PHILADELPHIA, PA – AUGUST 22: L.J. Fort #58 and Malik Jackson #97 of the Philadelphia Eagles look on against the Baltimore Ravens in the preseason game at Lincoln Financial Field on August 22, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
The Cleveland Browns are signing former Philadelphia Eagles defensive lineman Malik Jackson.
Prior to the start of the new league year, the Philadelphia Eagles let it be known that they planned on releasing both wide receiver Alshon Jeffery and defensive lineman Malik Jackson. The parting of ways became official on Wednesday, and the latter found a new home on Friday.
According to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport, the Cleveland Browns are signing former Eagles defensive lineman Malik Jackson. The contract is for one-year, per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.
Browns: Cleveland adds to their defensive line by signing Malik Jackson
Last season was a successful one for the Browns, as they managed to win their first playoff game since 1994 and took the then-defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs to the wire in the AFC Divisional Round. But, their defensive line did need some work with Olivier Vernon hitting the open market with a torn ACL. That is why the Browns signed Jackson and former Atlanta Falcons first-round pick Takkarist McKinley as a way to fill out the depth at the line of scrimmage.
The Browns had one of the more effective rush defenses in the league in 2020, as they limited opposing teams to an average of 110.8 yards on the ground per game (ninth-fewest in NFL). Adding Jackson in the middle of the line of scrimmage next to Sheldon Richardson could help the Browns maintain that consistency against the run in 2021.
After a three-year stint with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Jackson joined the Eagles on a three-year, $30 million contract. Jackson did miss the majority of the 2019 season with a foot injury, and started in six of 15 games last season. Overall, Jackson tallied 28 total tackles (six for loss), 2.5 sacks, two defended passes and one fumble recovery.
Jackson now goes from a Philadelphia Eagles team on a pseudo rebuild to a Cleveland Browns squad with Super Bowl aspirations in 2021. Not a bad landing spot for the veteran defensive tackle.