Pass Rusher with Vikings Ties Hits Open Market
NFL training camps are one month away, and the Cleveland Browns took care of a little roster business on Thursday.
The Browns dropped Ogbo Okoronkwo, a pass rusher with ties to Kevin O’Connell from the Rams days. The Vikings may not need an outside linebacker, but here’s an examination of the fit nevertheless.
Browns general manager Andrew Berry cut pass rusher Ogbo Okoronkwo loose this week, enabling the veteran defender to sign anywhere in the NFL.
And it just so happens that Okoronkwo has ties to the Vikings through Kevin O’Connell.
Browns Say Goodbye to Ogbo Okoronkwo
Okoronkwo’s stay in Cleveland concluded after two seasons.
NBC Sports‘ Myles Simmons wrote, “The Browns have made a pair of roster moves on Thursday morning. Cleveland announced that the club has released defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo and re-signed kicker Andre Szmyt. Okoronkwo, 30, had been with the Browns since 2023 and was entering the last year of his contract.”
“He registered 4.5 sacks for Cleveland in 2023 and 3.0 sacks in 2024. A Rams fifth-round pick in 2018, Okoronkwo has appeared in 80 games with 13 starts for Los Angeles, Houston, and Cleveland. He’s registered 17.0 career sacks.”
The move clears a path for 2023 4th-Rounder Isaiah McGuire to start this season, at least from a June standpoint.
In Theory, Ogbo Okoronkwo Could Be a Fit For the Vikings
Okoronkwo spent time with Kevin O’Connell in Los Angeles, and those player-coach ties matter in the NFL.
Okoronkwo Crossed Paths with Kevin O’Connell in LA
Minnesota, meanwhile, could poke around Okoronkwo’s newfound free agency. The Los Angeles Rams employed him from 2019 to 2021, meaning he worked with Kevin O’Connell on the opposite side of the ball for two seasons when O’Connell offensively coordinated the Rams.
The two won a Super Bowl in 2021.
All told, Okoronkwo has played 80 career games, starting 13 and tallying 132 total tackles with 17 sacks, 38 quarterback hits, and 31 tackles for loss. He’s the perfect depth EDGE defender.
Do Vikings Need an EDGE Rusher?
Whether Minnesota needs an extra outside linebacker is debatable.
The club has Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel, and Dallas Turner guaranteed to grab the lion’s share of OLB snaps, but after the trio, the depth becomes mysterious.
Undrafted talents like Bo Richter, Gabriel Murphy, and Tyler Batty will vie for roster spots at training camp and in the preseason. On the other hand, if Minnesota were interested in Okoronkwo, he’s a more experienced asset.
Okoronkwo’s NFL Resume
Here’s Okoronkwo’s NFL resume to date:
- Los Angeles Rams (2018–2021)
- Houston Texans (2022)
- Cleveland Browns (2023–2024)
And his Pro Football Focus resume:
- 2024: 45.3
- 2023: 65.3
- 2022: 75.1
- 2021: 79.5
- 2020: 67.1
- 2019: 64.0
Other Free Agent Options for Minnesota?
If the purple team decides the EDGE rusher unit is just fine, cornerback may be a need sometime this summer. For now, Minnesota will roll with Byron Murphy Jr., Isaiah Rodgers, Mekhi Blackmon, Jeff Okudah, and Dwight McGlothern at the position.
But if another starter is desired, men like Mike Hilton, Asante Samuel Jr., Jack Jones, Stephon Gilmore, and Rasul Douglas remain on the open market.
Some fans will also hold out hope that Minnesota fires off a trade for seven-time Pro Bowler Jalen Ramsey, who will be shipped to a new team before too long.
More on Okoronkwo’s Release
Here’s more context on Okoronkwo’s release from Akron Beacon Journal’s Chris Easterling: “The Browns released one of their more experienced edge rushers on Thursday when they let go of defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo. Okoronkwo, 30, was signed by Cleveland prior to the 2023 season and seen as one of their bigger offseason transactions that year.”
“The former Los Angeles Ram and Houston Texan outside linebacker was expected to help provide a bookend with All-Pro Myles Garrett in Jim Schwartz’s aggressive defensive scheme. However, Okoronkwo only had 7.5 sacks in 30 combined games with the Browns over two seasons.”
Generally speaking, Okoronkwo should have no problem finding a new team this summer, even if it’s not the Vikings.
Easterling added, “That did include 4.5 in his first season in Cleveland, one that saw him miss three games in December of that season due to a pectoral injury. Okoronkwo became expendable due to the relative development of draft picks Alex Wright and Isaiah McGuire.”
“The Browns also signed edge rushers Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and Julian Okwara this offseason. The Browns also re-signed kicker Andre Szmyt. Szmyt was on the roster during part of the offseason program along with veteran Dustin Hopkins.”
Minnesota has about $24 million in cap space as of June 26th.
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