GAINESVILLE, FL - SEPTEMBER 12: Caleb Brantley #57 of the Florida Gators celebrates a defensive stop during the game against the East Carolina Pirates at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on September 12, 2015 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

How the Cleveland Browns became the most interesting team in sports

How the Cleveland Browns became the most interesting team in sports by Martin McConnell

There’s been a lot of change to the Cleveland Browns roster this offseason but some players like Caleb Brantley who were already part of the equation could be big in 2018

Once John Dorsey took the reins as general manager for the Cleveland Browns, a lot of change has since taken place. Some of the bigger moves have taken center stage, like the trades for quarterback Tyrod Taylor and wide receiver Jarvis Landry.

A lot has been said about them drafting Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield, Ohio State cornerback Denzel Ward and Georgia running back Nick Chubb.

But one move has kind of gone quiet, which is the trading away of defensive tackle Danny Shelton. When the move was first made there was a question about if it was smart.

Sure, Larry Ogunjobi was there to take over as the top defensive tackle, but wouldn’t it have been better to have two players who were capable at that spot.

Well, the Browns likely do. They’re much stronger next to Ogunjobi than it seems with guys like Jamie Meder and Trevon Coley in the mix to start next to Ogunjobi. There’s also former UGA defensive tackle Trenton Thompson, who could make the team as an undrafted free agent.

One name that seems to be thrown to the back burner though is Caleb Brantley. Originally expected to go as early as the second-round of the 2017 NFL Draft, Brantley became taboo to a lot of teams when he was accused of assaulting a woman.

The chargers were later dropped, but it did damage to his stock. The Browns ended up picking up the talented defender in the sixth-round and he played well in his limited time.

Brantley finished his rookie season with 18 tackles and two sacks according to Pro Football Reference and finished with a respectable grade of 73 per Pro Football Focus.

He was especially efficient against the run for the Browns and it wouldn’t be a surprise to sim him find his way into the starting lineup at some point in the 2018 season for the Browns.