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With the season over and Jim Schwartz hired as defensive coordinator, the Cleveland Browns can turn their attention to defensive fixes. Most of it will be focused on defensive lines requiring three new starters and benefiting from the extra depth. Considering the sheer amount of talent in his 2023 NFL Draft, it would be surprising if the Browns didn’t enter in the first draft.
A move to Schwartz could have a small impact on the type of defensive lineman the Browns are looking for. It might broaden their horizons when it comes to the type of defensive objective they consider. The door can be open for anyone as long as they fit within the guardrails the Browns have established for players they want to draft.
In other words, the Browns see no reason to change their approach to prospect age, arm length preferences, or athlete profiles.
The Browns are finishing the season with 34 sacks as a team. 16 of them belong to Miles Garrett. The need is clear. Schwartz’s track record and buildup in the draft class prompted the Browns to draft both edge rushers and defensive tackles, along with starters they added through free agency and trades.
One of the best talent options for what the Browns want in an edge rusher with Schwartz is Kansas State defensive end Felix Anudike Uzoma.
Listed measurements
height: 6’5″
weight: 255 pounds
Anudike has a low center of gravity and a wide body. His stated height looks generous, but his weight looks justifiable.He’s dense. Anudike is explosive off-the-ball and reaches top speed quickly, which wouldn’t be too surprising if his top speed didn’t set the world on fire.
Anudike is a natural bender, playing on excellent pad levels and possessing functional strength that causes problems for opponents he can leverage. He’s not a power rusher per se, but he wins with power and uses it to throw his opponent off balance. His agility is notable along with his ankle flexibility. He doesn’t have hip flexibility to bend edges, but effectively changes direction from his hips down, using his arms as levers to turn corners.
Anudike has long arms and is only 21 at the time of the NFL Draft.
manufacturing
2022: 31 solo tackles, 11 lost tackles, 8.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 pass deflection in 14 games
2021: 37 solo tackles, 14.5 lost tackles, 11 sacks, 6 forced fumbles in 13 games
Anudike has been one of the country’s most productive pass rushers over the past two seasons. His solo his tackles were less than ideal last season, but his sophomore season was excellent in that regard.
Part of this comes down to the fact that Anudike is a high-effort player who is aggressive in pursuit. The fact that he has been as productive as he has while operating primarily from the front lines is also worth noting.
He’s used to facing help, often in the form of a second lineman. Due to this, he had to get lean and split double teams, isolate single blockers, run arcs to avoid the second block, and figure out how to develop counter moves.
Anudike can attack fields, slash inside, lunge, swim, rip and flash spin moves. This is good when you are behind the quarterback and need to scrimmage back to his line and chase. The rampage of the arm stands out and can keep the enemy away from the chest. Sometimes he gets stuck in a single block or double team, but he can often find a way to separate and survive.
Playing at a low pad level and his ability to chase lines allowed him to chase slowly developing runs or take cutback lanes.
In addition to playing behind the line of scrimmage, Anudike forced eight fumbles in 27 games.
Why the Browns fell in love with him
Anudyke is an upside impact pass rusher. As a rookie, he can also be a pass rusher. It might be the only thing he’s doing as a rookie and it’s worth it.
The Browns are looking for a starting-caliber defensive end to play across from Myles Garrett, either in free agency or through a trade. We also have Alex Wright and Isiah Thomas who will be in the second season. Wright has been primarily a run player so far, but he offers the ability to rush passers with his inside kick. If Anudike is effective as a rookie and DE3 or even DE4, the Browns would be in a great place.
If the Browns can get a lead or put their opponents in an obvious pass situation, they can put a fresh Anudike on the field completely focused on reaching the quarterback. If it works as intended under , that’s the best case scenario. Every game he goes full bore with 25 to 30 snaps.
With more time and development, Anudike can become a full service player. He has shown he can do it, but he has to adjust to the rigors of the NFL. All the more so if he makes it through as a rookie.
Conclusion
Felix Anudike-Uzomah has compiled one of the best pass rushing résumés in this year’s draft class and possesses many of the qualities the Cleveland Browns are looking for in a defensive final prospect. If they want to target pass rushers early on, it’s hard to imagine Anudike not being on their shortlist.
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