The Browns fortified their defensive line even more Thursday with the signing of veteran defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson.
Richardson, 28, is coming off a season with the Vikings in which he amassed 4.5 sacks and 49 tackles in 16 starts. He was at the center of the NFL’s second-best rush defense, which allowed just 83.6 yards per game.
Richardson is the second Pro Bowl defensive lineman added to Cleveland’s roster in as many days, joining Giants defensive end Olivier Vernon, who was acquired in a trade Wednesday.
View an assortment of photos of new Browns defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson, who signed with the team this week after spending time with the New York Jets, Seattle Seahawks and Minnesota Vikings.
Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson during an NFL football game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium, Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018 in Foxborough, Mass. (Winslow Townson/AP Images for Panini)
FILE - In this Sept. 23,2018, file photo, Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson runs onto the field before an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, in Minneapolis. Richardson is two teams past his time with the New York Jets, refusing to acknowledge any desire for revenge on his original employer that traded him away. He's having a solid first season with the Vikings. The Vikings play at the Jets on Sunday, Oct. 21. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn, File)
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson in action during an NFL football game between the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) scrambles as Minnesota Vikings' Sheldon Richardson pursues in the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 10, 2018, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson is tackled after recovering a fumble against the Los Angeles Rams during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 8, 2017, in Los Angeles.(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) throws a pass in front of Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson (91) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jaguars won 30-24. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Seattle defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson (91) rushes during an NFL football game against Tennessee on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Seattle Seahawks' Sheldon Richardson, left, tackles New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) is stopped by Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson (91) in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 24, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
New York Jets defensive end Sheldon Richardson (91) sacks New England Patriots' Tom Brady (12) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Jets defensive end Sheldon Richardson during a NFL football game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. Sunday, Oct. 25, 2015. (Winslow Townson/AP Images for Panini)
Miami Dolphins running back Jay Ajayi (23) runs ahead of New York Jets defensive end Sheldon Richardson (91), during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 6, 2016, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
New York Jets defensive end Sheldon Richardson, right, and defensive end Mike Catapano (53) tackle Jacksonville Jaguars running back T.J. Yeldon (24) during the first quarter of an NFL football game, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Jets defensive end Sheldon Richardson, left, hits New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) after he released a pass during the first half of an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Sheldon Richardson, de los Jets de Nueva York, taclea a Chrsitine Michael, de los Seahawks de Seattle, en la primera mitad del juego del domingo 2 de octubre de 2016 en East Rutherford, New Jersey. (AP Foto/Kathy Willens)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) hits the turf in front of New York Jets defensive end Sheldon Richardson (91) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2015, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
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“He’s an interior three-technique pass rusher. Ultra competitive, very prideful and is a force to be reckoned with within the inside,” Browns general manager John Dorsey said. “In football today, if you can have an interior pass rusher to apply pressure to the quarterback, that helps. He’s got some of that ability to do that.”
Richardson, a former first-round pick by the New York Jets out of Missouri, has made 87 starts over six seasons, earning the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2013 and making the Pro Bowl in 2014. He amassed a career-high 78 tackles as a rookie and had his best sack total in 2014, compiling eight to go along with 67 tackles, a safety and a forced fumble.
After four seasons with the Jets, Richardson joined the Seahawks in 2017, starting all 15 of the games in which he appeared. He had 44 tackles, a sack and his first career interception.
