Cleveland Browns Training Camp 2018: DL Preview, Part 3

Part 3 of our defensive line preview heading into Cleveland Browns training camp looks at the players on the back end of the depth chart, fighting to make a name for themselves.

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11. Trenton Thompson - UDFA Defensive Tackle

Height: 6-3 | Weight: 288 lbs | Age: 21
Experience: Rookie | College: Georgia

One of the players to keep an eye on in camp is Trenton Thompson, an undrafted free agent out of Georgia who was given a 4th round draft grade by Dane Brugler. Thompson was a part-time starter at Georgia with 16 starts over a three-year span. He had a tough time staying on the field due to a variety of injuries (ankle, hip, shoulder), but is credited with having a good motor and is a player who can contribute as a rotational player at the three-technique.

Thompson was one of the better run-stopping defensive tackles in college. Rotoworld talked about his impressive performance at the NFL Combine, “registering top-ten SPARQ results among defensive linemen” and being “an exciting gap-shooter prospect for a three-technique role.” He might be a bit undersized presently, but should be one of the top candidates for the practice squad if he can’t unseat the likes of Jamie Meder or Caleb Brantley.

Final Roster Odds: 15%

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12. Jeremy Faulk - Second Chance Defensive Tackle

Height: 6-2 | Weight: 305 lbs | Age: 24
Experience: 1 year | College: Garden City CC

Jeremy Faulk was originally an undrafted free agent signed by the New York Jets in 2017. He was the 34th ranked defensive lineman in the 2017 draft class, per Dane Brugler. Brugler said, “He is shorter than ideal, but uses his natural leverage and initial quicks to penetrate gaps, showing range, hustle and closing burst.”

Faulk was kicked out of Baylor despite never being charged with a crime, making him somewhat of a risk-reward type of story. Last preseason with the Jets, Faulk registered one tackle and one quarterback hit.

Final Roster Odds: 5%

Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images

13. Lenny Jones - Backup Defensive End

Height: 6-2 | Weight: 256 lbs | Age: 26
Experience: 1 year | College: Nevada

Lenny Jones participated in rookie minicamp in May on a tryout basis for the Browns. He was one of two players who were trying out who were not actually rookies. He was an undrafted free agent in 2016 out of Nevada, and has spent time with the San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Rams, Oakland Raiders, and Dallas Cowboys.

Last year in the preseason, Jones played in one game with the Cowboys, registering 3 tackles, 1 sack, and 1 pass defended. If you want to learn about Jones’ backstory, read this article here. It goes into detail about how he was wrongly accused as a teenager and the situation changed his life.

Jones’ chances hinge on how much the team still likes Carl Nassib and Nate Orchard. Unfortunately for these back end guys, unless both of those players are cut, there just isn’t room on the 53-man roster for them.

Final Roster Odds: <5%

Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images

14. Daniel Ekuale - UDFA Defensive Tackle

Height: 6-3 | Weight: 300 lbs | Age: 24
Experience: Rookie | College: Washington State

The Browns signed Daniel Ekuale as an undrafted free agent after the draft. What is coincidental about several of the players in today’s article is how an event in their early days changed their life to get them to focus and take things more seriously. Here is a highlight reel of Ekuale’s performance at Washington State:

He was graded as the 84th-ranked defensive tackle by Dane Brugler.

Final Roster Odds: <5%

Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

15. Marcell Frazier - UDFA Defensive End

Height: 6-4 | Weight: 261 lbs | Age: 24
Experience: Rookie | College: Missouri

Last, but not least, we have Marcell Frazier from Missouri. He originally signed with the Seattle Seahawks, but was waived and then claimed off waivers in May by the Browns. He was graded as the 22nd-best edge rusher by Dane Brugler, who projected him to be a fifth-round draft pick. Here is what Brugler had to say about him prior to the draft:

A two-year starter at Missouri, Frazier lined up as the starting left defensive end as a senior in the Tigers’ four-man front, taking the baton from Charles Harris as the team’s top pass rusher. He took a winding road and overcame several roadblocks to arrive on the NFL’s doorstep, stepping out of Harris’ shadow in 2017 and leading the SEC with 15.5 tackles for loss. Frazier has the look of a NFL defensive end, staying balanced and displaying enough juice to work his shoulder past the outside shoulder of blockers. He struggles to counter and stays blocked too long, which also hurts his effectiveness in the run game. Overall, Frazier flashes the upfield quickness and body control to hunt quarterbacks, projecting as a depth defensive end in a 4-3 scheme.

Final Roster Odds: 5%

We are double-dosing you with two polls in today’s preview to cap off the defensive line preview.