Over the next few weeks, as the 2021 NFL Draft gets closer and closer, we're spotlighting a different position group or draft storyline at ClevelandBrowns.com.
In our Road to the Draft series, we'll take a deep dive into the top prospects available at each position group. We're continuing with the defensive tackles, a position that will have new starters for the Browns in 2021.
Why the position matters for the Browns: Cleveland likely will have two new starters for its defensive interior, which currently has only four guys on the roster. Andrew Billings, a 2020 free-agent acquisition who opted out of last season, and 10-year veteran Malik Jackson are two of the top players in the room. 2021 third-round pick Jordan Elliott is also set to earn a larger role after playing in all 16 games in 2020, while Sheldon Day, a six-year veteran who was signed to the practice squad near the end of last season, rounds out the group. The Browns recently released veteran DT Sheldon Richardson, who started all but one game and appeared in every game over the past two seasons.
The top dog in this year's class: At 6-foot-4 and 310 pounds, Christian Barmore enters the draft with one of the biggest bodies and raw talent available from any defensive prospect. He registered 37 tackles, eight sacks and three forced fumbles for Alabama last season, when he was named a SecondTeam All-American, voted to First Team All-SEC and won Defensive MVP honors in the National Championship. Barmore was a starter for just one year under Nick Saban. His inexperience can be viewed as a potential red flag or a possible avenue for even more explosiveness and refinement to his game.
Rounding out the top five: Levi Onwuzurike (Washington) is a possible first- or second-round selection and joins Barmore at the top of the position group. Although he's not nearly as highly graded as Barmore, Onwuzurike, who won First Team All-Pac 12 honors in 2019 but opted out of the 2020 season, possesses the speed and physicality to become a quality NFL starter. Marlon Tuipulotu (USC), Daviyon Nixon (Iowa) and Milton Williams (Louisiana Tech) are all likely to be among the best tackles available after Day 1.
How many first-rounders?: At most, two. Barmore and Onwuzurike are possible candidates for late first-round picks. Any other defensive tackle selected in the first round would be considered a surprise. Barmore and Onwuzurike have generated plenty of first-round hype, but it wouldn't be a total shock if both players slipped to Day 2.
A sleeper or two?: Jay Tufele (USC) is considered by some analysts to be a top five defensive tackle of the class after recording 7.5 sacks and 11 tackles for a loss in his two seasons with the Trojans before opting out of 2020. Tommy Togiai (Ohio State) is a familiar name for many Browns fans and would be an intriguing option near the end of Day 2 after tallying three sacks in seven games last season.
Quote to note: "Barmore tends to be in the lead and take control of a majority of reps. His hands and feet sing in harmony and allow him to stay active and free from attempts to sustain blocks against him. His hands are heavy and powerful but also sudden and efficient, which creates early win opportunities for him in the run game and as a pass rusher. Barmore can be his own worst enemy when he freestyles his run fits and prematurely gives away positioning when posting up in read-and-react mode. While he has similar size and skill set, it doesn't feel like he's as long at the point of attack as past Alabama defensive tackles now in the pros. Barmore's explosive first step, violent hands and upper-body power are the ingredients of a three-down defender with the versatility to play a number of positions in an even or odd front as an impactful rookie starter." - NFL.com's Lance Zierlein, who compared Barmore to Marcell Dareus
The 2021 NFL Draft is coming to Cleveland, and you can be a part of the action at the NFL Draft Experience. The free, three-day football festival celebrates all 32 clubs and attracts fans who want to feel connected the NFL, its history and future. Click to get your tickets now.
Over the next few weeks, as the 2021 NFL Draft gets closer and closer, we're spotlighting a different position group each day at ClevelandBrowns.com.
Our Road to the Draft series will dive deep into the top players available at each position group. In this series, we'll be analyzing what the Browns have on hand and how that may affect the team's decision making with its nine selections.
Alabama defensive lineman Christian Barmore (58) celebrates a sack against Western Carolina during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
USC defensive lineman Marlon Tuipulotu (51) sits on the bench in the first half during a game against BYU at an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019, in Provo, Utah. (AP Photo/George Frey)
Southern California defensive tackle Jay Tufele participates in the school's pro day football workout for NFL scouts Wednesday, March 24, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
National Team defensive lineman Levi Onwuzurike of Washington (95) watches during the first half of the NCAA college football Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala, Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021. (AP Photo/Rusty Costanza)
Ohio State defensive tackle Tommy Togiai runs through a drill during an NFL Pro Day at Ohio State University Tuesday, March 30, 2021 in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon)
Levi Onwuzurike, a defensive tackle, runs the 40-yard dash, Tuesday, March 30, 2021, during Washington's pro day football workout for NFL scouts in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
American Team defensive lineman Marlon Tuipulotu of USC (95) runs a drill during the American Team practice for the NCAA Senior Bowl college football game in Mobile, Ala., Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
Southern California defensive tackle Marlon Tuipulotu participates in the school's pro day football workout for NFL scouts Wednesday, March 24, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Alabama defensive lineman Christian Barmore (58) during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Tennessee, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
National Team defensive lineman Levi Onwuzurike of Washington (95) smiles while on the sidelines during the second half of the NCAA college football Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala, Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021. (AP Photo/Rusty Costanza)
Alabama defensive lineman Christian Barmore (58) runs during an NCAA college football game against LSU in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
Ohio State defensive tackle Tommy Togiai (72) reacts following a tackle during an NCAA college football game against Penn State in State College, Pa., on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020. Ohio State defeated Penn State 38-25. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
Alabama defensive lineman Christian Barmore (58) celebrates a sack against Notre Dame during the Rose Bowl NCAA college football game in Arlington, Texas, Friday, Jan. 1, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
Iowa defensive tackle Daviyon Nixon stretches during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Iowa State, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019, in Ames, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Alabama defensive lineman Christian Barmore (58) celebrates a sack against Western Carolina during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Alabama linebacker Terrell Lewis (24) hugs Alabama defensive lineman Christian Barmore (58) after his big finish on the final set of plays by the Southern Miss offense in an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Southern California defensive lineman Jay Tufele (78) in the second half of an NCAA college football game Friday, Oct. 25, 2019, in Boulder, Colo. Southern California won 35-31. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Southern California defensive lineman Marlon Tuipulotu (51) warms up before an NCAA college football game against Arizona Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Texas running back Keaontay Ingram (26) is up ended by Louisiana Tech safety L'Jarius Sneed (1) and defensive end Milton Williams (97) on a run during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
FILE - In this Aug. 31, 2019, file photo, Southern California defensive lineman Marlon Tuipulotu gets ready to run a play during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Fresno State, in Los Angeles. Southern California assistant coach Chad Kauha'aha'a always knew defensive tackle Marlon Tuipulotu could be a special player. Kauha'aha'a believed it when he tried to recruit Tuipulotu to Oregon State, and he is seeing it in his first season working with the redshirt sophomore for the No. 24 Trojans. "I knew he had the potential to be a great one," Kauha'aha'a said Wednesday night, Sept. 11, 2019. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)
Washington defensive lineman Levi Onwuzurike (95) hits Utah quarterback Jason Shelley after Shelley threw a pass during the first half of the Pac-12 Conference championship NCAA college football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Friday, Nov. 30, 2018. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
Ohio State defensive lineman Tommy Togiai runs a drill during NCAA college football practice, Friday, Aug. 2, 2019, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins is sacked by Washington defensive lineman Levi Onwuzurike during the second half of the Rose Bowl NCAA college football game Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Southern California defensive lineman Jay Tufele (78) in the first half during an NCAA college football game against Arizona, Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
