Jordan Elliott's New Deal is an Admission Browns Still Need a Starter
In restructuring Jordan Elliott's contract, the Cleveland Browns guaranteed him a roster spot this year, ramping up the competition for the remaining three-tech defensive tackles on the roster while admitting something that has been painfully clear. They don't have a starter. That would mean they need to find a starter and the remaining three-tech defensive tackles are competing for one remaining spot on the opening day roster.
Elliott agreed to reduce his cap hit to $1.725 million between guaranteed salary and a signing bonus. There is another $200,000 in game bonuses, so as long as he plays, he's getting that too. The Browns save a small amount of money while putting Elliott in a role he's currently best suited to play.
Elliott is a three-tech but has the capability to rush the passer from the nose. As a result, the nose is settled short of an injury. Dalvin Tomlinson and Siaki Ika will make the opening day roster and Elliott can function there situationally. Since the Browns are a virtual lock to keep ten defensive linemen with five defensive ends, that leaves two more spots for three-tech defensive tackles.
By leaning on Elliott to restructure, the Browns are admitting he's not the starter. The only other candidates on the roster are Maurice Hurst II, who has played 41 combined snaps the past two seasons, Trysten Hill, who is on his third team in two seasons, showing the occasional flash in a sea of mediocre play and second-year defensive tackle Perrion Winfrey who has been as unreliable on the field as he's been off of it.
Short of a miracle, two of these three players are not going to add up to a starter. A position the Browns have been dreadful the past two seasons, it would negligent to go into a third season in a row hoping that a starter will emerge.
The Browns want to utilize Myles Garrett, Za'Darius Smith and Ogbonnia Okoronkwo on the field as often as possible and their opponents know that, so they are incentivized to run the ball in an effort to stay on schedule and keep themselves out of obvious passing situations. The Browns answer can't simply be to outscore the opponent.
After a disappointing rookie season that saw Winfrey disciplined for showing up late for meetings and practice, then suffered a concussion riding a scooter, the second-year defensive tackle was arrested and charged for assault involving a woman he was dating in Houston. The fact that Winfrey completed a diversion program to get the charges dropped doesn't make the arrest any less problematic given his pattern of behavior.
One of the benefits of this move with Elliott is it puts pressure on Winfrey to grow up or make it an easy decision for the Browns to cut bait and move on. Whether or not they've told him this (and given his recent arrest, they may have), that message is pretty clear.
After a year in which the Browns cut corners on the defensive side of the ball, leaving that unit rudderless, immaturity ran rampant. This year, the Browns have invested not only in talent but professionalism and they don't have time to babysit a dysfunctional player.
It might be easier for the team to overlook Winfrey's irresponsible behavior if he was useful on the field. Granted, defensive tackle is a difficult transition to make from college to the NFL, but Winfrey's play as a rookie was just as poor as his judgment. The fact the Browns tend to be forgiving of their draft picks might help Winfrey's chances, but his best chance for making this team is based in a massive improvement entering his second season.
Maurice Hurst's contract doesn't include any guaranteed money. In many ways, he seems like a player who was signed specifically with the intent of having him up the competition and professionalism of the room while simultaneously hoping he can get to the practice squad similar to Sheldon Day last season.
Maybe there's a scenario where Hurst not only stays healthy but reclaims the form he showed in 2019 and 2020. At that point, the Browns might be compelled to keep him. Otherwise, it seems to be a two-man race for the final defensive tackle spot.
In many ways, Trysten Hill is in a similar point in his career as Elliott. In his fifth-year, he is running out of time to break through to get lucrative contracts. He also has the ability to rush the passer from the A gap and he's actually put up some interesting efficiency in obvious passing situations. If he can build on that, he might be able to make case for a spot on the roster over Winfrey.
Trysten Hill has $452,500 between guaranteed salary and signing bonus. If the Browns waive him and someone else claims him, his new team would take on the $300,000 of guaranteed salary and the Browns would only be on the hook for the $152,500 signing bonus.
If Hill were to clear waivers, the Browns would owe him the $300,000 but that might have been an inducement for that specific scenario. That money gets him to Cleveland and for the the offseason and training camp. At that point, he may determine that he might as well sign on the Browns practice squad, giving them some insurance in case of injury since it's likely they will need him on the active roster at some point during the season.
The most important takeaway from Elliott's restructured contract is the inherent admission they don't have a starting caliber three-tech. That is refreshing because it's an acknowledgement they have no intention of going into the season with Dalvin Tomlinson as the only proven defensive tackle on the roster.
The timing can't be ignored either. The Browns redid the contracts of Elliott and tight end Harrison Bryant as their last acts before the summer break, after OTAs and minicamp. There's no more football to evaluate until training camp starts in July. The Browns are acknowledging they don't have enough.
The question now is who do the Browns plan to add? Shelby Harris and Matt Ioannidis are the among the best available free agents, but there could be a player released or perhaps the Browns have their eye on a potential trade. That isn't a position that sees much movement and no obvious trade target stands out, so free agency seems more likely. Either way, expect the Browns to bring in a starting caliber three-tech to join Dalvin Tomlinson and fill the biggest remaining hole on their roster.
