The Cleveland Browns have added depth to their defensive front, claiming defensive tackle Elijah Chatman off waivers from the New York Giants.
Chatman, 25, stands 6 feet tall and weighs 278 pounds. He is entering his third NFL season out of SMU, where he played in 60 games and compiled 148 tackles, 34 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks across his collegiate career. He was a three-time All-AAC selection, earning first-team honors as a senior. The Browns officially announced the move on Friday.
The Giants originally signed Chatman as an undrafted free agent in 2024. He worked his way onto New York’s initial 53-man roster as a rookie and appeared in 17 games that season, recording 21 tackles and his first NFL sack. His 2025 campaign was limited — five games, three tackles.
Over two NFL seasons, Chatman has appeared in 22 games with three starts, totaling 24 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack and one fumble recovery.
Browns Another Piece to Strong Defensive Line
Chatman joins a defensive tackle group that did not undergo major changes this offseason but has a lot of depth and talent.
The headliner is second-year tackle Mason Graham, the fifth overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft out of Michigan. He finished second on the team in quarterback pressures with 36. He finished the year with 49 tackles, seven for loss, and four passes defensed across 17 games. The expectation is a significant leap in Year 2.
“I really think Mason Graham’s going to take another step,” Browns coach Todd Monken said.
Veteran Maliek Collins rounds out the starting interior. Collins logged 6.5 sacks in just 12 games during his first season in Cleveland.
The most notable addition to the room was Kalia Davis, who signed a one-year deal worth up to $3 million in March. Davis made 17 starts for the 49ers in 2025, recording 28 tackles, four for loss, and three passes defensed. The Browns did lose veteran DT Shelby Harris, who signed with the Giants.
Browns Face Uncertainty With Myles Garrett
The defensive line is built around Myles Garrett — the team’s superstar pass-rusher and reigning Defensive Player of the Year. Garrett had 23 sacks last season, setting the NFL single-season record during the Browns’ 5-12 campaign.
Garrett has not attended voluntary workouts, and as of late April, head coach Todd Monken had not yet spoken to the two-time Defensive Player of the Year in person.
“Myles and I have communicated by text, and I have not spoken to him in person,” Monken told reporters following one of the team’s voluntary minicamp sessions.
Monken has worked to downplay the situation.
“It’s fine. This is voluntary. We’re making a big deal out of this. We really are,” he said. “Myles will be ready. I’m not worried about Myles.”
The offseason uncertainty deepened in late March when the Browns adjusted language in Garrett’s contract. It immediately sparked trade speculation.
General manager Andrew Berry addressed the rumors at the NFL Annual Meeting in Phoenix.
“I guess probably the easiest thing to say is, if we wanted to trade Myles, we wouldn’t need to make a contract adjustment,” Berry said. “So it doesn’t have anything to do with that.”
The Browns will hold voluntary OTAs later this month before mandatory minicamp from June 9-11. That will be the first time Garrett is required to attend.
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