Cleveland Browns Edge Rushers, Breakdown, Analysis, Looking Ahead to 2024: Will Za’ Darius Smith be Re-Signed?

The Cleveland Browns are still looking for the long-term answer at defensive end opposite of their Defensive Player of the Year, or are they?

BEREA, Ohio — The Greetham Angle will do a position-by-position breakdown and analysis of the roster from 2023 and looking ahead to 2024. The Cleveland Browns will have some difficult decisions all across their roster this offseason.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll take a look at the roster by each position, the players that are still under contract, and the players who are set to become free agents.

Here is a breakdown of the defensive ends:

Defensive Ends (8)

The good news is the Cleveland Browns have the NFL’s reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett. Besides Garrett, the Browns had 48 sacks overall, in the 2023 season, up from 34 in 2023. The Browns edge rushers had 30 of the sacks after registering 20 in 2022. In 2022, Garrett had 16 of the 20 sacks. In 2023, the Browns had much more distribution from the group. Garrett led the way with 14, but Za’Darius Smith (5.5), Alex Wright (5.0), and Ogbonnia Okoronkwo (4.5).

The Browns defense finished No. 1 in the NFL in yards allowed (263.1) and first in passing yards allowed (164.7).

Overall, the Browns have six defensive ends under contract, as of now, for 2024.

Here is a summary of the edge rushers who ended the season on the 2022 active roster, injured reserve, or practice squad:

Myles Garrett (6-4, 272, 7th year, Texas A&M) — Garrett, 28, finished the season with 42 tackles, 14 sacks, three passes broken up, four forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery. Garrett went to his fifth Pro Bowl. Garrett won the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year for the first time in his career. Garrett is under contract for 2024 with a salary cap number of $20.168 million.

Za’Darius Smith (6-4, 270, 9th year, Kentucky) — Smith, 31, finished the season with 27 tackles, 5.5 sacks, three passes broken up, and a forced fumble. Smith is a free agent.

Ogbonnia Okoronkwo (6-2, 250, 6th year, Oklahoma) — Okoronkwo, 28, finished the season with 31 tackles, 4.5 sacks, a pass broken up, and a fumble recovery, despite missing three games with a torn pectoral. Okoronkwo is under contract for 2024 with a salary cap number of $6.42 million.

Alex Wright (6-5, 267, 2nd year, UAB) — Wright, 23, finished the season with 25 tackles, five sacks, two passes broken up, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery. He was a third-round draft choice in the 2022 NFL Draft. Wright is under contract for 2024 with a salary cap number of $1.186 million.

Isaiah Thomas (6-5, 266, 2nd year, Oklahoma) — Thomas, 25, spent the season on the practice squad after having knee surgery in the preseason. Thomas was a seventh-round draft choice in the 2022 NFL Draft. As a rookie, he finished with nine tackles, one sack, two passes broken up, and a fumble recovery. Thomas is under contract for 2024 with a salary cap number of $915,000.

Isaiah McGuire (6-4, 268, Rookie, Missouri) — McGuire, 22, had six tackles, including a sack in four games, including one start. He was inactive for 13 games after being a fourth-round draft choice in the 2023 NFL Draft. McGuire is under contract for 2024 with a salary cap number of $1.092 million.

Lonnie Phelps (6-2, 247, Rookie, Kansas) — Phelps, 23, was an undrafted rookie who spent the season on the practice squad. Phelps is under contract in 2024 with a salary cap number of $795,000.

Sam Kamara (6-0, 272, 2nd year, Stony Brook) — Kamara, 26, finished the season with seven tackles in two games. He finished the season on the active roster after spending most of the season on the practice squad. Kamara is an exclusive rights free agent.

Summary and Looking Ahead

The Browns are in a similar position in which they have been in the past few seasons, trying to find the long-term answer at edge rusher opposite of Garrett. In the previous three seasons, the Browns signed Jadeveon Clowney to a one-year contract in both years. After nine sacks in his first season with the Browns, Clowney had just two sacks in 2022 and signed with the Ravens in 2023.

When defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz joined the Browns last season, he said the most important aspect of defense is a disruptive pass rush and his aggressive style helped the Browns put much more pressure on quarterbacks in 2023.

The Browns acquired Smith in a trade and he was a big addition on the edge opposite of Garrett. Smith had his contract restructured before joining the Browns in a trade to be a free agent after the 2023 season. Smith is a free agent in March if the Browns do not re-sign him to an extension before then.

Smith finished second on the team with 5.5 sacks, but Schwartz talked about how disruptive Smith was in his role on the defense. It would appear that Smith would be a top priority to retain in the Browns No. 1 defense.

However, Okoronkwo played well after being signed to a long-term contract as an unrestricted free agent before suffering a torn pectoral that cost him three games. Wright emerged in the second half of the season and finished with five sacks.

McGuire spent most of the season in a reserve role as a rookie and could develop into a more prominent role in 2024 after being a fourth-round draft choice.

Smith could be the best choice to re-sign, but if the Browns are unable to do so, they could look to free agency.

Last year the Browns signed Ogbonnia Okoronkwo as an unrestricted free agent and if they look to free agency for edge rushers, some of the options in free agency at defensive end are Andrew Van Ginkel (No. 8 PFF), Bryce Huff (No. 29), Jonathan Greenard (No. 32), Danielle Hunter (No. 33) and Chase Young (No. 38).

Here are the previously posted position review stories:

Quarterback: Cleveland Browns Quarterback Breakdown, Analysis, and Looking Ahead to 2024

Running Back: Cleveland Browns Running Back Breakdown, Analysis and Looking Ahead to 2024: All Eyes on Nick Chubb

Wide Receiver: Cleveland Browns WR Breakdown, Analysis, Looking Ahead to ’24: Do Browns have Enough to Go with Amari Cooper?

Tight End: Cleveland Browns TE Breakdown, Analysis, Looking Ahead at Options for ’24: Will David Njoku Be Able to Repeat?

Offensive Tackle: Cleveland Browns OT Breakdown, Analysis, Looking Ahead to ’24: What’s the Future of Jedrick Wills,Jack Conklin

Interior Offensive Linemen (Guards, Centers): Cleveland Browns Guards, Centers Breakdown, Analysis, Looking Ahead to 2024: Will Browns Keep the 3 Starters?

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