A position by position rundown of the Cleveland Browns as the offseason heads toward the combine and free agency:
DEFENSIVE LINE
Under contract: Calvin Barnett, Armonty Bryant, Desmond Bryant, John Hughes, Jacobbi McDaniel, Jamie Meder, Phil Taylor, Christian Tupou, Billy Winn.
Free agents: Ahtyba Rubin, Sione Fua, Ishmaa'ily Kitchen (restricted).
The good: The Browns have a number of good players, with Desmond Bryant one of the more underrated three-four linemen in the league. The group will be helped by the return of Armonty Bryant from a torn knee ligament.
The bad: Though there are a lot of solid, hard-working players in this group, there is not one single impact player. Nobody like a Vince Wilfork or a Haloti Ngata or a Brett Keisel, all of whom made plays from their defensive interior positions. Desmond Bryant is Pro Fooball Focus' highest rated defensive lineman, and he's 37th among 3-4 ends (he seemed to play better than that ranking shows, though). It would be nice if the Browns could find that one lineman who catches the attention of other teams. Another concern: How does Phil Taylor recover from knee surgery?
The money: It appears the team and Rubin will part ways. Rubin has been a solid player for seven seasons in Cleveland, but he plays a position where longevity can be challenging. With a second-year coach and general manager, it's likely the Browns let Rubin see what he can get on the market.
Free agency need: An addition on the defensive front would help, but it's not like it's going to be Ndamukong Suh. He will demand too much money. He's also a better fit for the 4-3 scheme.
Draft priority: The Browns have three picks in the top 43. It would be a shock if one of them is not a defensive lineman.
