Chris Jones rumors: 5 best fits in NFL free agency

3. Cleveland Browns

It was another losing campaign for franchise that’s finished above .500 just twice since re-entering the league in 1999 as an expansion team. Yes, the Cleveland Browns were a major disappointment in 2019 and a lot of the blame was directed at second-year quarterback Baker Mayfield, as well as head coach Freddie kitchens. The former will now be working with a new sideline boss in Kevin Stefanski, late of the Minnesota Vikings.

But what about the Cleveland defense this past season? Then-general manager John Dorsey addressed this unit last offseason as well. But a group led by coordinator Steve Wilks simply couldn’t get the job done as well. It was a team that allowed 393 points and 44 offensive touchdowns and a unit not lacking talent.

And even more disturbing was the fact that this unit could not slow down the opposition on the ground.

Only the Cincinnati Bengals (148.9) and Washington Redskins (146.2) allowed more rushing yards per game than the Browns. Yes, the team allowed foes to run for 144.7 yards per game. But in seven of their 16 contests, Cleveland defenders gave up at least 170 yards rushing.

With the hiring of Stefanski comes a new defensive coordinator in Joe Woods, who spent 2019 on the staff of the NFC champion San Francisco 49ers. So could there also be a fresh face on the horizon in Chris Jones? He would be a nice compliment to defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson.

Next: No. 2