The Cleveland Browns have a strong pass rush attack behind All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett and fellow lineman Jadeveon Clowney.
But they could use a bit of an improvement from the defensive tackle position.
To that end, the Browns are reportedly interested in signing veteran Ndamukong Suh, a veteran lineman who has a dozen years of NFL experience.
Suh is certainly an accomplished defensive tackle, with five Pro Bowl and three All-Pro First Team selections under his belt.
However, some reporters feel the Browns actually have no interest in him.
Have written several times this offseason that the #Browns are not interested in Ndamukong Suh. Nothing's changed.
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) July 13, 2022
Fans seem split on whether Cleveland should pursue Suh and whether he’d be a good addition.
Ndamukong Suh would be a nice signing. Who knows how much he still has left in the tank, but couldn’t hurt adding him to our D-Line. #Browns
— Browns ‘Till Death (@BrownsTillDeath) July 12, 2022
Browns now freed up another $8M in cal space for 2022.
Can we please sign Ndakumong Suh? @NdamukongSuh
— Watson Garrett Stefanski Era 🐶 (@MylesOffTheEdge) July 6, 2022
The #Browns have rejected free agent defensive tackles who have come to them based on age.
It makes no sense to pursue Ndamukong Suh at his advanced age and declining skills when they either turned down or didn't pursue better options.
— Pete Smith (@_PeteSmith_) July 13, 2022
Eh, Suh is in a serious decline at this point in his career anyways…. There’s a reason he is still a free agent at this point. Remember how bad Andrew Sendejo was in 2020 for the Browns? ⬇️
Andrew Sendejo 2020 season PFF grade: 43.8
Ndamukong Suh 2021 season PFF grade:
49.4— Brownie Fan Mike (@browniefanmike) July 13, 2022
@NdamukongSuh come on over to the Dawg pound homie 🤷🏻♂️ It’s gonna be special around here #Browns 🤝
— Chris (@oninja2011) July 13, 2022
Suh Has Been A Difference-maker Over The Years
The second overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions, Suh quickly proved he belonged in the pros.
In just his rookie season, he recorded 66 tackles (49 solo), 13 tackles for loss and 17 quarterback hits, as well as a fumble recovery he turned into a touchdown.
That production earned Suh a spot in the Pro Bowl, an All-Pro First Team selection and the Defensive Rookie of the Year award.
As the years went by, he continued to produce at a relatively high level, despite playing on bad or mediocre Lions and Miami Dolphins squads.
He joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the 2019 season, and although he was a bit diminished due to age, he helped them win the Super Bowl following the 2020 campaign in a dominant performance versus the defending world champion Kansas City Chiefs.
In that game, Suh had 1.5 sacks on Patrick Mahomes and was a significant part of one of the best defensive performances against a superstar QB in a big game anyone can remember.
This past season, he played in all 17 contests and had 27 tackles (15 solo), seven tackles for loss and 13 QB hits.
Suh’s durability has always been one of his best traits, especially given that he is a defensive tackle.
He has missed just two contests in his whole career, and both of those contests came in 2011, his second season in the league.
Suh’s Production Is Not What It Used To Be
Football is a violent game, and men who play certain positions that involve tons of contact and getting tackled more often tend to lose their effectiveness after turning 30.
Over the last three seasons, Suh’s metrics have fallen off a cliff, and he actually started to show signs of slippage in 2018 during a short stint with the NFC champion Los Angeles Rams.
Ndamukong Suh is so washed-up he lacks skin.
He is ancient.
Athletes get old then rot, just like bananas. Athletic ability is perishable.
Let those other teams waste a roster spot. GM Andrew Berry is too smart to want him. @NathanZegura #Browns pic.twitter.com/2EzlTaZts1— Wildlife Lover (@wildlifeluvr) July 12, 2022
The Browns will probably need to win with defense to a large degree in 2022 with Deshaun Watson’s seemingly inevitable suspension looming, and they need players who can be counted on to produce.
Suh Is Not Well-liked
But one thing that may give fans the most pause is the fact that Suh has often been accused of being a dirty player.
His peers have voted him “the dirtiest player” in the NFL, and a Forbes-publicized Neilsen report in 2012 called him the league’s “least-liked player.”
Suh has been assessed tons of fines over the years for various violations.
Ndamukong Suh:
Facemasked Jake Delhomme
Kicked Matt Schaub in the groin
Stomped on Andre Gurode
Dirty block on John Sullivan
Fined for Brandon Weeden hit
Stepped on Aaron Rodgers
Choked Ryan Mallett
Sleeper-holds Pat MahomesHis dirtiness is undefeated https://t.co/4NpmPaVKvy
— rick strom (@RickStrom) November 20, 2018
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