Cleveland Browns Beef Up Defensive Line, Sign Veteran To 2-Year Deal

The Cleveland Browns made the playoffs in 2023, and expectations were high last year. 2024 could not have gone worse. Deshaun Watson looked terrible and tore his Achilles, ending his season. The defense regressed, partly due to injuries. This offseason has been eventful for the team. The Myles Garrett saga concluded this week as the team handed him the richest non-quarterback contract in NFL history. The front office continued to beef up the line on Wednesday, signing former 49ers defensive tackle Maliek Collins to a two-year deal.

Cleveland Browns Sign Maliek Collins

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports it is a two-year deal worth up to $20 million, with $13 million fully guaranteed. He was released by the San Francisco 49ers this week, and it didn’t take long for him to find another home. The former third-round pick had a solid year last year, racking up 33 total tackles, 12 quarterback hits, and 5.0 sacks. Over his nine-year career, he has consistently provided solid production on the defensive line.

The Cleveland Browns could use some consistency on the defensive line. They gave up a ton of rushing yards last year and need some talented players to plug up running lanes. Collins also brings a good locker-room presence as he has been in the league for almost a decade. This is a good signing, but it doesn’t answer any of the key questions surrounding the team.

2025 Outlook

We will get a clearer picture of what the Cleveland Browns are doing after the NFL Draft. They hold the second-overall pick, putting them in a prime position to get a quarterback. However, many analysts have predicted they will look to improve another position. Some of it is the subpar quarterback class, and some of it is the massive amount of money still owed to Watson. The quarterback position is the biggest question for the team in 2025.

More than likely, the Browns will be occupying the basement of the AFC North. They have decent talent, but the questions at quarterback limit the excitement around this team. However, if they do figure out the position, this could be an interesting team to play spoiler in the AFC.