Shelby Harris saw what the Browns were building on their defensive line over the offseason and wanted to be a part of it.
Bookended by two Pro Bowl edge rushers in Myles Garrett and Za'Darius Smith and bolstered by the heavy and reliable DT Dalvin Tomlinson in the interior, Smith felt he could find a successful home in Cleveland — especially with a defensive coordinator like Jim Schwartz, who is all about building destructive defensive fronts.
"I felt like out of all the teams I was talking to, they're the most primed to win," Harris said. "How can I turn down the chance to play with those guys up front and playing in Coach Schwartz's defense? I can't pass that up."
Joint Practices with the Philadelphia Eagles on Day 12 of Training Camp at the NovaCare Complex
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski after Joint Practices with the Philadelphia Eagles on Day 12 of Training Camp at the NovaCare Complex on August 14, 2023.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during Joint Practices with the Philadelphia Eagles on Day 12 of Training Camp at the NovaCare Complex on August 14, 2023.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during Joint Practices with the Philadelphia Eagles on Day 12 of Training Camp at the NovaCare Complex on August 14, 2023.
Wide Receiver Amari Cooper (2) and Eagles Cornerback Greedy Williams (38) during Joint Practices with the Philadelphia Eagles on Day 12 of Training Camp at the NovaCare Complex on August 14, 2023.
Defensive end Za'Darius Smith (99) during Joint Practices with the Philadelphia Eagles on Day 12 of Training Camp at the NovaCare Complex on August 14, 2023.
Joe Thomas and Offensive guard Joel Bitonio (75) during Joint Practices with the Philadelphia Eagles on Day 12 of Training Camp at the NovaCare Complex on August 14, 2023.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) and Eagles Wide receiver A. J. Brown (11) during Joint Practices with the Philadelphia Eagles on Day 12 of Training Camp at the NovaCare Complex on August 14, 2023.
Eagles Cornerback Darius Slay (2) and Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during Joint Practices with the Philadelphia Eagles on Day 12 of Training Camp at the NovaCare Complex on August 14, 2023.
Linebacker Sione Takitaki (44) and Eagles Cornerback Greedy Williams (38) during Joint Practices with the Philadelphia Eagles on Day 12 of Training Camp at the NovaCare Complex on August 14, 2023.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during Joint Practices with the Philadelphia Eagles on Day 12 of Training Camp at the NovaCare Complex on August 14, 2023.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during Joint Practices with the Philadelphia Eagles on Day 12 of Training Camp at the NovaCare Complex on August 14, 2023.
Running back Hassan Hall (30) during Joint Practices with the Philadelphia Eagles on Day 12 of Training Camp at the NovaCare Complex on August 14, 2023.
Eagles Offensive tackle Lane Johnson (65), Joe Thomas and Offensive guard Joel Bitonio (75) during Joint Practices with the Philadelphia Eagles on Day 12 of Training Camp at the NovaCare Complex on August 14, 2023.
Running back Jordan Wilkins (20) during Joint Practices with the Philadelphia Eagles on Day 12 of Training Camp at the NovaCare Complex on August 14, 2023.
Joe Thomas and Eagles Offensive tackle Lane Johnson (65) during Joint Practices with the Philadelphia Eagles on Day 12 of Training Camp at the NovaCare Complex on August 14, 2023.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during Joint Practices with the Philadelphia Eagles on Day 12 of Training Camp at the NovaCare Complex on August 14, 2023.
Safety Rodney McLeod (26) during Joint Practices with the Philadelphia Eagles on Day 12 of Training Camp at the NovaCare Complex on August 14, 2023.
Running back John Kelly Jr. (41) during Joint Practices with the Philadelphia Eagles on Day 12 of Training Camp at the NovaCare Complex on August 14, 2023.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during Joint Practices with the Philadelphia Eagles on Day 12 of Training Camp at the NovaCare Complex on August 14, 2023.
Safety Grant Delpit (22) during Joint Practices with the Philadelphia Eagles on Day 12 of Training Camp at the NovaCare Complex on August 14, 2023.
Wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones (11) during Joint Practices with the Philadelphia Eagles on Day 12 of Training Camp at the NovaCare Complex on August 14, 2023.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during Joint Practices with the Philadelphia Eagles on Day 12 of Training Camp at the NovaCare Complex on August 14, 2023.
Eagles Offensive tackle Lane Johnson (65), Joe Thomas and Offensive guard Joel Bitonio (75) during Joint Practices with the Philadelphia Eagles on Day 12 of Training Camp at the NovaCare Complex on August 14, 2023.
Running back John Kelly Jr. (41) during Joint Practices with the Philadelphia Eagles on Day 12 of Training Camp at the NovaCare Complex on August 14, 2023.
Quarterback Kellen Mond (7) during Joint Practices with the Philadelphia Eagles on Day 12 of Training Camp at the NovaCare Complex on August 14, 2023.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during Joint Practices with the Philadelphia Eagles on Day 12 of Training Camp at the NovaCare Complex on August 14, 2023.
Running back Jordan Wilkins (20) during Joint Practices with the Philadelphia Eagles on Day 12 of Training Camp at the NovaCare Complex on August 14, 2023.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during Joint Practices with the Philadelphia Eagles on Day 12 of Training Camp at the NovaCare Complex on August 14, 2023.
Tight end Miller Forristall (86) during Joint Practices with the Philadelphia Eagles on Day 12 of Training Camp at the NovaCare Complex on August 14, 2023.
Defensive end Jeremiah Martin (69) during Joint Practices with the Philadelphia Eagles on Day 12 of Training Camp at the NovaCare Complex on August 14, 2023.
Running back Jordan Wilkins (20) during Joint Practices with the Philadelphia Eagles on Day 12 of Training Camp at the NovaCare Complex on August 14, 2023.
Safety Juan Thornhill (1) during Joint Practices with the Philadelphia Eagles on Day 12 of Training Camp at the NovaCare Complex on August 14, 2023.
Quarterback Joshua Dobbs (15) during Joint Practices with the Philadelphia Eagles on Day 12 of Training Camp at the NovaCare Complex on August 14, 2023.
Offensive Line Coach Bill Callahan and the Offensive Line during Joint Practices with the Philadelphia Eagles on Day 12 of Training Camp at the NovaCare Complex on August 14, 2023.
Linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. (5) during Joint Practices with the Philadelphia Eagles on Day 12 of Training Camp at the NovaCare Complex on August 14, 2023.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during Joint Practices with the Philadelphia Eagles on Day 12 of Training Camp at the NovaCare Complex on August 14, 2023.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during Joint Practices with the Philadelphia Eagles on Day 12 of Training Camp at the NovaCare Complex on August 14, 2023.
Defensive end Za'Darius Smith (99) during Joint Practices with the Philadelphia Eagles on Day 12 of Training Camp at the NovaCare Complex on August 14, 2023.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during Joint Practices with the Philadelphia Eagles on Day 12 of Training Camp at the NovaCare Complex on August 14, 2023.
Offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. (71) during Joint Practices with the Philadelphia Eagles on Day 12 of Training Camp at the NovaCare Complex on August 14, 2023.
Cornerbacks Coach Brandon Lynch during Joint Practices with the Philadelphia Eagles on Day 12 of Training Camp at the NovaCare Complex on August 14, 2023.
Cornerback Mike Ford Jr. (28) during Joint Practices with the Philadelphia Eagles on Day 12 of Training Camp at the NovaCare Complex on August 14, 2023.
Defensive tackle Siaki Ika (62) during Joint Practices with the Philadelphia Eagles on Day 12 of Training Camp at the NovaCare Complex on August 14, 2023.
Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (6) during Joint Practices with the Philadelphia Eagles on Day 12 of Training Camp at the NovaCare Complex on August 14, 2023.
Safeties Coach Ephraim Banda during Joint Practices with the Philadelphia Eagles on Day 12 of Training Camp at the NovaCare Complex on August 14, 2023.
Safety Grant Delpit (22) during Joint Practices with the Philadelphia Eagles on Day 12 of Training Camp at the NovaCare Complex on August 14, 2023.
Linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. (5) during Joint Practices with the Philadelphia Eagles on Day 12 of Training Camp at the NovaCare Complex on August 14, 2023.
Linebacker Matthew Adams (40) during Joint Practices with the Philadelphia Eagles on Day 12 of Training Camp at the NovaCare Complex on August 14, 2023.
Linebacker Mohamoud Diabate (43) during Joint Practices with the Philadelphia Eagles on Day 12 of Training Camp at the NovaCare Complex on August 14, 2023.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during Joint Practices with the Philadelphia Eagles on Day 12 of Training Camp at the NovaCare Complex on August 14, 2023.
Defensive tackle Shelby Harris (97) during Joint Practices with the Philadelphia Eagles on Day 12 of Training Camp at the NovaCare Complex on August 14, 2023.
The Browns certainly improved their roster Thursday by adding Harris, which provided depth in the defensive tackle group and a reliable veteran in the locker room. A 10th-year veteran, Harris started 15 games with the Seahawks last season and totaled 44 tackles, two sacks and four pass breakups. His best season was in 2019 as a member of the Broncos when he recorded 49 tackles and 6.0 sacks.
Harris should provide a lift to a revamped defensive line that had significant problems reaching opposing quarterbacks last season. The Browns were tied for 27th in the league in sacks last season, but Harris sees tremendous improvements coming from Cleveland in that category.
"You got Pro Bowl guys and Z,and Myles (Garrett) and then Dalvin , who will be a Pro Bowler, and Ogbo (Okoronkwo) who's a great rusher himself, and then with Jordan (Elliott), and everyone," Harris said. "To be in this group and have talent from top to bottom, it makes my job a lot easier."
Harris had his first practice Monday since joining the Browns in Philadelphia. Sure, he's got a lot to learn about his new teammates over the next three weeks until Week 1, but for someone who has been in the league for a decade, getting to know a new team budding with talent can be a joyful experience.
"I'm just truly blessed to be in this league going into year ten," he said. "Every day you get to go out in this field, it's a blessing. People will kill to be in this position. So I'm just really just happy to be here and to even be playing the game of football's a special game.
