Former UAB star ‘won’t let’ Browns defense decline minus Myles Garrett

It took former Alex Wright a moment to process the shock: the Cleveland Browns had officially parted ways with three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett.

"I thought it was like a regular, like, fake trade or something like that," Wright said, reflecting on the moment he received the news via a notification. "And then I remember I got a text and then I got the ESPN notification. And then when I seen Adam Schefter, it was like, ‘Yeah, let me go get a drink right quick.’”

A New Look in Cleveland

The June 1 blockbuster saw the Browns ship Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for pass-rusher Jared Verse and a haul of draft capital, including a 2027 first-rounder, a 2028 second-rounder, and a 2029 third-rounder.

Despite Cleveland’s 5-12 finish last season, the defense remained a powerhouse, ranking among the league's top three units in yards allowed during the 2025 campaign. Wright is adamant that the defensive standard won't slip in 2026, even in the wake of losing Garrett, who dominated the 2025 season with an NFL single-season record 23 sacks and a league-leading 33 tackles for loss.

"Somebody’s got to take control," Wright said. "I’m taking on that ownership. Just because he’s gone, that doesn’t mean the standard that he set since he’s been here since he was a rookie is going to change. We’re still going to work our butt off."

Building on a Proven Foundation

A product of Elba High School and UAB, Wright was selected by the Browns in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. After a torn triceps hindered his 2024 season, he bounced back with 5.5 sacks in 2025, despite missing three games with a quadriceps injury.

The defense gains a significant asset in Jared Verse. The 2024 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year posted 7.5 sacks and earned Pro Bowl honors last season. Wright is confident in the unit's collective ability to maintain its elite status.

"We didn’t get no scrub back. We got an absolute dog back," Wright said regarding the addition of Verse. "I don’t expect a drop-off at all... if I don’t see something that I like, I’m going to speak up. I won’t let that happen."

Embracing the Leadership Role

Last November, Cleveland signed Wright to a three-year, $33 million contract extension. Now, the former Blazer is stepping into a vocal leadership role he admits he wouldn't have envisioned during his college days.

"The more I talk, I feel like my play backs it up, so my teammates respect that," Wright noted. "I’m still going to push the quarterbacks. I’m still going to push the wide receivers. I’m still going to push the O-line. I’m going to talk trash every day in practice, because that’s what’s going to motivate us to get better."

The Browns are set to wrap up their final offseason practice this Thursday before transitioning into training camp. For more of 205focus.com’s coverage of the NFL, visit our NFL page.