Cleveland’s defense has been a steady engine this season, leaning on gap discipline and pass-rush depth while the offense finds its footing. The 25-year-old edge rusher has grown into bigger snaps and bigger responsibilities since being a 2022 third-round pick. The Browns wrapped a new deal. The team agreed to a three-year extension with Alex Wright, locking him in through his prime.
“Another deal in Cleveland: Browns and defensive end Alex Wright reached agreement today on a three-year, $33 million extension that includes $21 million guaranteed, his agents Drew Rosenhaus and Shawn O’Dare told ESPN.” saidAdam Schefter (tweet).
Browns Extension Locks in Rising Edge Rusher Alex Wright
Cleveland Browns, Alex Wright
Oct 19, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns defensive end Alex Wright (91) celebrates after a play against the Miami Dolphins during the first quarter at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
This Browns extension is a practical example of roster management. It’s not a max splash. It is a move that protects a young piece and keeps Cleveland’s defensive mix intact. The numbers matter: three years, $33 million, $21 million guaranteed. That structure buys control and minimizes long-term cap risk while rewarding clear development.
Cleveland gets a dependable rotational anchor opposite Myles Garrett. The 25-year-old edge rusher has three sacks in nine games this season and nine career sacks since the Browns drafted him in 2022. Those aren’t All-Pro totals. They are, however, steady in production, as well as in the kind of run defense and gap discipline that Jim Schwartz values.
From a cap perspective, $21 million guaranteed signals belief without overspending. It’s a classic “buy-low, secure upside” blueprint: reward the player for growth now and avoid forcing the front office into a bidding war two offseasons from now. Multiple outlets confirm the guarantee and the agents involved, Drew Rosenhaus and Shawn O’Dare, perSchefter’s report.
Wright’s length and run-strength let the Browns stay aggressive with stunts and interior pressure. He’s a better contain player than a full-time freelancing rusher; that balance makes the front seven less predictable and harder to scheme around continuity matters. Rotational depth matters even more late in the season. This Browns extension buys both.
For Wright, it’s stability. For Cleveland, it’s a defensive hedge that keeps a young core intact while the team figures out offensive pieces. The Browns’ extension keeps a rising edge rusher in-house without mortgaging the future.
Alex Wright’s three-year deal is small in headline heat but big in roster logic control, continuity, and upside.