The Cleveland Browns have signed defensive tackle Andrew Billings, according to his football agency SportsTrust Advisors.
The terms of Billings’ new deal were not immediately disclosed.
“Excited for this new chapter @Browns!” Billings tweeted.
Billings, 25, played the first four years of his NFL career with the Cincinnati Bengals.
In 80 career games, Billings has made 37 starts with 80 tackles and 3.5 sacks.
Excited for this next chapter @Browns! https://t.co/5J8vmSArwJ
— Andrew Billings (@BillingsAndrew) March 19, 2020
The #Browns have signed DT Andrew Billings, per agent @_SportsTrust. The former Bengal stays in state.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 19, 2020
Billings joins the Browns’ defensive tackle rotation, which includes Sheldon Richardson and Larry Ogunjobi.
According to Pro Football Talk, Billings ranked as the 93rd best free agent.
Despite Billings’ presence, the 2019 Bengals had the worst run defense in the NFL, allowing 148.9 rushing yards per game.
The Browns have signed several players since NFL free agency officially began at 4 p.m. ET Wednesday.
It includes linebacker B.J. Goodson, safety Karl Joseph, tight end Austin Hooper, right tackle Jack Conklin and quarterback Case Keenum.
The Browns are reconfiguring their defense that has lost linebackers Joe Schobert and Christian Kirksey in free agency.
Schobert signed a five-year, $53.75 million deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Kirksey signed a two-year, $16 million deal with the Green Bay Packers.
The Browns also traded a seventh-round pick to the Denver Broncos for fullback Andy Janovich.
Earlier this week, the Bengals signed former Houston Texans defensive tackle D.J. Reader to a four-year, $53 million deal.
Last season, Billings played in 16 games, made 14 starts and compiled 18 tackles, one sack, and four quarterback hits.
In 2019, Billings also played in 61 percent of the Bengals’ snaps and had four tackles for a loss.
The Bengals drafted Billings out of Baylor with the 122nd overall pick in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft.
Billings did not play his rookie year after tearing his meniscus during a practice in August 2016.
Surgery to repair the torn meniscus put Billings on injured reserve for that season.
However, Billings has played in 47 out of 48 possible games during the last three seasons.
Data from spotrac.com shows Billings made an average annual salary of $718,961 under the terms of his rookie contract with the Bengals.
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