Breaking: Browns’ Trade Deadline Move Unlocks Potential for…
This morning the Cleveland Browns officially waved the white flag on their 2024 season. They are a 2-7 football team that has become sellers at the trade deadline. After trading Amari Cooper to the Buffalo Bills a few weeks ago, the Browns have now traded Za’Darius Smith to the Detroit Lions.
Cleveland is going in the direction of looking toward the future. They are heading toward a top-10 pick in the upcoming draft and they made sense to be a team shipping off veterans that are not in future plans.
With the trade of Smith to the Lions he will get an opportunity to land with a playoff team and Super Bowl contender. In Cleveland, the focus now turns to younger players that can help them rush the passer.
Isaiah McGuire
Cleveland took McGuire in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft and he had a very small role as a rookie by appearing in just four games. As a rookie, McGuire made a sack and six tackles.
Now in his second season in the NFL, McGuire looks like an improved player. McGuire has a sack, 12 pressures, and 17 total tackles in eight games played this season. The second-year player has shown the ability to be a run defender, as well as get after the passer. Special teams play has been another spot where McGuire has stood out.
McGuire has earned a bigger opportunity and more snaps to get after the passer. In a small sample size, McGuire has proven to be effective. Now, he is going to get an expanded role.
Alex Wright
One of the toughest injury losses for the Browns this season has been Alex Wright. The defensive end is out for the season with a triceps injury and the Browns took a hit to their depth when he went down. Last year was a big step in the right direction for Wright, who had five sacks after having none in his rookie season.
Wright played in 41 percent of the defensive snaps after Myles Garrett and Smith this season during his four games. The former third-round pick had a sack and eight tackles before he was injured. It won’t be until next season that Wright returns, but he is going to have a bigger role surely when he is out there in 2025.
Ogbo Okoronkwo
Okoronkwo is in his second season with the Browns on a three-year contract. The 29-year-old has been a secondary pass rusher for the Browns the last couple of seasons and should see an uptick in usage with Smith traded.
Last season Okoronkwo had 4.5 sacks in 14 games with the Browns and made 31 tackles. So far this season, Okoronkwo has made two sacks while playing 38 percent of the defensive snaps in nine games.
For the 2024 season at least, expect Okoronkwo and McGuire to hold down the job opposite of Garrett. Cleveland will need to continue to invest in the position going forward.
