The Cleveland Browns are working toward the 2025 NFL season after suffering a noticeable drop off on defense in 2024. After two underwhelming years, the Browns cut their losses with safety Juan Thornhill in hopes of re-energizing a mediocre defensive core. Exiting 2024, Cleveland was the juggernaut of the league with a lethal 40% pressure rate. Their overall effectiveness bottomed out tremendously with the team falling from 1st to 23rd in the yards per play allowed metric. The organization is leaning on some key signings and emerging talents to get the unit back to its elite ways.
During the 2024 season, Myles Garrett was the overwhelming choice as an impact player. In fact, he was the only player on the entire team to even get 20 pressures. And yet, despite this one success, the defense completely fell apart. They are dead last, allowing an average of 5.6 yards per play – a big jump from last year’s 4.6 yards. With hopes of reclaiming another championship title, the Browns are working hard to mesh new players in with their well-oiled machine while cultivating in-house talent.
Defensive Changes and Challenges
The Browns had to make the tough choice of parting ways with a few defenders after the 2024 season. Thornhill’s release was just one piece of a larger effort to retool a disappointing defense in terms of its overall play. The team previously released eager Dalvin Tomlinson. They declined to re-sign Maurice Hurst, making for a telling departure from their primary strategy.
To stiffen their last line of defense, they brought in veteran safeties Damontae Kazee and Rayshawn Jenkins. Both players would come with tons of experience and a certain skill level that would further improve an already stacked secondary. In addition to his coaching duties, they signed Collins to a two-year, $20 million deal. Last year, Collins ranked 7th-best pass rush win rate with a 12.7% rate, no less, among all IDL. This investment is an indication of the team’s hope to drastically improve their pass-rush capabilities.
Before Schwartz was hired as the Eagles defensive coordinator, coach Jim Schwartz preached the value of capitalizing on pressure chances. He said that defensive tactics have to change in order to more effectively take advantage of times where opposing centers are sliding protection toward Garrett.
“And one of those is the center slide. And if the centers always slide into Myles, that provides a lot of opportunities for a player there. We have to take better advantage of those situations than we did last year.” – Jim Schwartz
Despite these acquisitions, challenges remain. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is set to miss the entirety of the 2025 season due to a neck injury. This will force a Leighton Vander Esch sized hole in the linebacker depth that the team will need to fill somehow.
Emerging Talents and Key Contributors
Further to veteran signings, the Browns are looking for some returning players to seize opportunities with increased responsibilities. Ronnie Hickman was a promising option and should be headed into competition as a full-time starter opposite safety Grant Delpit in 2025. Hickman’s jaw-dropping statistics pretty much speak for themselves. He closed a small window on 41.7% of targets—highest rate among safeties with at least ten targets all season in 2023.
The continued reliance on 2023 season contributors is pretty telling about the state of this team. Most players from last season’s defensive roster remain intact, providing continuity as they aim to improve their performance metrics. Schwartz further discusses his views on completing plays as a key developmental focus. As he notes, the key to the most successful defenses isn’t surprising opponents with odd formations, it’s winning your plays in key moments.
“The biggest thing has just been finishing at the ball,” – Jim Schwartz
Emerging player Graham will too have a chance to join at least initially make an impact on the defense. He learns at lightning speed and quickly starts adding value on day one. This skill might be the one most important to a team looking to improve its serviceable defense.
Analyzing Defensive Performance Metrics
The Browns’ defensive performance metrics paint a picture of pessimistic trends they need to shore up to have any real success going forward. Plus, they didn’t have any success on third downs, finishing eighth to last with a 36.2% conversion rate. On the flip side, they were abysmal at forcing them, finishing with just 12 takeaways during the 2024 campaign—tied for second fewest in the NFL. This difference highlights the importance of ball-hawking ability in the secondary.
As Schwartz admitted, creating turnovers is an art form and Schwartz has a knack for finding specific talents who can excel in this area. His remarks about Carson underscore this belief.
“He’s always been a ball hawk,” – Jim Schwartz
“Carson has a unique feel to find the ball and get it on the ground,” – Jason Tarver
The Browns’ coaching staff is intent on refining their defensive concepts. In the process, they’re creating a culture that rewards dirty playing and promotes cutthroat behavior.
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