CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Browns agreed to terms with defensive tackle Malik Jackson on Friday, just two days after he was released by the Eagles. He’s the fifth new player brought in by GM Andrew Berry over the past week.
It’s the fifth contract signed by Jackson, who previously signed a six-year, $90 million deal with the Jaguars in 2016, and a three-year, $30 million deal with the Eagles in 2019. His deal with the Browns is for one year.
What are the Browns getting in the 31-year-old lineman? Here are three things to know:
1. ANOTHER OPTION AT A POSITION WITH QUESTIONS
Larry Ogunjobi is with the Bengals, creating a hole at defensive tackle that he had filled the past three seasons. While it might be premature to pencil in Jackson as a starter next to Sheldon Richardson on the interior of the defensive line, his arrival does provide more options at the spot.
Without Ogunjobi, who played 60 percent of the defensive snaps last season and more than 70 percent in 2018 and 2019, there are some questions next to Richardson.
There’s Jordan Elliott, who was part of the rotation inside last season as a rookie, getting 28 percent of the snaps. But his Pro Football Focus grade was just 51.3, the lowest among Browns linemen.
Former Bengal Andrew Billings arrived in free agency last year, but he opted out of the 2020 season due to the coronavirus. He graded at 71.1 in 2018 and 69.3 in 2019. For comparison, Ogunjobi graded at 60.6 and 56.0 in those two seasons.
Jackson has more experience (nine seasons) and production (five seasons graded above 70.0) than both Elliott and Billings. But he also has a 2019 season limited to one game due to a Lisfranc foot injury and earned a defensive grade of 64.7 last season. He hasn’t been above that since 2017.
2. STRONG PASS RUSH
One thing Jackson has always been able to do is get pressure on the quarterback. He has consistently been ranked high in pass rush productivity, which measures pressures on a per snap basis. He was 18th last season (6.2) among defensive tackles. For comparison, Richardson’s PRP last season was 5.1.
From 2016-18 Jackson ranked in the top 10 each season, which coincided with becoming a full-time starter. He had at least 50 quarterback pressures each season from 2014-18 and had 33 last season, with three sacks and 11 quarterback hits.
Browns tackles combined for just seven quarterback hits last season.
3. NOT WHAT HE WAS AGAINST THE RUN
It wouldn’t be a surprise if Jackson was used primarily on pass-rushing downs in 2021. It’s clearly what he does best. Also, his performance against the run has fallen off over the past few years.
There was a time when Jackson was consistently among the league leaders in getting defensive stops (tackles that constitute a failure for the offense). He averaged 31 per season from 2013-17. Whether it’s injury or age or a combination of both, Jackson hasn’t had that kind of production in recent years.
His PFF grades against the run were 56.3 in 2018 and 63.7 in 2020. His tackling grades both seasons were sub-50.0.
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