Where the Browns Edge Rusher Group Ranks After Acquiring Za’Darius Smith

Cleveland Browns made a big move for Za’Darius Smith that obviously improved their defensive end rotation but by how much?

Author:
Brandon Little
Publish date:
May 14, 2023 9:32 AM EDT

In this story:

Cleveland Browns

When the Cleveland Browns went out and traded for DE Za’Darius Smith, they got a better edge rusher than they would have found in free agency. Now, the Cleveland Browns have one of the better pass rushing attacks in the NFL, according to one analyst.

ESPN analyst Mike Clay has the Browns edge rushing group ranked No. 3 in the entire NFL, behind only the Los Angeles Chargers and Dallas Cowboys. Before acquiring Smith from the Minnesota Vikings, the Browns were the 14th ranked unit.

Myles Garrett is perhaps the best pass rusher in the NFL but now he is playing opposite of the best talent he’s had the pleasure to in his NFL career. Going from Jadeveon Clowney who had just 11 sacks in 26 games with the Browns, to Smith who had 10 sacks alone last year after returning from an injury is quite the upgrade.

Smith will now play opposite of the best end he’s ever played with, too, another added in benefit.

Behind those two, the Browns have a talented Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, who was added in this free agency cycle. Okoronkwo had one of the highest pressure rates in the NFL last year in just eight starts. It’s fair to expect him to take a boatload of snaps to keep the unit fresh. Okoronkwo is a night-and-day upgrade from Chase Winovich last season.

Cleveland will have Alex Wright back, who was thrown into the fire a bit as a rookie with five starts. Wright did not get a sack last season but they should come. The second year man is 6-foot-7 and 270 pounds, DC Jim Schwartz will find a way to best utilize him.

The Browns drafted Isaiah McGuire out of Missouri, a productive SEC pass rusher that stands out in the run game. McGuire, unlike Wright, won’t have to be thrown into action right away. Instead, the Browns will be able to develop the 6-foot-4, 266 pound pass rusher.

Isaiah Thomas wasn’t listed but as a seventh round rookie last season he had a sack and nine tackles in 162 defensive snaps. Undrafted free agent Lonnie Phelps could be a guy who ends up on the practice squad.

It’s fair to say the Browns have the best pass rushing group they’ve had in their modern day era. Now, it’s just time for the product to produce out on the field.

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