The Cleveland Browns need to continue adding youth, size, and playmaking ability to the defensive tackle room in 2025 and this year’s NFL Draft class is loaded with options for the front office to choose from.
The team decided to designate DT Dalvin Tomlinson as a post-June 1st cut in 2025, allowing them to create some extra cap space this offseason. Though he was pretty effective for the Browns over the past two seasons, his contract wasn’t conducive to the team’s plans going forward.
Iowa DT Yahya Black could be on the Browns’ radar heading into draft weekend due to his elite length, power, and surprising motor.
Iowa's Yahya Black is such an underrated player in this year's defensive tackle class.
He's obviously not the best athlete but at 6'6", 336 Lbs. with 35" arms and a 7-foot wingspan, nobody should expect him to be.
Black's powerful punch/extension made it almost impossible for… pic.twitter.com/JrLdtZCIuf
— Matt Wilson (@CoachWilson66) March 23, 2025
Name
Yahya Black
Position
Defensive Tackle
Height/Weight
6’5.5”, 336 lbs.
College
University of Iowa
2024 Stats: 13 games: 34 tackles, 7 TFL, 1 sack, 2 pass deflections, 1 FF
Career: 53 games: 117 tackles, 15 TFL, 5.5 sacks, 11 pass deflections, 3 FF
Relative Athletic Score
Average “Big Board” Position As of Publishing Date fromMock Draft Database
180th Overall
The Draft Network’s Grade/Round Value
Day 3 — Scheme Specific Contributor
What an Expert is Saying
“Black is a hulking presence who offers a few essential physical tools that could afford him a role-specific opportunity in the heart of an NFL defense. You don’t find players like this just growing on trees — an inherent advantage to Black’s resume.
As a run defender, he’s an active player with good hand power and obvious extension advantages that show the ability to stack up the point of attack. Black can be difficult to uproot and push out of gaps against centers and guards if they’re charged with taking him on themselves. He has a dense frame, and although he doesn’t play with the lowest pad level on the field, his functional strength is stout. This is especially true on a static base when runs hit downhill, and he can simply square up and stack the block.” - Kyle Crabbs, The 33rd team
Fit with the Browns
Since Maliek Collins is more of a gap-shooting pass rusher, Cleveland could now be looking for a space-eating nose tackle in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Yahya Black is a late-round prospect who could develop into a solid rotational 1-technique for the Browns on short-yardage and goal-line packages.
Browns Player Drafting Could Impact
Aside from maybe Jowon Briggs, Cleveland doesn’t have anyone on the interior that could occupy more than one gap now that Dalvin Tomlinson is on the way out.
Black could have an immediate role as a rookie on running downs depending on his development and performance throughout the summer.
Priority
Medium-High.
What are your thoughts on Yahya Black? Join fellow Browns fans in the comment section below.