Browns make big defensive line signing official

Just as it appeared the first day of the “legal tampering” period preceding free agency was drawing to an end, the Cleveland Browns end up making a move for a big-name defensive tackle after all.

Earlier in the day, the Browns and defensive end Ogbonnia Okoronkwo came together on a deal that gives the team a pass rush specialist for new defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. Cleveland also reportedly retained LB Sione Takitaki and center Ethan Pocic during the early parts of Monday.

What was missing, still was at least one defensive tackle to address the huge hole in the middle of the defensive line. Javon Hargrave took a huge deal to sign with the San Francisco 49ers while Dre’Mont Jones, reportedly, took less overall money from the Seattle Seahawks than what Cleveland was offering because of the structure of the deal.

Late Monday night, the Browns addressed their need with reports of DT Dalvin Tomlinson planning to sign a big deal with the team:

A few weeks back DBN’s Thomas Moore profiled Tomlinson in preparation for free agency, you should check it out.

Wednesday, the Browns made the signing official:

In his six years in the league, Tomlinson has 26 tackles for loss, 37 QB hits and 13 sacks. Pro Football Focus ranked him as the 18th-best free agent overall, four spots above Jones. Tomlinson is best suited as a run-stopper that can get some penetration (nose tackle) leaving open the possibility of signing a 3-technique defensive tackle still.

Both Tomlinson and Okoronkwo were parts of our final mock free agency piece Monday morning.

Tomlinson will start on the defensive line along with Myles Garrett, yesterday’s free-agent addition of Okoronkwo, and unless another addition comes along most likely Perrion Winfrey. There’s still room to add another defender, such as Morgan Fox or Larry Ogunjobi, but for now, the defensive line looks much better than it did 24 hours ago.