The Cleveland Browns have some difficult decisions to make with their roster before the start of the season. The team has drafted well over the past few seasons while bringing in young players in free agency. The loaded roster could lead to talented players being cut or traded.
One free-agent addition that came as a shock was the signing of defensive tackle Malik McDowell. The former second-round pick has never played a snap in a regular-season NFL game and had been out of the league since being released by the Seattle Seahawks in 2019.
The 35th overall pick in the 2017 NFL draft, McDowell obviously had the physical tools to play in the NFL but off the field issues, which included a major injury and legal trouble, kept him from playing.
He has shown flashes for the Browns this preseason but still is not guaranteed to make the initial 53-man roster. If he does, his play on snaps like this will be why:
— Anthony Y. (@hunkura) August 30, 2021
As always, it is important to note the level of competition a play is against. In this case, McDowell is moving the Atlanta Falcons’ fourth-round pick from 2021, Drew Dalman. From where Dalman snaps the ball to where he ends up on the ground, McDowell drives the lineman six yards backward.
While Dalman was able to turn his shoulders just enough to keep McDowell from getting in the way of the ball carrier, these kinds of reps on film are impressive. With Myles Garrett, Jadeveon Clowney, Takk McKinley and Malik Jackson on the line, the ability to take a blocker clean out of the play can be devastating to an offense.
Imagine McDowell’s quickness and strength off the snap pushing the center into a quarterback’s lap as he drops back to pass with Garrett and Clowney closing in from the outside. Could be devastating.
McDowell first has to make the team. Cleveland must know that he can do more than just flash. With a good team hoping to compete for more than just a winning record, the Browns need to know he can make the simple plays as well.
We will find out his fate sooner rather than later but, for now, we will enjoy watching him push Dalman back six yards.