This morning, the Cleveland Browns officially signaled the end of their 2024 season. With a 2-7 record, the team has shifted into “seller” mode at the trade deadline. After sending Amari Cooper to the Buffalo Bills a few weeks ago, the Browns have now traded Za’Darius Smith to the Detroit Lions.
Cleveland is clearly focused on rebuilding for the future, eyeing a top-10 pick in the upcoming draft. The trade of Smith is part of the team’s effort to offload veterans who aren’t part of their long-term plans. Smith now has a chance to join a playoff-bound team with Super Bowl aspirations. Meanwhile, the Browns are turning their attention to younger players who can contribute to their pass rush moving forward.
Isaiah McGuire
The Browns selected McGuire in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, but he had limited impact as a rookie, appearing in just four games. He finished his first season with one sack and six tackles.
In his second year, McGuire has shown noticeable improvement. Through eight games this season, he has recorded one sack, 12 pressures, and 17 tackles. He has proven effective as both a run defender and a pass rusher. Additionally, McGuire has made an impact on special teams. Given his progress, he has earned more playing time and is poised to take on a larger role in the defense.
Alex Wright
A key injury loss for the Browns this season has been defensive end Alex Wright, who is sidelined for the rest of the year with a triceps injury. This setback has further thinned out Cleveland’s defensive depth. Wright had a promising season in 2023, registering five sacks after a zero-sack rookie campaign.
This season, Wright had been playing about 41 percent of the defensive snaps, behind Myles Garrett and Smith. In his four games, he totaled one sack and eight tackles. Wright won’t return until 2025, but when healthy, he is expected to have a significantly larger role in the Browns’ defense.
Ogbo Okoronkwo
Okoronkwo, now in his second season with Cleveland on a three-year deal, has primarily been a secondary pass rusher. With the trade of Smith, Okoronkwo is expected to see more snaps moving forward.
In 2023, Okoronkwo recorded 4.5 sacks and 31 tackles over 14 games. This season, he has posted two sacks while playing 38 percent of the defensive snaps across nine games.
For the remainder of the 2024 season, Okoronkwo and McGuire will likely be tasked with filling the void opposite Myles Garrett. Cleveland will need to continue to invest in the pass rush position as part of its long-term plan.
