The following is an excerpt from Warren Sharp's 2025 Football Preview book. In addition to Warren's deep, detailed write-up on all 32 NFL teams, each chapter features page after page of full-color charts, stats, and heatmaps as well as defensive previews from Raymond Summerlin. Click here for a full FREE chapter from the 2025 Football Preview.
While offenses dominate NFL discussion, the other side of the ball plays a large role.
With the 2025 NFL season fast approaching, let's look at the defense of the Cleveland Browns and preview how it might perform this season.
2025 Cleveland Browns Defense
The overall rushing yards allowed did not look great for the Browns last season, but that was partly because they allowed the fifth-most rushing yards to quarterbacks.
They actually did fine against running backs, finishing ninth in yards per carry allowed on running back runs (4.1) and first in stuff rate (26.2%).
Dalvin Tomlinson is no longer around, but they brought in Maliek Collins in free agency and drafted Mason Graham in the first round to solidify the defensive line.
A second-round pick last year, Mike Hall was suspended for the first five games of his rookie year and missed another four due to injury. Cleveland will need more from him in year two.
The Browns ranked first in pressure rate last season but lagged behind a bit with 41 sacks.
The biggest offseason move was the long-term extension for Myles Garrett, who at one point appeared destined to leave via trade.
Garrett led all qualified pass rushers with an 18.4% pressure rate last season and finished second with 14 sacks.
He has recorded at least 10 sacks in seven straight seasons.
With Za’Darius Smith traded midway through the 2024 season, Isaiah McGuire is the other primary snap taker returning from last season.
Cleveland took a flier on former Tampa first-round pick Joe Tryon-Shoyinka in free agency, but he never established himself over his four seasons with the Bucs.
At linebacker, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is set to miss the 2025 season because of a neck injury suffered midway through last season.
The Browns brought back Devin Bush and signed Jerome Baker away from the Titans in free agency.
That pair will compete for playing time behind Jordan Hicks and second-round rookie Carson Schwesinger.
Arguably the top pass defense in 2023, the Browns struggled to stop opposing offenses last season, finishing 26th in yards per attempt allowed (7.6) despite the outstanding pressure rate cited above.
They specifically struggled to prevent big plays, ranking 30th in both explosive pass rate allowed and yards after the catch allowed per reception, and were dead last with just 4 interceptions.
The trio that led the corner group in snaps in each of the last two seasons is back with Denzel Ward, Greg Newsome, and Martin Emerson Jr. likely to open the season in the starting lineup, barring a trade.
At safety, Rodney McLeod Jr. retired, and the Browns moved on from Juan Thornhill.
That leaves Grant Delpit and Ronnie Hickman as the primary returning options on the back end with veterans Damontae Kazee and Rayshawn Jenkins joining the group after the draft.
This analysis continues in the 2025 Football Preview
Order Warren Sharp's 2025 Football Preview to get defensive analysis for all 32 NFL teams.
Warren Sharp’s 550+ page full-color PDF, the 2025 Football Preview, is unlike anything you have previously read. Stunning visualizations, including new heat maps, are built with the reader in mind. Innovative, next-level thought process abounds in every team chapter and article.
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Warren Sharp's book shares insights into the players, coaches, teams, and philosophies with one goal: to prepare you for the 2025 NFL season with the smartest information delivered in the fastest, most direct way possible for optimal reviewing and retention.
- Team Chapters previews are in-depth, data driven & full of actionable info
- Fantasy Football player profiles, predictions, and ranks
- Vegas Odds forecast team wins, division rankings, lines for all 2025 games
- Coaching strategic advice for teams, play calling analysis & team tendencies
- Front Office Analysis positional spending, roster construction & cap analysis
- Reasons to bet over/under win totals & analysis of futures betting market
- Rookie draft class deep dive into impact for every team
- Rankings for every positional unit on every team with analysis
