Browns claim ex-Giants DT off waivers

The Cleveland Browns added another developmental piece to their defensive front Friday by claiming defensive tackle Elijah Chatman off waivers from the New York Giants. The 25-year-old went undrafted in the 2024 NFL draft and was then subsequently picked up by the Giants, where he spent the last two seasons.

The move came just one day after the Giants released Chatman. He initially joined as a rookie minicamp invite out of SMU before earning a contract and eventually making New York’s initial 53-man roster.

We've claimed DT Elijah Chatman via waivers

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) May 8, 2026

Across two NFL seasons, Chatman appeared in 22 games with three starts, recording 24 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack and one fumble recovery. His most productive stretch came during his rookie season, when he played in 17 games and registered 21 tackles and his first NFL sack.

During the 2025 season, Chatman appeared in five games for the Giants before being waived during final roster adjustments and later spending time on the practice squad before returning to the active roster late in the year. For Cleveland, the addition strengthens interior defensive line competition entering training camp.

Chatman joins a defensive tackle room that already includes Maliek Collins, Mason Graham, Mike Hall Jr., Kalia Davis, Sam Kamara, Adin Huntington and Bernard Gooden. At SMU, Chatman developed a reputation for elite power, bench pressing 225 pounds as early as seventh grade.

By college, he had recorded a 495-pound bench press, a 615-pound squat, and 42 consecutive reps at 225 pounds, a benchmark surpassed by only 11 NFL Combine participants historically. Chatman finished his collegiate career as one of SMU’s most experienced and productive defensive linemen.

Across 60 games, the second-most in school history, he totaled 148 tackles, 34 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks. He steadily improved throughout his college tenure, earning second-team All-AAC honors twice before becoming a first-team All-AAC selection during his final season in 2023 after recording 33 tackles, nine tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks.

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