Browns’ Derek Barnett signing is quietly paying massive dividends

Although the Cleveland Browns had been plotting to sign a veteran edge rusher, the decision to sign Derek Barnett felt more reactionary than proactive. The move came just a few days after Alex Wright suffered a season-ending Achilles injury.

Through four games, Barnett is turning out to be way more than GM Andrew Berry and the Browns bargained for.

The conversation around the Browns’ new-look pass rush has been the slow start of edge Jared Verse and the meteoric rise of interior defensive lineman Mason Graham. Barnett has quietly been the team’s most disruptive pass rusher despite playing just 36.7 percent of the defensive snaps.

Barnett hasn’t yet impacted the box score like Graham, who leads the team in sacks (4) and tackles for loss (6). But as ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi shared this week, he ranks eighth in the NFL in pressure rate entering Week 5.

Per Pro Football Focus, Barnett leads all Browns defenders in quarterback pressures (13) and hurries (9), and is tied with Maliek Collins for the team lead in QB hits (4).

Derek Barnett has been bolstering Cleveland’s organic pass rush in a part-time role

The Browns began their preparations for Sunday’s road game against the New York Jets without Barnett, who missed Wednesday’s practice with an ankle injury. That’s a bit concerning given that the Browns last played a full week ago on Thursday Night Football.

Cleveland’s going to need the veteran, especially with Graham expected to miss some time.

Barnett had his most disruptive game since arriving in Cleveland against the Steelers, and was rewarded with a season-high 33 snaps. He recorded six pressures on Aaron Rodgers, per PFF, but didn’t appear in the box score outside of one recorded QB hit.

"I've been a big fan of his over the last few years, just watching him play with relentless effort and toughness, and what he brings to the table from what I've heard as a teammate," Monken said back in August. "He's played in this style of defense, so it's not that big of a transition.”

The Browns currently rank fourth in overall pressure rate (46.5%) as a team, but they’re also blitzing at a high clip, 29.6% of the time, per SumerSports, which ranks 13th in the NFL.

Defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg has been spinning the dial, unleashing linebackers and safeties, and taking some of the onus off of Verse, Isaiah McGuire, and an edge group that’s still finding its groove. Only McGuire and veteran Sam Williams, who was added about a week after Barnett, have recorded sacks through the first quarter of the season.

That production should be coming though — for Verse and Barnett. The 30-year-old has performed well beyond his $3.5 million contract to date. Assuming his current ankle injury isn’t anything serious, Barnett could be in for a big season.

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