When the Browns acquired Olivier Vernon from the New York Giants, they expected him to be a force opposite of Myles Garrett. And while he hasn’t put up gaudy numbers in terms of sacks or tackles for loss, he is indeed making his presence felt when on the field.
That last part is important, however. Vernon is 29 and has not played a full 16 game season since he was 26 — which was three years ago. And while the names on the starting lineup look good, the depth chart overall for edge rushers in Cleveland isn’t exactly full of studs.
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The Browns see that void, and take the defensive end Anfernee Jennings out of Alabama with their fourth-round pick. Jennings is one of the rare Crimson Tide defenders who stayed in school until they were a senior, and it really benefited him in terms of draft stock. Jennings has a combined 13 sacks the last two seasons, as well as 25 tackles behind the line of scrimmage.
He’s a lengthy pass rusher, and he’s able to use that length to find ways to get to the quarterback. When he’s not able to get to the quarterback, however, he’s great at timing the jump to bat the ball out of the air. While most scouts say he lacks explosion, he’s an incredibly smart player that finds ways to make an impact on the game.
Jennings is a steal in this situation for the Browns, as they add again to their depth and rotation on the defensive line, while also adding a guy who could very well make a huge impact for Cleveland as his role continues to become more defined and grow in the coming years.