The Browns have been trying to find a rushing partner for Garrett for some time now, hoping to have found him in Jadeveon Clowney, which turned out to be not the case. With the addition of Smith, they secured a legitimate top 15 pass rusher as their number 2, which will create headaches for opposing defensive coordinators. Free agent signing Ogbo Okoronkwo is another starting-caliber player who rounds out what may be the best edge rushing trio in the NFL. The Browns also have three young players competing for snaps behind that trio. There is a lot to unpack here, so let’s waste no time!
1. Myles Garrett
Garrett has been the heart and soul of this Browns’ defensive line over the last few seasons. He is undeniably a top 3 defensive end, and there’s a compelling argument for him to be the best in the NFL. If you were to design an edge rusher in a lab, it would look like Myles Garrett. His combination of power and speed is unparalleled, allowing him to beat offensive linemen in any way he wants. Garrett is an excellent run defender and edge setter, although he occasionally conserves energy for pass-rushing situations. His ability to convert speed to power is incredible, and it’s safe to say no offensive linemen wants to face his bull rush. Additionally, this year’s defensive line is by far the strongest unit Garrett has ever been a part of. This prevents teams from consistently double-teaming him, as they can’t afford to leave everyone else in one-on-one matchups. I believe Garrett is poised for a career year and could very well be at the top of the defensive player of the year conversation in the end.
2. Za’Darius Smith
Smith is a versatile edge defender and has mostly played in wide alignments as a stand-up rusher throughout his career. Yet, he proved his ability to rush from different positions, often moving inside on third downs. This is why I believe the transition to a 4-3 edge defender will come naturally for him, especially considering Schwartz’s scheme that emphasizes letting edge rushers pin their ears back and go after the quarterback. He is an exceptional athlete, not quite at the level of Myles Garrett but in a similar realm. He possesses incredible burst and lateral movement, while also being able to convert speed to power and bull rush offensive linemen. Throughout his years in the NFL, he developed a nice tool belt of rushing-moves, and his swim move, in particular, can lead to impressive wins. If you were to pinpoint a weakness in his game, you might look at his run defense, where he can, like Garrett, become a bit careless at times. However, he has the physical tools to be an effective edge setter. This duo of Garrett and Smith is, in my opinion, the best in the league, and I can’t wait to see them on the field together.
3. Ogbo Okoronkwo
Ogbo was an under-the-radar signing that might have left some people wondering why the Browns would offer him a 3-year, 19 million-dollar contract. However, it was well deserved. Around the middle of the 2022 season, Ogbo’s play significantly improved, and he even took over a starting role due to injuries on the edge. He is an undersized yet incredibly athletic pass rusher with great bend at the top of his rushes and impressive lateral quickness. Despite his size, he can be effective as a run defender, using his agility to make blockers miss, nonetheless it is not a strength of his game. When facing tackles with a weaker anchor, he can utilize his arm strength to generate some pushback, although this is the exception rather than the norm. Ogbo lacks a power element in his rush that makes him predictable. Against tackles, athletic enough to take the threat of his speed away, he can struggle. If an offensive linemen gets his hands in Ogbo’s chest, he can be taken out of plays completely, particularly in the run game. Nevertheless, I believe Ogbo will be a nice rotational piece, complementing Garrett and Smith as a third starting-caliber pass rusher on this defense.
4. Alex Wright
The Browns’ draft strategy often relies upon physical traits and future potential, and Alex Wright fits that mold. He has a big frame with with long arms that he is still growing into. Furthermore, he has displayed some positional flexibility by lining up inside as a rusher on passing downs. In the run game, he flashes some violence when shedding blocks, although it’s not as consistent as you would like. That already sums up the positives to say about him, as he really had a lackluster rookie season that showed just how raw he is right now. He only managed to pressure the quarterback 12 times on 311 pass-rushing snaps, which is significantly below average. He isn’t the most explosive player off the line and has below-average lateral movement and bend. As a result, I believe that his ceiling as a pass rusher is limited. However, in terms of run defense, he could offer some relief for Garrett and Smith on early downs if he manages to increase his play strength and improve his ability to locate the ball carrier through traffic. Additionally, with the right development, he could become an effective interior rusher on clear passing downs. Wright sustained a knee injury during the Hall of Fame game and will likely miss a few weeks of the regular season. Nevertheless, once he comes back, I expect him to be a part of this rotation.
5. Isaiah McGuire
The Browns picked McGuire for many of the same reasons they picked Alex Wright. Both players are similarly build; however, McGuire is slightly more explosive and has already developed significantly greater play strength. While he does not threat offensive tackles with speed and bend, he does possess a respectable bull rush and an element of violence that could prove effective in the NFL. Nevertheless, McGuire still has room for improvement, particularly in areas such as play diagnostic, the use of secondary rush moves and his pad level when coming off the ball. With Wright’s injury, McGuire will get the opportunity to earn himself a significant role in the Browns’ pass-rushing rotation. Since we haven’t seen a lot of Wright this preseason, it’s hard to evaluate his progression. Nonetheless, I believe McGuire should be at least a similar run defender with upside as a rusher. It wouldn’t surprise me, if McGuire ends up out-snapping Wright by the end of the year.
6. Isaiah Thomas
As a 7th-round pick in 2022, Thomas faces an uphill battle for playing time. He played a few snaps last year and showed some intriguing flashes. He is a decently athletic player with about average explosiveness and strength. However, I really liked his play recognition and ability to keep his eyes in the backfield. On occasion, he managed to beat tackles with impressively effective bull rushes and showcased violent arms in the run game. He displayed some nice two-hand swipes and rip moves, although they where hit or miss most of the time. The same inconsistency applies to his run defense. He shows great effort on certain plays, chasing down running backs, and then gets sealed off by a tight end the next play. I don’t believe the Browns retain 6 defensive ends on the roster, and considering that he also injured his knee in the Hall of Fame game, Thomas won’t receive an opportunity with Wright being out. I could see him making it through waivers onto the practice squad, but wouldn’t be surprised if he got claimed by a team with less depth.
Jeremiah Martin
Out of Martin, Kamara and Phelps, Martin is the player with the most stereotypical physique for a defensive end. He showed some good speed and explosiveness in preseason, which he was able to convert into bull rushes pretty consistently. Out of the mentioned three players, he possesses the most well-rounded skillset, which could give him the edge in this battle. If Thomas and Wright are both out for significant time, I could see Martin sneaking on the roster to serve as a transitional piece.
Sam Kamara
Kamara is an intriguing player, as his physique seems to be on the cusp between defensive tackle and defensive end. However, I believe his skillset is best used as an edge defender, since he has some explosiveness and a respectable bull rush. His size occasionally gives him a natural leverage advantage, allowing him to get underneath offensive linemen and use said bull rush to drive them back. Additionally, he proves to be an adequate run defender, keeping his eyes in the backfield and using his weight to his advantage. He already has some NFL experience, serving 2 years as depth with minimal deployment on the Bears. However, I view him as a practice squad candidate rather than a competitor for the 53-man roster.
Lonnie Phelps
Phelps is an undrafted free agent out of Kansas who tested very well at the combine. He possesses linebacker-level speed at the edge, but is also significantly undersized for a pass rusher. He lacks play strength and wasn’t as explosive as I anticipated based on his athletic testing numbers. Given his current weight and short frame, he will likely struggle against NFL-level offensive tackles. I would guess he lands on the practice squad at best.
Defensive Ends on the 53-man roster (projection):
- Myles Garrett
- Za’Darius Smith
- Ogbo Okoronkwo
- Alex Wright
- Isaiah McGuire
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