Dawgs By Nature
The Browns need help at defensive end, and Houston’s Derek Barnett could help as a situational pass rusher.
The Cleveland Browns had Myles Garrett and a cast of characters at defensive end in 2024.
Even when you consider that Garrett is the best defensive player in the league, the drop-off in production from him to the rest of the group is striking. Garrett had 14 sacks compared to a combined 12.5 for the other seven edge rushers, 22 tackles for loss to 25 for the group, 28 quarterback hits to 24, and three forced fumbles to four for the other defensive.
The Browns can use more help at the position, even with Garrett on the roster. If they were to trade Garrett, which he is angling for them to do, the situation would become that much more urgent.
One option that could be on the table come free agency is Derek Barnett, who just finished his second season with the Houston Texans as a situational pass rusher.
Name: Derek Barnett
Position: Defensive end
Height/Weight: 6-foot-3, 259 pounds
Age: 28
2024 Team: Houston Texans
2024 stats: 16 games, 26 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, 7 quarterback hits, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, 2 defensive touchdowns
Career stats: 95 games, 195 tackles, 49 tackles for loss, 29 sacks, 94 quarterback hits, 5 forced fumbles, 5 fumble recoveries, 3 defensive touchdowns
PFF Grade: 74.6 overall, 68.5 pass rush, 72.6 run defense
2024 contract: Final year of a one-year for $2 million
Fit with the Browns
While not an everyday player - he played just 38 percent of Houston’s defensive snaps in 2024 - Barnett still found a way to be productive with the Texans with five sacks and two fumbles returned for touchdowns on 226 pass-rushing snaps. He fit in well as part of Houston’s defensive end rotation, which is a role that he could fill in Cleveland. Barnett has also been durable as he has played in 14 or more games in four of the past five seasons.
Browns player signing could impact
Cleveland sported a decent if we are being generous, defensive end rotation opposite Myles Garrett in the likes of Ogbo Okoronkwo, Isaiah McGuire, and Alex Wright (who only played in four games before landing on season-ending injured reserve). Beyond that, the position group included Sam Kamara, Elerson Smith, and Cameron Thomas, so if general manager Andrew Berry were interested in Barnett, it would not be difficult to find him a roster spot.
How the signing could impact the NFL Draft
The Browns are likely selecting a defensive end at some point in the upcoming draft, so Barnett would be an addition, rather than a replacement, to an incoming rookie.
Priority: Medium, but would go up if/when the Browns trade Garrett.
Projected contract (via Over the Cap): $2.44 million per year
What do you think about Derek Barnett for the Browns? Who are some other defensive ends the team should be considering in free agency?
