Granted, it would have once been considered nothing more than a pipe dream in the past, the Cleveland Browns are on the rise. This past season marked the first time the Browns secured a playoff berth since 2002, which had Cleveland buzzing. Now, they could look to add even more talent to their roster and Ndamukong Suh should be a target.
Despite getting knocked out of postseason contention by the powerhouse Kansas City Chiefs, it is reasonable to think the Browns can make even more noise in 2021. A lot of it boils down to how the ball club decides to approach their offseason.
That being said, the Browns will need to tackle the following area if they intend to be true contenders in 2021. Their run defense could use a boost, especially if they want to take that next step and beat someone as gifted as Patrick Mahomes.
Per Anthony Treash of Pro Football Focus, one player the Browns may want to pursue is defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh.
Although Suh is in his mid-thirties, he is by no means a liability. He has been a consistent force on “D” his whole career, and his sheer strength is nothing to make light of.
Suh is fresh off an excellent two-year tenure with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The DT was especially impressive in the 2020 campaign, recording a total of 6.0 sacks and 19 quarterback hits, via Buccaneers Senior Writer/Editor Scott Smith. Only William Gholston collected more QB hits than Suh as far as team honors are concerned (20).
Be that as it may, Suh elevated his game to yet another level when it mattered most. The seasoned veteran registered four QB hits in the playoffs and was highly effective in Super Bowl LV. He was not afraid to make Mahomes’ life difficult by virtue of the 1.5 sacks he was responsible for that day (per Smith).
It is also worth noting that the Browns are unlikely to re-sign defensive end Olivier Vernon. Amid the team’s regular season finale, Vernon unfortunately ruptured his Achilles and the recovery time for such injuries is never brief.
Moreover, as Treash indicated, it is possible that Cleveland will cut DT Sheldon Richardson. Richardson is owed over $11 million in 2021 and cutting him would give the Browns more financial flexibility.
It is not to say cutting Richardson is entirely ideal. However, if the Browns want to create a deeper team than the one they had in 2020, it may be a sacrifice they need to make.
Therefore, while Suh is not in the prime of his career, signing him may very well be imperative for the Browns. Suh would strengthen their interior irrespective of what they choose to do with Vernon and Richardson.
One of the best assets Suh brings to the table as well is his championship pedigree. Let alone winning his first chip with the Bucs this past season, he also made a Super Bowl appearance with the L.A. Rams a couple seasons prior. The Browns would gladly welcome someone who has played at the highest level of competition.
On the other hand, it would be understandable if Suh prefers to run it back with the world champions. However, the downside for him is that he would likely have to accept a pay cut. Whether both sides can execute a deal remains to be seen.
As for the Browns, though, they would be doing themselves a huge favor if they picked up Suh. He knows how to impose his will on the opposition with the best of them and would be a major asset to a team hoping to make the playoffs again.
