The Cleveland Browns lost their starting defensive end for the entire year. During a joint practice with the Bills, Alex Wright suffered a ruptured Achilles. He went down awkwardly in a one-on-one drill against Spencer Brown and had to leave on a cart. He will miss the 2026 season. This is a massive blow to a team that just paid him big money.
Cleveland made a significant financial commitment to Wright in November 2025, signing him to a three-year, $33 million extension. Now that money is tied up in a player who cannot play. Wright has 15 starts and 11.5 sacks in his career, but those numbers do not help right now. The Browns need a rusher who can step in immediately.
The team moved quickly to address the hole. They signed veteran defensive end Derek Barnett to a one-year deal worth up to $5.5 million. Barnett was the 14th overall pick in 2017, spent his first six seasons with the Eagles, and won a Super Bowl. He is a solid veteran addition, but a 30-year-old coming off the bench is not a full replacement for a three-year starter.
Why Dallas Fits the Need
Some observers have pointed to the Dallas Cowboys as a logical trade partner. Dallas has depth on the edge and may not keep every rusher on the final roster. A deal could give Cleveland a proven player to help stop the run and pressure the quarterback, while Dallas could pick up a future draft pick or young talent in return.
The Browns were already looking for pass-rush help before Wright went down. Barnett is a start, but the need remains. Wright is only 25 and turns 26 in September. He was drafted out of UAB in 2022 and has 98 tackles across 51 games. Losing that kind of production is hard to replace in a hurry.
The clock is ticking for the Browns. They cannot wait for the draft to fix this. They need bodies on the field for the upcoming season. Whether a trade with Dallas or another team materializes remains to be seen, but the need is clear. Cleveland lost a key edge rusher in Wright. They have to find a way to fill the gap.
