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Cleveland Browns: 5 Free agent defensive end targets in 2019

By Randy Gurzi

LANDOVER, MD - NOVEMBER 18: Jadeveon Clowney #90 of the Houston Texans celebrates after a sack against the Washington Redskins in the fourth quarter of the game at FedExField on November 18, 2018 in Landover, Maryland. The Texans won 23-21. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD - NOVEMBER 18: Jadeveon Clowney #90 of the Houston Texans celebrates after a sack against the Washington Redskins in the fourth quarter of the game at FedExField on November 18, 2018 in Landover, Maryland. The Texans won 23-21. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, ARIZONA – DECEMBER 09: Ezekiel Ansah #94 of the Detroit Lions reacts on the bench during the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on December 09, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – DECEMBER 09: Ezekiel Ansah #94 of the Detroit Lions reacts on the bench during the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on December 09, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images) /

4. Ezekiel Ansah, Detroit Lions

A former No. 5 overall pick out of BYU, Ezekiel Ansah has had trouble staying on the field throughout his career. He missed just two games his first three seasons and was trending upward as an edge rusher.

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By 2015, he had recorded 14.5 sacks and was one of the best edge rushers in the NFL. Then, the injury bug started to mess with his production as Ansah was slowed by nagging problems and ended up with just two sacks on the season.

He bounced back in 2017 with 12 more sacks and was scheduled to hit free agency last year. Wanting a long-term deal from the Lions, he ended up getting franchise tagged instead. Detroit took this approach due to concerns over the durability of Ansah and they were proved right in their decision to wait on the multi-year deal.

The sixth-year pro managed to play just seven games for Detroit and he started only two of those. He did register four sacks in that time, showing he can still bring it off the edge. Even so, it seems likely that Ansah will hit the open market as his injury concerns have to be weighed.

Cleveland could end up getting in on the bidding for his services, but they will also have to take his history into account. They also have to decide how long they would want to give him on a contract as Ansah will be 30-years old in May.

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