It’s one week from the Browns’ first full-squad training camp practice on July 23,
There have already been position group previews for the five offensive groups: Quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends and offensive linemen. Now the previews shift to the defensive side of the ball.
Advertisement
This preview looks at arguably the most important position group in defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz’s scheme. It’s time to dive into the defensive line.
Defensive endsDefensive tackles
(* — denotes rookie)
Into the numbers: Cleveland Browns DL
Garrett hold five of the top six single-season sacks totals, including back-to-back franchise record 16 sacks in 2021-22. The only non-Garrett season in that group was Reggie Camp’s 14-sack 1984, which is tied with Garrett’s 2023-23 seasons for third all-time.
The Browns’ defensive line holdovers from 2024 not named Garrett combined for seven sacks last season. The highest total was 2.5 by McGuire, while Harris had 1.5 sacks. Hall, Thomas and Wright each had one.
Tryon-Shoyinka, a 2021 first-round draft pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, has 15 career sacks. His single-season high is five, which he did in 2023.
McGuire, a 2023 fourth-round pick out of Missouri, was third on the Browns in pressures in 2024 with 29. He had 21 hurries, which was tied for second on the team.
Graham played in a defensive scheme at Michigan that required the tackles to occupy blockers more than attack the quarterback. Still, he finished with nine career sacks and 17 tackles for loss in three seasons.
Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) sacks Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert on Nov. 3, 2024, in Cleveland, Ohio.
What they’re saying: Cleveland Browns DL
Schwartz on Garrett’s contract extension and the motivation it provides, on June 4: “I really think Myles is going to have the best season of his career and has to, right? You know, I mean, and I’ve told him before…what’s that Spider Man quote? ‘With great power comes great responsibility,’ right? That’s with the big contract, with the notoriety that came along with that, you know, with the process that took to get him to that point. There’s always pressure in this league, but probably a little bit more so. And I think that, that brings out the best in players, and I know that’ll be the case with Myles.”
Garrett on Schwartz’s comments about having his “best season,” on June 10: “With great power comes great responsibility? So that would make him my Uncle Ben, right? I mean, I look forward to having my best season for sure and I think it’s trending that way. It’s been really good and I think everything’s pulling in that direction and I like where we are as a defensive unit. It’s really firing, really rolling and I think it’s really clicking as far as the scheme and the plays, especially early on. That’s big.”
Graham on adjusting to Browns’ aggressive defensive scheme, on May 9: “Yeah, I mean Coach Jac [defensive line coach Jacques Cesaire] always talks about taking the handcuffs off. I feel like maybe in the scheme I was playing in before, I might’ve had handcuffs off, moving more laterally. But I feel like Coach Jac and Coach Morris [assistant defensive line coach Adam Morris], this attacking front will help me and unleash some new things in my game and I feel like I can be a great player in the scheme.”
Cesaire on Wright’s progress, on June 12: “I mean, he’s just a tough physical defensive end that knows how to rush the passer with physicality, and I just like how he sets the edge. He has some position flex where he can play inside and give us a good rush, play outside and give us a good rush. And the guy’s just a hard worker, just another hungry, fast physical guy that we need on this defensive line.”
Schwartz on Hall coming into his second season, on June 4: “Just like any players — I would say this, you know, we talked about [safety] Ronnie [Hickman]. It should all come together in year three. But I do think the biggest improvement you see from players is year one to year two. You see rookies here, they don’t — everything is new to them. Standing in front of you guys, everything they do is new. And the second year they come back, they know what to expect. And I think you see the most improvement. We need that from Mike this year. He’s been set back with an injury, but he’s been working extremely hard to come back from it. And we’re real hopeful to get him back on the field.”
Training camp analysis: Cleveland Browns DL
There’s nothing wrong with starting with arguably the best pass rusher in the NFL, especially one who says he’s motivated to have his best season yet like Garrett has said after signing his new contract extension. The Browns are hoping Graham, the No. 5 overall pick in the draft, can help take some of the pressure off Garrett by providing his own pressure from the interior. It’s not just Graham, though. They’re banking on Hall, their 2024 second-round pick, to get healthy from a offseason knee surgery and be the additional pass rush from the inside who can also be part of a younger core going forward. The same holds true with McGuire and Wright, a 2022 third-round pick, at the end spot opposite Garrett. The Browns brought in Tryon-Shoyinka in the hopes of catching a bounce-back season from a former first-round pick in the same way they did with wide receiver Jerry Jeudy in 2024.
Advertisement
Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns 2025 camp position preview: Can rookie, Myles Garrett lift DL?