Adding defensive end Za’Darius Smith was the whipped cream on top of the defensive line renovation that the Cleveland Browns completed this offseason. And The Ringer’s Benjamin Solak believes he will be the X-factor in Cleveland this season.
Here is what Solak had to say about his choice for the Browns’ X-factor in 2023:
“If you’ve consumed any NFL offseason coverage this year, you’ll be familiar with the line of logic here. Myles Garrett is elite. Myles Garrett was getting double-teamed more than any other edge rusher last season. Za’Darius Smith is the best edge rusher Myles Garrett has played with. Za’Darius Smith will make Myles Garrett’s life easier. The Browns defense will improve.
It’s sound logic, and it makes Smith the X factor in Cleveland. On a Jim Schwartz defense, the front four are gonna rush, and they’re gonna do nothing but. I’d imagine that most teams will throw tons of pass-protection attention at Garrett and dare Smith to punish them early in the season. It’s on Smith to do exactly that, forcing offenses to rebalance the scales. If he does, the Browns defense can take a leap.”
Many think that Garrett is destined for his first career Defensive Player of the Year Award, and the addition of Smith is a big reason why. On paper, this Browns’ defensive front is lethal. And now it is just a few short days until we see it on the field.
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