Any defense featuring Myles Garrett, Sheldon Richardson, Denzel Ward, Larry Ogunjobi, Olivier Vernon and a promising young supporting cast figures to be one of the NFL’s better units. Alas, it didn’t play out that way in 2019. Based on the preseason defensive unit rankings from Touchdown Wire, there is skepticism that the talent won’t equal the sum of its parts in 2020, either.
Cleveland checks in at No. 21, smack dab between Seattle and Indianapolis, in the preseason look at all 32 NFL teams and their defensive units.
The commentary offers a mix of upbeat optimism for brighter days under new coordinator Joe Woods with the downer that was the dramatic falloff by the 2019 unit after Myles Garrett got suspended.
Cleveland was as loaded with talent as any team, but fell from 14th to 26th in Defensive DVOA in the second half of the season as the offense similarly fell apart. The good news is that there are pieces with which to build for new defensive coordinator Joe Woods. Denzel Ward and Greedy Williams are two of the league’s best young cornerbacks, defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi remains an underrated force, and two LSU draftees — safety Grant Delpit and linebacker Jacob Phillips — should help the middle of the defense.
The poor finish in 2019 under adverse circumstances is definitely discouraging, but the talent in the front four and back five is fully capable of elevating the new-look Browns defense well above the current 21st ranking.