The Browns on Friday selected DE Alex Wright with the 78th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Wright, a native of Elba, Alabama, recorded 12.5 sacks and 91 tackles across three seasons at UAB, including 46 tackles, 7.5 sacks and two forced fumbles in 2021. Wright, who's listed at 6-foot-5 and 270 pounds, was the Pro Football Focus Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year and a Second Team All-Conference USA selection.
"We do not expect him to come in and be perfect right away," said Browns VP of Player Personnel Glenn Cook. "What we do love about him is he is big, he is long and he is physical. He will definitely come in and contribute in the run game right away. Then we can kick him inside. He did not get a ton of opportunities to do that at UAB, but we see some of that ability in him, and that will help us out on third down."
Wright will join a defensive ends room that includes All-Pro Myles Garrett, a player he's idolized as he's risen the ranks as a top prospect.
"It is like a dream come true because Myles Garrett is one of those rare breeds that I used to and still look up to to this day, not only as a person but on the field and how he works off the field – the stuff that he does behind the cameras," Wright said.
"Being able to just watch him and now have the chance to play across from him is like a dream come true. It feels surreal. I have goosebumps right now."
