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3 things Za’Darius Smith brings to the Cleveland Browns

By Chad Porto

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 05: LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 05: NFC outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith #55 of the Minnesota Vikings looks on during an NFL Pro Bowl football game at Allegiant Stadium on February 05, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 05: LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 05: NFC outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith #55 of the Minnesota Vikings looks on during an NFL Pro Bowl football game at Allegiant Stadium on February 05, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – SEPTEMBER 25: Taylor Decker #68 of the Detroit Lions blocks Za’Darius Smith #55 of the Minnesota Vikings on a play in the third quarter of the game at U.S. Bank Stadium on September 25, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – SEPTEMBER 25: Taylor Decker #68 of the Detroit Lions blocks Za’Darius Smith #55 of the Minnesota Vikings on a play in the third quarter of the game at U.S. Bank Stadium on September 25, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) /

Za’Darius Smith is a solid edge-stopper against the run

The Cleveland Browns got the most out of former player Jadevoen Clowney. Clowney, a historical disappointment against the pass, was always a better run-stopper. He wasn’t just one of the better run-stoppers the Browns had in his time with the team, but historically, he was arguably the best run-stopping defensive end in the NFL for some time.

He wrecked running backs with relative ease, and that was what the Browns were hoping to get out of him, that and maybe 10+ sacks, but that was always a pipedream. That’s not a pipedream with Za’Darius Smith. While Smith isn’t the same caliber of run-stopper that Clowney was, he’s still better than anyone the Browns have (yes, including Myles Garrett), and he’s better than anyone available. While there may have been a rookie who would’ve been better at the job, that’s always a crapshoot, as you never know what a rookie’s ceiling and floor are.

We know with Smith, we know he’s capable of being an elite-level player regardless of what’s asked of him. He’s better, historically, against the pass, but in the right schemes, he’s been an All-Pro caliber run-defender and the hope is that he returns to that type of form under Jim Schwartz’s new wide-9 scheme.

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