Cleveland Browns defensive end Desmond Bryant (92) during the second quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Cleveland Browns 3-4 defensive end Desmond Bryant received significant interest during free agency last offseason, as the former Oakland Raiders starting defensive tackle was highly touted for his ability to put a high amount of pressure on the quarterback as an interior pass rusher. Although he has a solid first season with the Browns, things didn’t go quite as planned for the 28-year-old Harvard product, as Bryant experienced shortness of breath and an irregular heartbeat that caused him to undergo cardiac ablation in early December. He missed the final four games of the regular season, but he looked good through the first 12. Although he was better in 2012 than 2013, there’s plenty of optimism that he can play at a very high level in 2014.
Bryant tweeted out today that he has officially received full medical clearance, and that’s absolutely phenomenal news. He will make just $3 million next season, but then his salary will explode to $6 million before rising again to $7 million in his contract year of 2017. He’s getting paid handsomely for his quality run defense and superb talent as an interior pass rusher, and the Browns defensive line is certainly a talented unit with the likes of John Hughes, Ahtyba Rubin, and Phil Taylor also there.
In 12 games, Bryant recorded 3.5 sacks and 31 tackles, and he should be a big factor next season, especially when it comes to helping out the team’s talented edge rushers in the passing game.