The Cleveland Browns’ 2025 season has been a tough watch, and Sunday’s loss to the 49ers delivered another gut punch - this time in the form of a season-ending quad injury to standout defensive tackle Maliek Collins. It’s a brutal blow for a defense that’s already been tested all year.
Collins wasn’t just holding down the interior - he was dominating it. According to Pro Football Focus, he ranked as the second-best interior pass rusher in the league at the time of the injury.
That’s elite territory.
But as is often the case in the NFL, one player’s misfortune opens the door for others. And with the Browns sitting at 3-9, the final five games of the season are all about evaluation - especially in the trenches. This is where the spotlight shifts to a few younger names on the roster, particularly rookies Mason Graham and Mike Hall Jr.
Let’s start with Graham. Since the Browns’ Week 10 matchup against the Jets, he’s been turning heads.
Sixteen quarterback pressures in four games is no small feat for a rookie defensive tackle. He’s flashing the kind of disruptive ability that made Cleveland feel good about trading back in the 2025 NFL Draft to land him.
With Collins out, Graham should see a significant uptick in snaps - and deservedly so. Veteran Shelby Harris is another name to watch, as his experience could help stabilize the group, but the real intrigue lies with the young guys.
And that brings us to Mike Hall Jr. - a player who, up to this point, has been more of a mystery than a mainstay.
Hall was a second-round pick in 2024, a high-upside interior lineman out of Ohio State who entered the league with plenty of promise. But his NFL journey has been anything but smooth.
His rookie year was derailed by injuries and a five-game suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. This season hasn’t been much kinder.
Even after being medically cleared, Hall was a healthy scratch for the first half of the year. He didn’t make his 2025 debut until Week 8 against New England.
Now, with Collins sidelined, Hall is going to get his shot - and it might be his most important audition yet.
The Browns need to know what they have in him. His performance against San Francisco in Week 13 was rough - PFF graded him as the team’s lowest-rated defensive player with a 28.6.
That’s not the kind of tape you want to put out there, especially when your future with the team could be on the line. But the next five games offer a clean slate and a real chance for Hall to show he belongs.
There’s also the looming uncertainty around the Browns’ leadership. With whispers growing about potential changes at head coach and possibly even general manager, the team could be headed for a full-on regime reset. And when that happens, no one is safe - especially young players who haven’t yet carved out a consistent role.
For Hall, these next five weeks aren’t just about development. They’re about survival. He’s a talented player with a lot to prove, and now he’s got the reps - and the stage - to do it.
The Browns’ season may be all but over in the standings, but for guys like Hall and Graham, the real work is just beginning.