While most of the talk coming out of the Cleveland Browns blowout loss to the Buffalo Bills in the second preseason game was about the quarterbacks, Deshaun Watson’s post-game press conference in particular, the team is full of talented players and positions of need as well.
The Browns need at defensive end has been clear in their pursuits of Jadeveon Clowney and Za’Darius Smith, which has included a number of other defenders being worked out for a spot on the roster. Mike Hall Jr. showed some burst moving over to the edge spot, with Alex Wright sidelined with an injury, agaisnt the Bills, but that move is not an answer at the position.
On Saturday, Cleveland HC Todd Monken had no update on Wright. On Sunday, multiple reports came out that Wright would miss the season due to an Achilles injury and were signing DE Derek Barnett to the roster:
ESPN sources: The Browns are placing starting DE Alex Wright on season-ending injured reserve with a ruptured Achilles, and they now will sign former first-round pick DE Derek Barnett.
Wright was carted off the practice field Thursday after getting hurt during a one-on-one drill… pic.twitter.com/RDBRDFeAj9
Wright was headed into his fifth season since being drafted in the third round of the 2022 NFL draft. In 51 games, Wright accumulated 11.5 sacks, including 5.5 last year, 21 tackles for loss, 15 QB hits, and eight passes defended.
Barnett was a first round pick of the Philadelphia Eagles in 2017. In nine seasons, Barnett has 34 sacks, 57 tackles for loss, 104 QB hits, five forced fumbles, and five fumble recoveries, including three returned for touchdowns. Last year, for the Houston Texans, Barnett played in all 17 games, adding five sacks, 10 QB hits, and eight tackles for loss to his career totals.
Barnett’s contract details have also already been released, but we are awaiting what his base, guaranteed pay is:
Defensive end Derek Barnett is signing with the Cleveland Browns on a one-year deal up to $5.5M, per source.
The former first-round pick is back for Year 10, spent previous three years in Houston. pic.twitter.com/zyJT0hKM8q
Given that Cleveland was looking for help at the position before Wright’s injury, GM Andrew Berry will likely continue to scour the available edge players before the 53-man roster cut down.
How do you feel about Barnett replacing Wright on the Browns roster? Any other free agent defenders you’d like to see Berry pursue?
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