The Cleveland Browns continue to add pieces to their defensive front as the regular season approaches, and the latest addition brings a proven veteran presence to the pass rush rotation. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, defensive end Derek Barnett is signing with the Browns on a 1-year deal worth up to 5.5 million dollars. The move brings the former first-round pick into his 10th NFL season, adding another experienced body to a defensive line that has undergone significant change following the departure of Myles Garrett.
Fowler broke the news of Barnett’s decision to join Cleveland.
“Defensive end Derek Barnett is signing with the Cleveland Browns on a one year deal up to 5.5M, per source. The former first round pick is back for Year 10, spent previous three years in Houston,” Fowler wrote.
Defensive end Derek Barnett is signing with the Cleveland Browns on a one-year deal up to $5.5M, per source.
The former first-round pick is back for Year 10, spent previous three years in Houston. pic.twitter.com/zyJT0hKM8q
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) August 23, 2026
Barnett arrives in Cleveland with a resume that includes a Super Bowl championship and a career built on consistent pressure off the edge. Originally selected 14th overall by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2017 draft out of Tennessee, Barnett has appeared in 112 career games and recorded 34 total sacks along with 5 forced fumbles. His most recent stop in Houston saw him total 5 sacks across 17 games in 2025, showing he still has the ability to contribute as a rotational pass rusher even as he enters the back half of his career. That kind of production and experience gives the Browns another option along a defensive front that has needed to reshape its identity since trading Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams for Jared Verse and a package of future draft picks.
Adding a player of Barnett’s caliber on a modest 1-year deal represents a low-risk move for Andrew Berry and the front office, giving the coaching staff another veteran capable of rotating in to keep the pass rush fresh across a long season. Verse has already begun to establish himself as the new face of the Browns defensive line, and surrounding him with experienced complementary pieces like Barnett only strengthens the depth behind him.
The Browns front office remains active in fine-tuning the roster even as final roster cuts approach.
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