The Cleveland Browns made a surprising move when they released starting defensive tackle Davlin Tomlinson before the league year. The Browns signed veteran defensive tackle Maliek Collins to replace Tomlinson in their lineup. However, the team will still enter the NFL draft with defensive tackle as a position of weakness.
The Browns need to beef up the interior of their defensive line. Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz spent most of his career turning the physically largest players on the field into stars. Schwartz lets his defensive tackles inflict havoc on offensive lines. The Browns’ defensive interior is lacking size. Schwartz needs to find his next wrecking ball.
The 2025 NFL draft has one of the deepest defensive tackle classes in recent memory. The group is chock-full of game-breaking one-techniques and three-techniques who can rush the passer. The Browns should exploit the strong class by finding Tomlinson’s replacement. The Browns must find another star to fortify their defensive trenches. The team has a lot of options to choose from. Here are my five favorite defensive tackle prospects for the Browns.
Kenneth Grant, Michigan
Kenneth Grant is one part of one of the best defensive tackle duos in college football history. The 6-foot-3, 342-pound tackle played next to Mason Graham. While Graham got most of the hype and awards, Grant was essential to the Michigan Wolverines' National Championship. Grant has recorded 12 tackles for loss and 6-and-a-half sacks over the past two seasons. He is projected to go in the first round of the NFL draft.
Grant’s size is the first thing to stand out about him. His body nearly takes up two gaps on the line of scrimmage. Grant is strong and utilizes his size well as he fights for leverage and gap control. He’s one of the best run stuffers in the draft. Grant is an explosive player with frightening speed. He can hawk down ball carriers up the field and can disrupt the line of scrimmage in a step.
Grant is one of the top defensive tackle prospects in the draft. He should go in the top half of round one, but he could slip due to ...
