Following the NFL 4 p.m. ET trade deadline, the Browns saw some changes to their defensive line.
They made two roster moves, as the Browns traded DE Za'Darius Smith and a 2026 7th round pick to the Lions in exchange for a 2025 5th round pick and a 2026 6th round pick.
They also terminated the contract of DT Quinton Jefferson. He appeared in five games and recorded six tackles and one sack. Jefferson was a healthy scratch the last four games.
Smith played an important role in the Browns pass rush since they traded for him in 2023. He appeared in 25 games with the Browns from 2023-24 and recorded 50 tackles, 10.5 sacks and one forced fumble. This season, Smith started all nine games at defensive end and recorded 23 tackles, six tackles for loss, five sacks and seven quarterback hits.
His teammates took notice to Smith's success on the field and his leadership off the field.
""Za'Darius is an amazing teammate," CB Denzel Ward said on Nov. 3. "A captain on this team, a leader on this team, and a playmaker out there on the field. Love having Za'Darius out there on the field. One of my favorite additions to the team when he came on. He's a great player, and a great guy in the locker room. Definitely appreciate Za'Darius. The player he is and the guy he is."
DE Myles Garrett, who lined up on the opposite edge of Smith, saw a similar level of dominance from Smith this season that he brought to the game last season. As opposing teams tried to double-team Garrett and take him out of the game, it opened opportunities for other players like Smith to pressure the quarterback or come up with the sack.
"I'm seeing him do the same things as last year," Garrett said on Nov. 1. "Just making those plays that got away from him and slipped away last year. And we talked all throughout the year about all those plays that were right at our fingertips and that we could have possibly turned into big plays, and he's turned those over."
With the loss of a veteran starter, backup defensive ends in Ogbo Okoronkwo and Isaiah McGuire could earn more opportunities on the edge. This season, Okoronkwo has recorded two sacks, 13 tackles, four tackles for loss and three quarterback hits. He's played in all nine games this season.
In his second NFL season, McGuire has totaled 17 tackles, three tackles for loss, one forced fumble, one quarterback hit and half a sack in eight games.
Yet, even with the changes to their defensive line, defensive line coach Jacques Cesaire sees the potential McGuire brings as a pass rusher.
During the offseason program, Cesaire took notice of the hunger and tenacity McGuire plays with. He knew when McGuire earned an opportunity, he would take advantage of it and have success. Cesaire highlighted the play McGuire made against the Raiders in Week 4 when he forced a fumble against Raiders RB Zamir White on a short yardage play.
As the Browns move forward following their bye week in Week 10, McGuire could have an increased role on the defensive line.
"Isaiah is a heck of a pass rusher. He's slippery, he does his thing," Cesaire said on Oct. 4. "With Isaiah, he's continually growing. He's continually developing, always staying after practice, getting a little extra work, coming to me, asking for film, such as so he knows exactly what he needs to do in the game. So, I'm really excited about his development and what he can do for us in the near future."
