General manager Andrew Berry continued to make fixing the defensive line a priority with his most recent free agent moves.
Defensive tackle Trysten Hill agreed to a one-year deal Thursday, following defensive tackle Maurice Hurst agreeing to a one-year deal Wednesday night, a league source confirmed to The Chronicle-Telegram. Neither move had been announced by the team.
Berry’s first two signings this week were defensive end Ogbonnia Okoronkwo and defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson.
Hill (6-foot-3, 308 pounds) was a second-round pick of the Cowboys in 2019 out of Central Florida. He’s battled injuries and started five of 31 games, totaling 39 tackles, seven for loss, 1.5 sacks and 13 quarterback hits.
He was off to a good start in 2020, starting all five games he played, before a torn anterior cruciate ligament ended his season. He split last year between Dallas and Arizona, and in 13 games had 12 tackles, five for loss, a sack and five quarterback hits.
The Browns hope he stays healthy and can recapture his form. The goal is the same with Hurst (6-2, 291).
He was a fifth-round pick of the Raiders out of Michigan in 2018 and has started 17 of 42 games with eight sacks and an interception. He was limited by ankle and calf injuries to two games with the 49ers in 2021, then missed all of last season with a torn biceps suffered in training camp.
** The team announced it had come to terms with former Chiefs safety Juan Thornhill. The three-year, $21 million deal was reported Wednesday.
“I can’t wait to get on the field and show Cleveland what I have,” he said in the news release. “Having the chance to play on this defense is going to be special and I’m thankful to have the opportunity. Let’s go Dawg Pound.”
** The Browns made the re-signing of linebacker Sione Takitaki official. It’s a one-year deal worth approximately $2.6 million.
He’s rehabbing from a torn ACL suffered in December and hopes to be ready for the start of the season.
“Taki is a physical player who plays the game hard,” coach Kevin Stefanski said. “He’s a great teammate. He was playing at a high level for us last year prior to his injury and he’s working his tail off to make a full recovery.”
Contact Scott Petrak at (440) 329-7253 or spetrak@chroniclet.com. Like him on Facebook and follow him @scottpetrak on Twitter.
