The Cleveland Browns didn’t wait long to address the hole in their defensive line.
Following the season-ending Achilles injury suffered by Alex Wright during Thursday’s joint practice with the Buffalo Bills, Cleveland has signed veteran defensive end Derek Barnett to a one-year deal worth up to $5.5 million, according to multiple reports.
It’s a logical move for a Browns defense that suddenly found itself dangerously thin at EDGE.
Wright’s injury was a significant blow.
The 25-year-old was coming off the best season of his career, recording 5.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss in 2025, and had developed into an important piece of Cleveland’s defensive line rotation.
His absence left the Browns needing another legitimate NFL defensive end rather than simply hoping their existing depth could absorb his snaps.
Enter Barnett.
The former No. 14 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft has played nine NFL seasons between Philadelphia and Houston, appearing in 112 games while recording 34 sacks, 57 tackles for loss and 216 total tackles.
More importantly for Cleveland, there are signs that Barnett still has something left.
Barnett recorded five sacks in 2025, giving him five sacks in consecutive seasons. He also generated an 11.2 percent pressure rate for Houston in 2024 while providing some splash plays, including two fumble recoveries returned for touchdowns.
At 30 years old, the Browns aren’t signing Barnett expecting him to become a premier pass rusher suddenly. They don’t need him to be.
They need him to be a reliable NFL defensive end capable of playing meaningful snaps.
Even with Barnett, the Browns are still thin at EDGE. Isiash McGuire will move into the starting role, replacing Wright, and has a chance to earn a contract extension in the final year of his rookie deal.
The Browns will need to pay close attention to roster cuts around the league in search of upgrades at cornerback, tight end, and now EDGE. We already took a look at the top cornerback and tight end cut candidates to monitor.
So here is a look at some EDGE possibilities.
Mike Hall Flashes
Interestingly, Cleveland had already begun experimenting with Mike Hall Jr. at defensive end before Wright’s injury. The Browns’ official website noted Wednesday that Hall had worked at some end after returning to practice, with Monken highlighting the disruption his explosiveness can create from that alignment.
Hall looked good playing EDGE in Saturday’s preseason game against Buffalo, recording a sack and creating pressure off the edge in his opportunities.
Still, the Browns need more help at the position, even with Barnett and Hall in the equation.
Best Potential EDGE Cut/Trade Candidates Around The League
The Browns are approaching one of the best periods of the NFL calendar to search for depth.
Across the league, teams are beginning to identify their final 53-man rosters, and several clubs have more legitimate EDGE players than they can realistically keep.
Instead of limiting the search to veteran free agents, Cleveland should call teams with crowded EDGE rooms and identify players who could become available before they’re released.
The Browns should be particularly interested in younger players with remaining developmental upside.
Felix Anudike-Uzomah — Kansas City Chiefs
The former first-round pick remains one of the most intriguing potential trade targets to monitor.
Anudike-Uzomah hasn’t developed into the impact pass rusher Kansas City envisioned when it selected him in the first round, but that’s exactly what makes him interesting for Cleveland.
The Browns wouldn’t be acquiring him based on what he has been.
They’d be betting on what he could still become.
Kansas City has continued adding competition around him, including veteran Emmanuel Ogbah. Interestingly, Arrowhead Pride noted after the Chiefs’ preseason opener that Anudike-Uzomah was being moved around the defensive front, including snaps inside in a potential “NASCAR” pass-rush package.
That could help him stick in Kansas City, so he’s better classified as a player to monitor for a potential trade than a likely cut. NFL Trade Rumors specifically identifies him as a trade/cut candidate and notes that another club could still be interested because of the pedigree.
At 24 years old, Anudike-Uzomah fits the profile of a reclamation project who could provide rotational snaps immediately while still offering upside beyond 2026.
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Sam Williams — Dallas Cowboys
Dallas might be the first call I’d make.
The Cowboys’ addition of Von Miller has created an increasingly crowded EDGE room, and Blogging the Boys recently identified Williams among the players whose roster situations could be affected by Miller’s arrival.
Dallas now has to distribute snaps and roster spots among Miller, Rashan Gary, Donovan Ezeiruaku, Malachi Lawrence, Williams, and others.
That could create an opportunity for Cleveland.
Williams possesses legitimate pass-rush ability and wouldn’t need to become the centerpiece of the Browns’ defensive line. If Dallas is willing to move him rather than risk losing another player during cuts, he’s exactly the type of rotational EDGE the Browns should investigate.
Chris Braswell — Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Braswell is another former premium draft pick worth calling about.
Braswell was a second-round pick and still has two years remaining on his rookie contract, but Tampa Bay attacked EDGE this offseason. He’s produced only 2.5 sacks over his first two seasons, putting him in danger of getting squeezed.
Javon Solomon — Buffalo Bills
The Browns don’t have to look very far for another roster worth monitoring.
They reportedly have six legitimate candidates competing for four or five EDGE spots. Solomon is described as a speedy sub-package rusher who also contributes on special teams.
Buffalo entered camp with eight outside linebackers, including Bradley Chubb, Greg Rousseau, Mike Danna, Michael Hoecht, and Javon Solomon among others.
Ironically, Cleveland’s joint-practice partner could ultimately become one of the teams Berry calls while looking for help replacing the depth potentially lost Thursday.
He makes a lot of sense as a Browns EDGE4/EDGE5.
Adisa Isaac — Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore is another organization whose roster cuts should always get Cleveland’s attention.
Isaac is a former Day 2 selection who hasn’t established himself as a significant contributor during his first two NFL seasons.
But there’s a difference between failing to crack Baltimore’s defensive rotation and not possessing NFL talent.
If Isaac becomes available, Cleveland should take a look.
This is precisely the type of situation where another organization’s depth can become your opportunity.
James Houston — Dallas Cowboys
Williams isn’t the only Dallas pass rusher worth monitoring.
James Houston is another player whose roster situation has become more complicated following the Cowboys’ addition of Miller.
Blogging the Boys recently identified Houston as another player who could be affected by the move. It even suggested that a productive preseason could create trade value for Dallas, rather than forcing the Cowboys to release him.
Houston isn’t an ideal every-down defensive end.
But he has demonstrated an ability to rush the passer at the NFL level.
If Wright misses significant time, Cleveland could use another player capable of entering the game in obvious passing situations and applying pressure.
Kyle Kennard — Chargers
This is exactly the kind of player I’d watch during cuts. Kennard was only a fourth-round pick last year, but appeared in just five games. Nadame Tucker’s emergence has created a numbers problem that could leave either Kennard or veteran Bud Dupree available.
I prefer Kennard over Dupree for Cleveland because you’re getting developmental upside rather than merely filling snaps.
Bralen Trice — Falcons
Atlanta’s former third-rounder has had his first two seasons wrecked by knee injuries. At the same time, the Falcons have subsequently loaded the position with Azeez Ojulari, Samson Ebukam, Cameron Thomas and others. The Falcoholic’s projections have identified Trice as a legitimate bubble player.
He’d be a change-of-scenery/upside waiver claim.
Others to watch
In New Orleans, Chris Rumph and Anfernee Jennings currently project around the fifth/sixth EDGE range, while UDFA Michael Heldman had a two-sack preseason debut. That creates a genuine roster squeeze. Rumph had two sacks as a rotational player last year and has familiarity with DC Brandon Staley.
There’s also Bradyn Swinson in New England. A current Patriots 53-man projection from 98.5 The Sports Hub has Dre’Mont Jones, Harold Landry, Gabe Jacas, and Elijah Ponder making the team, while Swinson is cut.
Late Round Draft Pick Trades
The Browns should be looking to make some trades, maybe even move Cedric Tillman and use whatever draft capital you can acquire to trade for players that may be on their way to getting cut or are just on the bubble. Late day three picks or even pick swaps are a great way to circumvent the waivers process or free agency for veterans and make sure you get the player(s) you want.
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