The Browns have already invested heavily on defense this offseason, bringing in a new coordinator and multiple big-ticket free agents. Further moves along the edge in particular can be expected. 
Cleveland has made one addition to their current pass rushing group, inking Obo Okoronkwo to a three-year, $19MM deal. The former Ram and Texan is set to take on a starting role alongside Myles Garrett, something which appeared to be necessary once it became clear Jadeveon Clowney would not be re-signing with the Browns. The latter has yet to find a new home.
Garrett and Okoronkwo are in line to start and carry a heavy workload, but the Browns are lacking in experienced depth beyond those two. Cleveland used third- and seventh-round picks on Alex Wright and Isaiah Thomas last year, and have room for at least one more addition either in the upcoming draft or free agency. General manager Andrew Berry confirmed that the team is preparing to bring in more new faces in the pass rush department.
“I would expect us to add more than that,” Berry said, via Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot. “We’re going to get to 90 eventually. I can’t say if that’s going to be on draft weekend or in May or in August, but I’d expect us to add to that room.”
Garrett earned a third straight Pro Bowl nod in 2022 after notching 16 sacks for the second consecutive season. The Browns’ next leading producer in terms of sacks was new Colts defensive tackle Taven Bryan with only three, however, highlighting the team’s need to invest in Okoronkwo and others this offseason. The draft and free agency each present options for Cleveland to consider.
The Browns aren’t set to pick until No. 74, but they own eight total selections. They should have a number of Day 2 and 3 prospects to choose from, though any rookie likely won’t be counted on to provide much of an immediate impact given the nature of the team’s depth chart. After the draft is over, veterans at all positions who have yet to catch on to a roster will receive increased attention. With respect to edge rushers, that means Clowney, along with the likes of Frank Clark, Yannick Ngakoue and Leonard Floyd will likely come off the market quickly. Any of those names could be paired with another draft addition to provide the Browns with a more complete edge group entering the 2023 season.
couple really good pass rushers available round 1 …. oh wait !
With all of the talented players who’ve come and mostly gone from Cleveland in the past few years, it’s almost like the window to compete was closed before it ever could open
I’m very curious to hear who these talented players who have left recently?
If Baltimore doesn’t have Jackson, this division may only have 1 team with a winning record. Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Baltimore all can’t compete with the Bengals and the rest of the AFC
Sorry, Deerhunter, but disagree
At the outset, let me say that I concur that the Bengals are the class of the division but let’s be reasonable. They’re not unbeatable and have a defense that’s beatable. They may or may not have Mixon. They lost Pegram and a couple other pieces
I see the Steelers as a team on the rise, and the Ravens as being always competitive. And truthfully, the Browns will only be better as Watson gets more reps
I had to chuckle at “…can’t compete with the Bengals and the rest of the AFC”. Yeah. Ok
As a division, they play the AFC South and NFC West this season. Each team plays games against members of the AFC West and East, as well
I’m not a Bengals fan but you win with good quarterback play. The Bengals have the 2nd or 3rd best quarterback. The other 3 teams aren’t even close. Jackson has regressed. Watson is still unknown if he comes back to form and Pickett looks like he’ll be mediocre. He has yet to prove that he can throw downfield
I applauded the Pickett selection. I followed him during his time at Pitt and saw him evolve. While I don’t see him ever being a Burrow-type, a lot of locals are placing a great deal of hype into the Steelers 7-2 finish against mediocre teams and specifically his two late drives that brought wins. But he wasn’t lighting up the scoreboard in those games either
I attribute a great deal of this on an offensive coordinator who sure seemed out of his element last season and whose play calling served to shackle both Pickett and the offense. In my mind, the jury is still out and the question is, will he be allowed to throw downfield? With guys like Addison at Pitt, Pickett proved he has the ability
and here, he has the receiving corps…if he’s allowed to progress beyond dink and dunk
I was never a Jackson fan—phenomenal athlete but not the QB you make note of as being a necessity and I have to think Watson will be something approaching what he was in Houston
Aside from Mahomes, I’d take Burrow over any other QB. He has the ability to atone for his defense’s occasional deficiencies
But as to your original point and as I look around the AFC, there are question marks everywhere beyond teams like KC, Cincinnati and Buffalo.