Cleveland Browns: 4 young players looking for starting spots
By Greg Newland
Cleveland Browns Young Standout No. 3 – Alex Wright
In the third round of the 2022 NFL draft, the Cleveland Browns took the defensive end, Alex Wright, from UAB. He’s a monster of a human at 6-foot-5 inches and 271 pounds and has the athleticism of a 6-foot point guard in the NFL. At 21-years old he is the definition of a blank canvas.
While Wright doesn’t have a ton of experience against top-notch college or NFL talent, he has all the tangibles needed. Not only does he have quickness and a strong punch, but he also has the extreme length to help him keep defenders’ hands off him.
With Myles Garrett and Jadaveon Clowney (Hopefully) on the roster, Wright isn’t going to start any games as an NFL rookie unless it’s because of an injury. However, I could see him have an extremely important role on third downs when a guy needs a break.
In obvious passing situations, defensive coordinator Joe Woods could slide Clowney inside, bring in Wright and have one of the best pass rushes in the NFL. There’s no doubt that Wright isn’t ready to be an every-down player. He struggles to stop the run and can at times get caught upfield which can open up running lanes for a running quarterback.
However, I see him playing 15 to 20 snaps a game in 2022 and making a huge difference. A guy like Wright coming off the bench and having seven or eight sacks can be the difference between having a great defense and an elite defense.