin as their head coach and with the experience of Cam Heyward, TJ Watt, Minkah Fitzpatrick and Patrick Queen as well as exciting young players such as Joey Porter Jr, this is a fantastic unit.
Finally, the Baltimore Ravens are seen as one of the Super Bowl favourites and have a stacked roster everywhere. The franchise bleed defense and may have lost the aforementioned Stone and Queen to division rivals, but they still have Kyle Hamilton, Nnamdi Madubuike, Roquan Smith and Marcus Williams.
The Browns may have a lot of success in non-division games with a stellar defense but unless Watson sorts himself out on the field, then they will never go further than just being playoff contenders.
ANDY DAVIES
NFL ANALYST
ANDY IS A SPORTS JOURNALISM GRADUATE WITH OVER FOUR YEARS EXPERIENCE OF NFL WRITING AND PODCASTING. ANDY HAS BEEN TO EVERY NFL STADIUM AND IS THE HOST OF THE ACROSS THE POD PODCAST AND HAS PRESS PASS EXPERIENCE AT THE LONDON GAMES AND MANY OTHER NFL BASED EVENTS, HAVING INTERVIEWED THE LIKES OF JASON BELL, OSI UMENYIORA, DOUG PEDERSON, DERRICK HENRY, TREVOR LAWRENCE AND MIKE VRABE.