Malik Jackson, a nine-year defensive tackle veteran who spent the last two seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, has signed with the Browns.
Here are five things to know about the newest addition to Cleveland's defensive line.
1. Jackson has carved out a lengthy NFL career as a quality run stopper who has also had success in pass rush. He's accrued 267 tackles and 35 sacks with 25 pass breakups and six forced fumbles since he became a fifth-round draft pick in 2012. Last season in Philadelphia, Jackson totaled 28 tackles and 2.5 sacks as a member of the defensive tackle rotation. Cleveland will be the fourth NFL home for Jackson, who has also spent time in Denver and Jacksonville and will become the second most-experienced player on the Browns behind linebacker Malcolm Smith.
2. He knows what it's like to win a Super Bowl. He started all 16 games in 2015 for the Broncos, champions of Super Bowl 50, and built a strong season that included 45 tackles, 5.5 sacks and a career-high seven pass deflections. He also made one of the defining plays of the Super Bowl win — he recovered a fumble from linebacker Von Miller, who won Super Bowl MVP, and set up the Broncos' first touchdown of the game.
3. Jackson's best season came in 2017 as a member of the Jaguars, who built one of their best seasons in franchise history that season and cracked a playoff berth largely due to their top-ranked defense. Jackson started alongside Pro Bowlers Calais Campbell and Yannick Ngakoue and recorded 40 tackles and a career-high eight sacks.
4. Jackson attended USC in 2008 and 2009 before transferring to Tennessee for his final two collegiate seasons. He recorded five sacks in his first season and notched 2.5 sacks as a senior while totaling 104 combined tackles with the Vols. Jackson was projected as a late-round pick. He is now just one of eight defensive tackles from the draft class still in the NFL.
5. The Browns will add Jackson to an interior defensive line room that includes eight-year veteran Sheldon Richardson, Andrew Billings, who opted out of the 2020 season after signing with the Browns last offseason and 2020 third-round pick Jordan Elliott. Jackson is the fifth defensive free agent to sign with the Browns this offseason and joins safety John Johnson III, defensive end Takkarist McKinley, linebacker Anthony Walker and cornerback Troy Hill as new faces to the defense.
Check out photos of defensive lineman Malik Jackson
FILE - In this Sept. 23, 2018, file photo, Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Malik Jackson (97) gestures during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans in Jacksonville, Fla. Jackson is no longer a starter and his playing time is dwindling, clear signs his tenure in Jacksonville is nearing an end. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Tennessee defensive lineman Malik Jackson runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 27, 2012. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Malik Jackson during practice at the NFL football team's training camp in Philadelphia, Friday, July 26, 2019. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Malik Jackson reacts before an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Philadelphia Eagles' Malik Jackson (97) reacts after tackling Washington Football Team's Alex Smith during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)
Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Malik Jackson (97) warms up before an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
FILE - In this Jan. 18, 2018, file photo, Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Malik Jackson speaks with reporters after NFL football practice in Jacksonville, Fla. The Associated Press surveyed 56 of the 59 black players at last weekend's Pro Bowl game, asking them whether they or someone they knew have ever experienced racial profiling. "You can probably ask any black man out here and the answer is yes," said Jackson. "It's not like this is just starting today or a new thing. It's gone on for a long time." (AP Photo/Gary McCullough, File)
Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Malik Jackson (97) tackles New York Giants' Saquon Barkley (26) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 9, 2018, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Blaine Gabbert (7) is dragged down by Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Malik Jackson (97) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Philadelphia Eagles' Malik Jackson during practice at the NFL football team's training camp in Philadelphia, Friday, July 26, 2019. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Denver Broncos' Malik Jackson (97) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl 50 football game Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Malik Jackson (97) poses for a portrait, Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018 in Jacksonville, Fla. (Logan Bowles via AP)
Tennessee defensive lineman Malik Jackson (97) pressures Middle Tennessee quarterback Jeff Murphy (12) in the third quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 5, 2011, in Knoxville, Tenn. Tennessee won 24-0. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) throws as Denver Broncos defensive end Malik Jackson (97) defends during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2015, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Malik Jackson on stage during an NFL fan rally on Regent Street, in London, Saturday Oct. 1, 2016. The Indianapolis Colts will play the Jacksonville Jaguars in an NFL football game at London's Wembley stadium on Sunday. (AP Photo/Tim Ireland)
Denver Broncos defensive end Malik Jackson (97) celebrates a fumble recovery against the Detroit Lions during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2015, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Florida offensive lineman Jon Halapio (67) prepares to block Tennessee's Malik Jackson during an NCAA college football game in Gainesville, Fla., Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011.(AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Denver Broncos defensive end Malik Jackson celebrates a sack against the Jacksonville Jaguars during an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2013, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Malik Jackson poses for a portrait in the NFL Studio in Culver City, Calif., on April 6, 2016. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Denver Broncos defensive tackle Malik Jackson (97) sits on the bench during the second half of an NFL preseason football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Thursday, Sept. 3, 2015, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
