The Browns’ 3-1 start has come with a defense that isn’t exactly overwhelming people off the edge, but it’s still getting enough heat to matter.
Through four weeks, Cleveland sits tied with the Green Bay Packers for 19th in pass rush win rate, according to data analyst Ryan Paganetti. That’s not a flashy number, especially after the Browns took a major hit by trading Myles Garrett on June 1 for a monster package of picks and third-year pass rusher Jared Verse, then watched Alex Wright go down with a season-ending Achilles injury in training camp.
Even so, the Browns have found ways to get after quarterbacks. They’re tied for fifth in the NFL with 12 sacks in four games.
A big part of that has been the emergence of Mason Graham, who is now dealing with an MCL sprain, along with the influence of new play caller Mike Rutenberg. The pressure numbers suggest there’s still more room to grow, but the production has been enough to keep Cleveland in the conversation. If the Browns keep building on this 3-1 start, a move like a trade with the Los Angeles Chargers for Khalil Mack could become more realistic.
Cleveland has also tried to fortify the edge group with veterans Derek Barnett and Sam Williams. So far, only Williams and starter Isaiah McGuire have logged sacks.
Verse and Barnett have yet to get one. But the underlying numbers point to better days ahead.
Verse had his best outing of the season in the Week 3 home opener, piling up six pressures and five hurries against Bryce Young as Cleveland shut down the NFL’s leader in passing yards. Barnett has been efficient in a rotational role behind Verse and McGuire, entering Week 5 with team highs in pressures (13) and hurries (9). He also shares the team lead with four QB hits.
Rutenberg has helped manufacture pressure by mixing in linebackers and safeties as extra rushers, and that has kept Cleveland from needing a single dominant edge presence every snap. Even without a deadline addition, the Browns have enough pieces to climb Paganetti’s rankings once Verse catches fire.
The encouraging part for Cleveland is that its revamped offensive line hasn’t exactly been tested by the league’s best pass-rush groups yet. The Steelers, despite having T.J.
Watt, Nate Herbig, and Alex Highsmith, rank 25th in pass rush win rate at 46% - behind the Browns. Pittsburgh and the Jaguars, Cleveland’s Week 1 opponent and only loss, have each recorded 10 sacks.
The Jaguars sit 23rd, while the Buccaneers, whom the Browns beat on the road in Week 2, are 16th. Cleveland’s toughest pass-rush matchup so far has been the Panthers, who rank 13th.
At the top of Paganetti’s list are the Seahawks, Vikings, Falcons, Lions, and Rams. Even without Garrett and Verse, Los Angeles is still pressuring the quarterback at a higher rate than average.
For Cleveland’s offensive line, the early results have been good enough to count as a win. With five new starters and two rookies in the mix, the group has held up better than many would have expected.
The schedule has helped, too. The Jets rank 18th in pass rush win rate, giving Spencer Fano and company another chance to hold up and keep quarterback Deshaun Watson clean.
Based on those rankings, the Browns won’t run into a top-10 pass-rushing opponent again until Week 9 at New Orleans.
In Other News...
Browns Defense Suddenly Has A New Problem Ahead Of Jets Game
The Browns defense got a fresh dose of uncertainty this week when the teams Week 5 injury report landed ahead of Sundays matchup with the Jets. Defensive tackle Mason Graham is dealing with an MCL and ankle sprain, while defensive end Derek Barnett is also on the report with an ankle injury, giving Clevelands front another reason to monitor practice closely as the week unfolds.
Safety Grant Delpit was limited because of a shoulder issue, adding to the sense that this unit may not be at full strength when it needs to be. Dillon Gabriel has been cleared to return but is still waiting on a roster spot, while wide receiver Tylan Wallace sat out practice with a knee injury, leaving a few moving parts for Cleveland to sort through before game day. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Could Be Eyeing A Week 5 Opponent For Defensive Line Help
The Browns have been working through a familiar front-line question all season, and the possibility of adding help at defensive tackle has now turned toward a Week 5 opponent. One name that fits the profile is Jets veteran Harrison Phillips, a sturdy run-stopper whose value would be tied to improving a defense that wants more resistance up front without forcing a long-term commitment.
Phillips also comes with a contract situation that makes him easier to imagine in trade discussions as the calendar moves toward the 2026 deadline, especially if New York slips and decides to move veterans for future assets. For Cleveland, the appeal is straightforward: a short-term fix for the defensive line now, while still leaving room to spend a draft pick on a more permanent answer later. [Read more 🡒]
Former Bears QB Turned A Terrifying Health Scare Into A New Mission
Connor Shaws life changed in an instant during a youth flag football game in September 2025, when the former NFL quarterback and ex-Bears signal-caller suffered sudden cardiac arrest while coaching his son. He was saved by quick CPR from bystanders and medics using an automated external defibrillator, then later had a heart monitoring device implanted as he continued to recover from the scare.
Now Shaw is turning that frightening experience into a broader push for preparedness through HRTHUDL, the nonprofit he founded to raise awareness about sudden cardiac arrest, teach CPR and help get AEDs into communities in South Carolina. For anyone around football, especially youth sports, it is the kind of reminder that the most important play can happen long before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]