Browns Digest

What Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, Dalvin Tomlinson Bring to Browns Defensive Line

Cleveland had a great first day of the 2023 Free Agent Tampering Period. They were able to sign one of their starting defensive tackles, and an above average pass rusher who should excel playing opposite of Myles Garrett in Jim Schwartz's new defense.

Matthew Wilson

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Monday, the Cleveland Browns agreed to deals with two players that upgrade the talent on the defensive line and fit the vision laid out by Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz.

Schwartz wants the defensive line to be the focal point of the defense in terms of play destruction. He lines his edge rushers up as far outside as he can without sacrificing defensive timing. Lining up defensive ends this wide requires the defense to use players with a very specific skillset. They need to be hyper-athletic and fast. They have to be able to "dance" around offensive tackles using technique, speed, and agility. Okoronkwo is exactly the type of player that can flourish in this scheme.

Whether Tomlinson lines up at 1-Technique or 3-Technique in Cleveland, Jim Schwartz will be able to rely on him to be a dominant force inside against both the run and pass.

Okoronkwo and Tomlinson definitely bring a lot of pieces to the puzzle that the Browns have been missing as of late. Specifically and most importantly, supplemental pass rushing ability across from Myles Garrett, as well as interior run stopping prowess. These two guys will undoubtedly play crucial roles in the improvement of Cleveland's overall defense in 2023. 

Here's a snapshot of what each guy will bring to the defensive line.

Ogbonnia Okoronkwo - 6'2" 253 Lbs.

2022 Stats: 44 total tackles, 9 TFL, 5 sacks, 17 QB pressures on 518 snaps (44%)

2022 PFF Grade: 75.1

3-Year PFF Grade Avg: 72.4

Cleveland Contract Details: 3 years, $19,000,000 w/ $12,490,000 guaranteed.

"Ogbo" is an energetic player who has maximized the time that he's spent on-field with both the Rams and Texans throughout the past four seasons as a pass rusher. 

He's an excellent fit for the Browns new defense due to his athleticism and pass rush repertoire on the edge. He's known for being a savvy player who prides himself in being able to tailor his pass rush style according to the weakness of the opponent. Okoronkwo is fun to watch because you can truly see his play change and adapt throughout the process of the game. 

If he faces an offensive tackle that sets wide on him to try and negate his speed on the first couple of snaps, you'll notice that he'll start playing more narrow and stepping inside. This takes advantage of that extra space created by the offensive lineman that’s stepping outside.

Another reason why he’s an ideal candidate for Jim Schwartz's defense because Ogbo is the type of player who relishes space. He will be lining up in a wide-9 with Cleveland, which just so happens to be providing him with the most space that he's ever had as a pass rusher. Okoronkwo has an incredibly refined spin move as well, which he uses quite a bit, and for good reason. It's difficult to counter unless the offensive lineman sees it coming and steps inside, which is almost impossible due to Okoronkwo’s ability to conceal any hint of it.

He’s also fluid in terms of speed-to-power conversion. He can trick you into thinking that he's going to try and run around you, or rip inside when he's actually going to bullrush you into the quarterback's lap.

His overall skillset and technical prowess allows him to take advantage of offensive lineman that don't take deep enough vertical sets by using his speed to run the arc on a consistent basis as well.

Though he's unquestionably sought after for his pass rushing ability, he's more than capable of being an asset when it comes to stopping the run as well. He bullies tight ends on a consistent basis and uses his length and exceptional hand fighting ability to disengage from offensive lineman who try to lock in and drive him downfield.

Dalvin Tomlinson - 6'3", 325 Lbs.

2022 Stats: 42 tackles, 3 TFL, 2.5 sacks, 14 QB pressures on 551 snaps (62%)

PFF Grade: 77.1

3-Year PFF Avg: 75.7

Cleveland Contract Details: 4 years, $57,000,000 w/ $27,500,000 guaranteed

Tomlinson has been one of the more dominant defensive tackles in the league since he was drafted by the Giants in 2017. He's elite when it comes to stopping the run due to his strength, power, and anchoring ability at the point of attack.

He is the exact type of player that Cleveland has been lacking on the interior defensive line for a couple of seasons now. His ability to throw around offensive lineman and disrupt plays in the backfield is top notch.

Tomlinson’s ability to effortlessly anchor down and refuse to be moved as an apex defender in multiple alignments is what separates him from the other 2023 free agent defensive tackles. He can play either 1-Technique or 3-technique in Cleveland's defense based off of the fact that he's played both at a high level throughout his NFL career already.

Somebody of his size and stature usually lines up as a 1- Technique/Shade, but Tomlinson has actually played a lot more as a 3-Technique thus far. This is a testament to both his athleticism and pass rushing capability as a mammoth human being. 

It's definitely going to be interesting to see where Cleveland decides to play Tomlinson in 2023. He was paid more like a 3-technique, who typically get paid more than 1-Techniques, but has the size and skillset of a traditional nose tackle. He was graded out a lot better as a 1-Technique earlier in his career as a New York Giant, but his versatility adds value.

It also depends on whether Jim Schwartz will want to play an “Over” or ”Under” style front along the defensive line. Tomlinson might be able to maximize his production if he's still technically a 1-Technique but lines up on the strongside of the play in an “Under” scheme. 

Opponents must be careful when it comes to blocking Dalvin Tomlinson. He forces teams to game plan around him, and this clip provides a good example of why. They can't expect tight ends to block him on the backside of zone plays if he’s lined up near the offensive tackle. He too powerful and will overwhelm these types of blockers on a play to play basis.

Both of these players are immediate upgrades over what Cleveland currently has at the position, especially from a pass rushing standpoint. Both of these guys know how to get after the quarterback and disrupt plays in the backfield. Tomlinson’s elite ability to stop the run is a much needed bonus.

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Matthew Wilson
MATTHEW WILSON

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