Earlier, it was reported that the Cleveland Browns released six veteran players. Among them were defensive linemen Shaun Rogers and Kenyon Coleman. Releasing Rogers is definitely a big surprise. He was due $5.5 million this coming season and he did not play very much this past season due to being banged up. Despite that fact, due to the lack of depth on the Browns' defensive line, it was expected that he and Ahtyba Rubin would remain the strength of the Browns' defensive front, especially if the team switches to the 4-3 defense.
↵The Browns are now really thin on the defensive line. Robaire Smith is set to be a free agent, meaning Rubin will probably end up being the only solid contributor coming back. Cleveland has failed to develop many young players on the defensive line, so their No. 1 priority in free agency and the draft has to be the defensive line. Seeing drastic improvements isn't out of the question; the Detroit Lions did it last offseason, although they did have the benefit of drafting a freak of nature in Ndamukong Suh.