PFF highlights the strong rookie performances by Browns’ defensive linemen

On Sunday, Pro Football Focus tweeted out graphics showing the top rookie edge defenders (minimum of 400 snaps) and the top rookie interior defenders (minimum of 200 snaps). Members of the Cleveland Browns were featured on each of them.

In the edge defenders category, the AFC North really came up strong with Myles Garrett (Browns), Carl Lawson (Bengals), and T.J. Watt (Steelers) as the top-three players. In 11 games, Garrett had 31 tackles, 7 sacks, and 18 quarterback hits. In 13 games, Lawson had 16 tackles, 8.5 sacks, and 21 quarterback hits. In 15 games, Watt had 52 tackles, 7 sacks, and 22 quarterback hits. Garrett took the top grade with an 88.4.

On the interior, Larry Ogunjobi saw just under 30% of the team’s defensive snaps on the season, but regularly made an impact against the run. He finished the season with 32 tackles, 1 sack, and 3 quarterback hits. His grade of 82.0 placed him second, behind only Dalvin Tomlinson of the New York Giants. Tomlinson was a second-round pick, while Ogunjobi was taken ten picks later in the third round.