It's been a long road for the 78th overall pick from 2022, but Cleveland Browns EDGE Alex Wright is finally finding his stride, earning the starting job while playing consistent and impactful run defense. His performance against the New England Patriots in Week 8 was impressive, and it opens up a larger conversation about Wright's long-term future with the tea, given that he is in the final year of his rookie contract.
Through nine weeks, Wright is the seventh-highest-ranked EDGE in the NFL at 87.3 per Pro Football Focus, with his run defense grade coming in fourth at 81.6. That lines up with his film, as Wright is making an impact in the run game at a high level, making 16 defensive stops over his past four games, which leads the NFL in that span. He's learning how to use his hulking 6-foot-5 267-pound frame to set a strong edge and he's explosive enough to create penetration, disrupting plays behind the line of scrimmage.