The Cleveland Browns signed free-agent defensive end Derek Barnett on Sunday, and his one-year contract could be worth up to $5.5 million, presumably due to a series of incentives.
Barnett spent the past three seasons with the Houston Texans. He is expected to challenge for a starting job now that defensive Alex Wright has been lost for the season due to a ruptured left Achilles tendon injury. Wright suffered the injury during a joint-practice session with the Buffalo Bills on Thursday, and the injury was confirmed over the weekend.
Alex Wright Lost for the Season Due to Achilles Rupture
Initially, it was believed Wright had suffered a left calf injury, which would have been problematic, but obviously is nowhere near as severe as a torn Achilles tendon. Now, the starting defensive end will undergo an extensive rehabilitation process, while further weakening what was already shaping up to be a mediocre defense.
The addition of Barnett is a nice band-aid, though. Barnett is a former first-round pick (No. 14 overall) of the Philadelphia Eagles back in 2017. He recorded 21 total stops with 13 solo tackles and five sacks last season with the Texans. Prior to that, he also had five sacks and two forced fumbles in 2024 with Houston. He has recorded at least five sacks in four of his nine NFL seasons.
For now, Barnett will be trying to unseat Isaiah McGuire at left defensive end. He is the next man up in Cleveland following the injury to Barnett, mainly because he knows the system slightly better. It is fully expected that Barnett will quickly catch on and win the job, however.
Rookie Logan Fano, brother of No. 9 overall pick offensive tackle Spencer Fano, is also in the mix for a reserve left defensive end spot. He scoots up the depth chart as a result of Wright’s misfortune, but the former University of Utah product is still a bit green, and requires some seasoning.
On right defensive end, there is no position battle, as Jared Verse starts, with Julian Okwara as the primary backup. Verse was a vital piece, along with several draft picks, in the offseason trade with the Los Angeles Rams involving legend Myles Garrett.
