The Browns added a talented and still-ascending edge rusher Wednesday to their defensive line by agreeing to terms with DE Ogbonnia Okoronkwo.
Okoronkwo, a fourth-year veteran, spent last season with the Texans after he was a fifth-round pick by the Rams in 2018. He's appeared in 50 games in his career with eight starts — all of which came last season with the Texans — and has totaled 78 tackles and 9.5 sacks in his career.
"Really excited to join the Cleveland Browns," Okoronkwo said. "I am looking forward to adding to an already talented roster, while playing opposite of Myles Garrett, and to be coached by coach Schwartz in his system, where I've seen multiple players traditionally find success in it. I can't wait to get it going and the goal is to bring a Super Bowl to the city of Cleveland."
Check out photos of new Browns DE Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, who agreed to terms as the Browns' first free-agent pickup of the 2023 offseason
Oklahoma linebacker Ogbonnia Okoronkwo runs the 40-yard dash during the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday, March 4, 2018 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Houston Texans defensive lineman Ogbonnia Okoronkwo (45) rushes during an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, December 18, 2022, in Houston. (AP Photo/Matt Patterson)
Houston Texans linebacker Ogbonnia Okoronkwo (45) is seen during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022, in Arlington, Texas. Dallas won 27-23. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)
Houston Texans linebacker Ogbonnia Okoronkwo (45) runs during an NFL preseason football game against the Los Angeles Rams Friday, Aug. 19, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Houston Texans linebacker Ogbonnia Okoronkwo (45) presures New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) during an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Houston Texans linebacker Ogbonnia Okoronkwo (45) warms up before taking on the New York Giants in an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Houston Texans linebacker Ogbonnia Okoronkwo (45) wears the flag of Nigeria on his helmet before an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Houston Texans linebacker Ogbonnia Okoronkwo (45) runs during an NFL preseason football game against the Los Angeles Rams Friday, Aug. 19, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Linebacker (45) Ogbonnia Okoronkwo of the Los Angeles Rams against the Arizona Cardinals in an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021, in Glendale, AZ. The Rams defeated the Cardinals 30-23. (AP Photo/Jeff Lewis)
Los Angeles Rams outside linebacker Ogbonnia Okoronkwo (45) celebrates following an NFL Conference Championship playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, January 30, 2022 in Inglewood, Calif. The Rams defeated the 49ers 20-17. (John McGillen via AP)
Los Angeles Rams linebacker Ogbonnia Okoronkwo is pictured during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021, in Seattle. The Rams won 30-20. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Los Angeles Rams outside linebacker Ogbonnia Okoronkwo (45) during a NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Sep. 13, 2020 in Inglewood, Calif. The Rams defeated the Cowboys 20-17. (John McGillen via AP)
Los Angeles Rams linebacker Ogbonnia Okoronkwo (45) lines up for the snap during an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021, in Houston. (AP Photo/Matt Patterson)
FILE - In this Nov. 4, 2017, file photo, Oklahoma defender Ogbonnia Okoronkwo (31) sacks Oklahoma State quarterback Mason Rudolph (2) during an NCAA college football game in Stillwater, Okla. Oklahoma’s offense is among the nation’s best, but its defense has lagged at times. The unit, led by second-team All-American linebacker Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, has improved steadily since a rough mid-season outing against Oklahoma State. It will need to be at its best against Georgia in the Rose Bowl. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File)
Okoronkwo didn't start in a game in his career until Week 10 with the Texans last season but became the permanent starter the rest of the season and was remarkably productive. He grabbed five sacks and six tackles for a loss in the final six games to secure a career-best season and was also quietly one of the most efficient edge rushers in the league. He slotted third — one spot ahead of Myles Garrett — among all edge rushers with at least 200 pass rushes with a 16.4 percent pressure rate, according to Next Gen Stats. Pro Bowlers Trey Hendrickson and Micah Parsons were the only two edge rushers ahead of him on the list.
"Ogbo will fit in well with our defensive scheme," head coach Kevin Stefanski said. "He's an explosive player and has capitalized when given opportunities. We feel he can be very impactful by the way he plays the game and we are happy that we are able to add him to our defense."
After a foot injury forced him to miss his entire rookie season, injuries also forced Okoronkwo to miss six games in each of his next two seasons with the Rams and another four games in 2021, his fourth and final season in Los Angeles. He had 4.5 sacks and three forced fumbles, including two in 2021, with the Rams.
Prior to the NFL, Okoronkwo was a productive edge rusher at Oklahoma and won Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year honors as a senior while amassing 75 tackles, 17 tackles for a loss and eight sacks. He will become the third defensive lineman on the Browns with Oklahoma roots, joining 2022 draft picks Perrion Winfrey and Isaiah Thomas.
Okoronkwo joins a defensive end room that includes four-time Pro Bowler Myles Garrett, Alex Wright and Thomas and will become an instant candidate to start.
