Browns Claim Elijah Chatman to Add Power and Depth to Defensive Line

The Cleveland Browns continued reshaping their defensive depth on Friday by claiming defensive tackle Elijah Chatman off waivers from the New York Giants. The move adds another developmental option to a defensive front that is being carefully rebuilt with an emphasis on strength, versatility, and internal competition.

Chatman, who went undrafted in 2024 out of SMU, initially entered the league as a rookie minicamp invite before earning a roster spot with New York. His path to the NFL has been defined by persistence, physical development, and gradual improvement across multiple levels of competition.

The timing of the Browns’ claim came just one day after the Giants released him during roster adjustments. Despite the roster move, Chatman’s prior two-year run in New York showed enough promise for Cleveland to take a closer look at his potential fit.

For the Browns, the addition represents another low-risk, high-upside investment as training camp approaches. The organization continues to evaluate young defensive linemen who can compete for rotational snaps and provide depth behind established veterans.

1. A Steady NFL Journey With Flashes Of Production

Elijah Chatman’s early NFL career has been defined by incremental progress rather than immediate impact. After joining the Giants as an undrafted free agent, he worked his way from a rookie camp invite to a spot on the initial 53-man roster, an achievement that underscored his ability to earn trust quickly. Across two seasons with New York, Chatman appeared in 22 games and made three starts. His statistical production included 24 total tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, and a fumble recovery, numbers that reflect a rotational rather than full-time role. His most active stretch came during his rookie year, when he played in 17 games and recorded 21 tackles along with his first NFL sack. That season established him as a reliable depth option capable of contributing in short bursts along the interior defensive line. However, his role fluctuated during the 2025 season, when he appeared in just five games before being waived during final roster cuts. He later returned to the practice squad and eventually rejoined the active roster late in the year, highlighting both his value as depth and the volatility of his roster status.

2. Cleveland Adds To A Deep Defensive Tackle Rotation

With Chatman now in the fold, the Browns continue to build one of the more competitive interior defensive line groups in the league. He joins a rotation that already includes Maliek Collins, Mason Graham, Mike Hall Jr., Kalia Davis, Sam Kamara, Adin Huntington, and Bernard Gooden. That depth reflects Cleveland’s broader defensive strategy, which emphasizes rotation, interior pressure, and sustained physicality across four quarters. Chatman’s addition is not expected to immediately alter the depth chart but increases competition during training camp. The Browns have prioritized players who can bring energy and leverage in short-yardage and rotational situations. Chatman’s profile as a high-effort interior defender fits that mold, particularly in packages that require quick penetration and disruption. While he is not projected to compete for a starting role, his path to making the roster will depend on consistency and the ability to carve out a niche in a crowded position group. The Browns value versatility, and Chatman’s experience across multiple defensive alignments could help his case.

3. Power-Based Skill Set Built Over Years Of Development

Long before reaching the NFL, Chatman developed a reputation for exceptional strength and work ethic. At SMU, he became known for his advanced power metrics, including a 495-pound bench press and a 615-pound squat, numbers that stood out even among elite college athletes. His strength training background began unusually early, with reports that he was bench pressing 225 pounds as early as seventh grade. That foundation helped shape a playing style centered on leverage, explosion, and physical dominance at the point of attack. On the field, Chatman translated that raw strength into production over a long college career. He played in 60 games at SMU, the second-most in program history, and accumulated 148 tackles, 34 tackles for loss, and 13.5 sacks. His college trajectory also reflected steady improvement year over year. He earned second-team All-AAC honors twice before breaking through as a first-team All-AAC selection in his final season in 2023, when he posted 33 tackles, nine tackles for loss, and 5.5 sacks.