Browns plan to sign former Cowboys 2nd-round edge rusher amid dire need

4 weeks ago 12

The Cleveland Browns made the risky but understandable decision to trade away Myles Garrett this offseason, landing Jared Verse and three draft picks over the next three years to their pool of picks.

But in the aftermath of that trade, the edge rusher room, even with Verse in it, has looked very barren. Following the injury to Alex Wright and their inability to sign Jadeveon Clowney or Za'Darius Smith, the edge rusher need was all the more apparent.

So, they've made a move. According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, the Browns plan to sign free agent edge rusher Sam Williams, who was recently released by the Dallas Cowboys, to a one-year deal to come to Cleveland.

Browns to sign Sam Williams to bolster edge depth

"The Browns plan to sign free agent pass rusher Sam Williams, per sources," Fowler reported Tuesday morning.

The edge rusher depth in Cleveland is a real problem. While Verse is good, the Browns don't really have any other notable starter at their edge rusher spot.

Isaiah McGuire and Derek Barnett are their only other two defensive ends on the roster. It's a barren position for the Browns, and before the 2026 season begins in a little under two weeks, they desperately need to upgrade the edge rusher room.

Williams, the former Cowboys second-round pick from the 2022 NFL Draft, is their new upgrade to the defensive line. He is 27 years old, and in three seasons in the NFL, he has 9.5 sacks.

MORE: Why Browns are making a massive mistake with Deshaun Watson as QB1 over Shedeur Sanders

While he had just one sack in 2025, it was a year after a major injury knocked him out for the entire 2024 season. So, another year removed from his big injury, Williams could be in store for a bounce-back 2026 season.

He wasn't going to get much of a chance in Dallas, but now in Cleveland, he might already be the team's second-best edge rusher behind Verse.

This is a good addition for the Browns, as their dire need at edge rusher is being resolved by an intriguing former Cowboys second-round pick at a likely cheap cost.